Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-09
MARRIAGE.

afforded fruitful theme for the observations
of the traveller, and the speculations Of the
philosopher and the novelist 1t has been uul-
formIy found that the savage is the tyrant OF
the female sex, while the position aud conslde-
ration given TO women are advanced in pro-
norton to the refinement of social lite. Under
the laws of Lycurgus, Numa, and even later
lawgivers, the power of the husband lover his
wife was absolute, sometimes even including
the power of lite and death. The wife was al
ways defined and treated as thing, not as per-
sou-the absolute property of her lord. ln the
earlier ages man mig ght sell his children or
wife inditfcrently, and rolics Of this rude Gus.
tom still survive, even among nations called
civilized and Christian.
In the countries of the east where polygamy
is almost universal, marriage is not the sacred
tie which it is held to be 10 Christian countries
la Persia men marry either for life or tor a
determined time. Travellers or merchants com-
monty apply to the magistrate for u wife dur
lug their residence IN any place, the Cadl pro-
ducing number of girls for selection, whom
he declares to be honest and healthy. -Four
wives are permitted to each husband iu Persia
and the same number is allowed by the Mo
hammedan law to the Mussulman.
In Chinese 1artary kind of male polygamy
is highly respected In Thibet it is customary
for The brothers Of family to have wife in
common, and they generally live In harmony
aud comfort with her. Among the Calmucks
the ceremony is performed on horseback. The
glrI is first mounted and permitted to ride of at
full speed, when lover takes horse and gal
lops alter her. If he overtakes her she becomes
his wife, and the marriage is coosummated on
the spot 1t is said that 20 instance is known
of a girl ever being overtaken unless she really
Is fond of her lover.
The Arabs divide their affections between
their horses and their wives, aud regard the
purity of blood 10 the former as much as in
their offspring Polygamy is practlced only by
the rich, and divorces are rare.
In Ceylon the marriage proposal is brought
about by the man first seudiug to her whom he
wishes to become his wife to buy her clothes.
These she sells for stipulated sum, generally
asking as much as she thinks requisite for them
to begin the world with In the evening he calls
on her with the wardrobe, at her fathers house
and they pass the night 10 each other company
Next morning, ii mutually satisfied, they ap-
point the day OF marriage. They are permitted
to separate whenever they please, and so fire.
queuty avail themselves OF the privilege that
they sometimes change dozen times before
their nclinations are wholly suited.
In Hiudoostan the women have peculiar von-
Grafton for marriage, as it Is part OF the popu.
lar creed that those females who die virgins are
excluded from the joys of Paradise. ln that
precocious country the women commence to
bear children at the age of twelve, somo even
at eleven. The proximity Of the natives to
the burning sun, which rjpens men and women
as we'll as plants at the earliest period IN those
tropical latitudes is assigned as the cause. The
distinguishing marks Of the Hindoo wife are
the most profound fidelity, submission and at
tachment to her husband.
Onthe banks of the Senegal, and among many
African tribes, the matrimonial prize most
sought after is abundance of flesh. To obtain
corpuleuce is regarded as the only real comeli-
ness. A female who moves with the aid OF two
men is but moderate beauty, while the lady
who canoot stir, and is only to be moved on q
camel, is estimated as perfect paragon. Nor
is this queer fancy for obesity 10 common
confined 10 the savage Of the torrid zone,
since We read in Wraxall's "Travels in Rus
sia" that, ''in order to possess any eminent de-
gree of loveineSs, woman must weigh at least
two hundred weight" The Empress Eliza
beth and Catherine H., both accounted very
fine women, were OF this massive kind.
In Italy matches are made with proverblal
levity, and marriage VOWS, it report speaks
true, are easily broken. Young virgins are
rents, and young people are married who never
saw each other before. Concubinage is q con-
stunt remedy for these l-advised and deceitful
marriages. and the peculiar Italian cicisbeo
indicates the indemnify which custom pre-
scrlbes for the fair sex fettered to husbands u0-
loved
Iu France as has often been remarked, wo.
man monopolizes all the society, and large
share of the business of life. The coffee houses
the theatres, the shops. the cabarets or drink
ipg.shops, are filled with women. Women
lord it at all assemblies, and are better inform
ed and more capable managers than men. Mar
risge is looked upon not so much as matter
of affection as Of interest, and the sacredness
oftbe tie is proportionatey slender.
Russia appears to be the most barbarous
couotry In Europe in its treatment OF the
marriage relation. The nuptial ceremo-
MES, all aud singular, are based upon
the idea of the degradation OF the te-
male When the parents have agreed upon the
match, the bride is examined by anumber OF
women to see if she has any bodily defects. On
her wedding day she is crowned with garland
of wormwood, to denote the bitterness of the
married state She is exhorted to be obedient
to her husband, and it is custom in some dis
tricts for the newly married wife to present the
bridegroom with whip. in token OF submis-
sion, and with this he seldom fails to show bis
authority 10 that cold, cruel country, bus
bands are sometimes known to turture their
wives to death, without any punishment tor
the murder. If woman proves barren, the
husband generally prevails on her to retire into
convent, and leave him at liberty If he fails
10 bis persuasion, he is permitted to whip her
into obedience
Such is the slavery in which the Muscovites
are kept by their parents and guardians that
they are not allowed to dispute any union
agred upoo by their elders, however odous or
lncompatible it may be. This extends 30 far
that officers 10 the army are not permitted to
marry without the consent of the sovereign,
and wives they do not want are sometimes
forced upon them.
Whether it be the result of this system of op-
preston or Of their savage climate, or of the
unnatural, hot air of their stove heated apart
mens' 1t is certain that more unloyely set Of