The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-19

vided the money, he was to see that It was
we'll dispensed and take all trouble of
their hands. 1t also transpired that they
themselves, and no other, were the authors
of the proclamation.
Oriental MARRIAGES.
In America love precedes and prepares
the way for marriage-at least, this is our
theory of courtship. In the East, mar.
riage precedes and prepares for loye-at
least this is the Oriental theory of the we'd
ded state. 1t quite accords, therefore.
with the Eastern ideas of the marriage re-
lation that woman should enter into it at
an age which to us seems very unfit: and
this practice of early marriage is also ia
vored by the fact that women reach their
maturity at much earlier age than with
us. They are at the height Of their bloom
and beauty at fifteen or sixteen. They
are often married at thirteen or fourteen,
anG sometimes as early as eight or nine :;
and DIR. Van Lennep mentions one in.
stance of wedding which he attended in
which the bride was SO young that she
was carried about in the arms Of her rel
atives. Naturally courtship is done by
proxy, and the young men are cheated
out of what the American regards as
one of his most sacred, inalienable
rights. The duty of looking up for the
young man suitable wife, which even
in our own society the mother, aunts
or sisters often assume, is in the East, bv
universal consent devolved upon them.
Womanly nature is essentially the same
the world over, and we may safely as
sumo that they are nothing loath to per-
form the duty which social custom in
trusts to them. For this purpose they
sally forth in body on their tour of in
spection, call at any home which affords
reasonable hope of containing a suitable
inmate, are Invariably greeted with the
utmost courtesy, and ushered at once into
the reception-room; the young lady is
summoned, and presently enters, bearing
sweetmeats and water; she is arrayed in
all the finery and jewels which belong to
her dowry; nor is it considered breach
OF social plopriety to inquire with partic-
ularity respecting her marriage portion.
This frankness prevents stme of the awk-
ward discoveries which sometimes occur
with us after marriage tc mar the happi-
ness of the honeymoon. If the preliai-
nary negotiations are satisfactory, bar
gain is made between the parents, in
which the amount paid ly the husband or
ON his behalf, either to he bride or to her
parents, is definitely agreed upon. This,
which under the Mosaic law was fixed at
a uniform rate-at fiftyshekels, or twenty
five dollars-varies among the modern
Jews with the condition of the brides
family, while among some of the African
savages, the daughter, When she reaches a
manageable age, is sod to the highest
bidder: The parties are considered
as affianced as soon as the mar
riage contract has leen agreed to-,
but the nuptial ceremony is some
times deferred for considerable
period, during which the bride
and groom are not permitted to see each
other; their sole Intercourse with each
other is through the Intervention of a
6 friend of the bridegroom" The we'd
| ding dress is even moe matter of i'm
portance W tn the Eastern bride than with
us. The preparation of her toilet, in the
presence of female friends, often occu-
pies large part of Two days. The we'd
ding veil, the bridal srown, the dodos, or
cap, are some of the emblems donned for
the bridal ceremony. The costumes are
often rich and gorgeous beyond express
| sion. Fashion, as Interpreted by an ORR
entail milliner quoted by DR.. Van Lennep,
prescribes the characteristics of an ideal
wedding dress. 1t should measure six
yards from the shoulders to the end of the
train; the long sleeves should sweep the
floor; the material is silk; it is elaborate
ly embroidered by party of professional
embroiderers under the direction of a
chief. The sum paid for experimenting
the Deedlework on single robe referred
to BY DIR. Van Lennep was five hundred
dollars, while the charge for the work
done by the subordinates was two thou
sand five hundred dollars, and the entire
cost of the dress was ten thousand; nor
must it be forgotten that labor in that
country is very much less expensive than
| in this.
The marriage festivities last often for a
week, and in many sections of the East
the old practices are still maintained.
| The bridegroom, with procession, starts
with music and torches, by night, for the
house of the bride, where, after show of
resistance, and sometimes quite struggle,
| she is taken possession OF, and borne aWay
| to her future home. This resistance by
the coy maiden to the approaches of her
husband is curiously illustrative of the
marriage customs of many countries, and
In various form-from that of African so.
ciety, in which the bridegroom chases the
fleeing bride, captures, and carries her
away bodily, to that of the HISTORIANS
where the bride remains in corner of the
church until the time comes for the Join.
ing OF hands, when she is dragged hall
across the building by main strength to.
ward her intended husband, who is al
lowed to seize her hand only after a We.
hement struggle, during which the offici
| ating clergyman stands passively by
Harper's Nagozine for October.