Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-02-10
Marriage in Cuba,

| WIN nave VI HAVE lUJ Dttll NOOtu dllu
won, even in spite Of the difficulties
that often attend that exciting period
of the lives of young men and women
in this country, will thank fortune that
nothing more than an irate father Or
meddlesome mother or empty pocket
book stood in the way of matrimonial
bliss. During dinner one day | was
observing, while talking, scene that
was taking place near the gates of an
opposite house, and | will describe it,
as ii illustrates well the habits Of the
people in love affairs, a well-dressed
young man was speaking from the
outside with Il pretty young lady who
was standing at one of the corners OF
the window. The lover was in such a
position that the persons who were in
the parlor of the young lady's house
could not see him. Sometimes it hap
pened that one of them approached the
window; she then gave notice to the
young man, and he would Immediately
start and stop ut the corner of the
block and stay there watching, As
soon us the risk was over he would
come slowly to his post, in order to con-
tinuc his interrupted conversation.
What troublesome way of counting a
lady. The notice gave to the others
of what was going, afforded me much
information as to this method of court
ship. Sometimes this sort of thing is
going on at each window Of the one.
story houses, and not unfrequently two
in each may he seen. This generally
occurs when the SuitOr is not admitted
on account of not having an intrOduc-
ton or when the parents of the girl
disapprove the acquaintance of their
daughter with the sutOr. The meth
cd, however, is generally condemned
and avoided even by the young men,
who fear to depreciate the character of
the object of their affections. If they
can not visit them they take advantage
of all opportunities of seeing them in
public places, as at church or the thea
tire or possibly at the house of Il COM
mon friend. The chief resource used isa
correspondence, in which the servants
and sometimes the friends Of the young
lady, act as mediators. Some Of these
love-letters are very funny; the love
stricken heroes put the powers of the
pen to the utmost; they exhaust their
eruditiOn and indulge in hyperbOles,
metaphors and similes to an alarming
extent, in order to show the vchemcnce
of their passion, and make the most
impossible promises. The following
is copy of one written, evidently by a
student, which strikes one as an anus
ing burlesquc, but which undoubtedly,
was intended to express 4 great deal;
"MISs: Your beautiful image had
scarcely struck the rCtina of my eye,
hy means of a conyergcnt ray, when
my cava vcna was filled with hot
blood as if | had tasted the nectar
of the gods or the heavenly ambrosia,'
etc.
EndearmcntS of this kind are fire.
quent and are often kept up for years,
and even then do not end in marriage.
1t is not uncommon for the lover TO
disappOint his enamorddo under fliyo-
lOuS prctcXtS, on account Of natural III
cOnstancy, or for more golden pros
pect, for the wealth Of the young lady
is the leading requisite. 1t is said, in
Justice to the fair sex, that they are
very seldom inconStant, scarcely ever
dismissing a lover except for very pow
erful reasons. Cubans generally mar
ry rather late in life the men when
about thirty and the women when
about twenty-five. This is rather sin
gular, considering the influence Of the
climate. The reason for it is hard
one TO find, and no satisfactory one has
ever been given. 1t is rather singular
that one Of the rules respecting mar
riage is the same in Cuba aS in many
parts of the United States, particular
ly in New York. The bridegroom and
bride start from the church where the
ceremony is performed ON trip into
the country, where they stay for a week
or two. Then they return to the city
and give notice of the marriage to their
friends, who Immediately go to greet
them. The greatest possible secrecy is,
however, observed in the performance
of the ceremony, which takes place at
the time the churches are empty, or
leave is obtained from the bishop TO be
married at the lady's residence. The
laws of the church forbid marriages
with persons of different religious be
liefs or among near relatives. The lat
ter prohibition is, however, easily sur
mounted by paying the bishop sum,
the amount of which increases in pro
portion to the intimacy of the kindred.
For legitimate marriages the consent
of the fathers is necessary; if these
be dead, that of the mothers must be
secured. Lastly, that Of the patemal
or maternal grandfather, of the tutor,
and in default of those persons, of the
Judge, provided that the age of the in
dividuals to be married, be over a GER
tain limit, will be sufficient. Clergy
men and nuns are not allowed to mar
ry, but widowers, even with children,
are allowed to become clergymen,
Cold Feet.
Says the London Lancet. II is as we