Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-09-08
WINSTON, N. c., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 1881
How the Russian Girls are Courted.

Love is the same the world over,
but scourting' is managed very diff
forently in different countries.
Russian courtship, among the mid-
die classes, is peculiar. The first
Whit Sunday after the young girl
is acknowledged by her mother to
be of marriageable years, she is
taken to the Petersburgh Summer
garden to join the Bridal Prone
nade.' This consists of the daugh-
ters of the Russian tradesn:en
walking in procession followed by
their parents. Up and down they
go. pretending to chat with each
other and to take no. notice OF the
young men-the tradesmcn's sons,
dressed in their best clothes-who
walk in another procession on the
other side. However, every now
and then some young fellow slips
out of his proper r..nk and adds
himself to the line of girls on the
other eide, speaking to one partic-
ularly. The parents of the girl
| Join in the conversation in few
moments, and coon they leave the
promenade and are joined by the
parents of the young man. Gen
orally the old folks have talked it
we'll over before, but on this occa-
sion every one pretends to bc sur
prised. On the next day female
confdante calls on the girls par
ents and requests her hand. This
granted, all the relations on both
sides meet and argue about she isof-
tion 10 be given with the girl. If
this is not satisfactory all is at an
end ; If 1t is what Is expected, the
betrothal takes place.
The bride and bridegroom kneel
down upon mat, and the brides
father takes ring from her finger
and gives it to the bridegroom,
who receives the gift by another.
The brides mother meanwhile
crumbles piece Of bread over hel
daughters head, and her father
holds the image of his arghter's
patron saint over his future son-;r.
laws well-brushcd locks.
Aa they arise the bridesmaids
sing a wedding song. The guests
each bring forward a present OF
some sort. Wine is handed about
and some one says it is bitter and
needs sweetering. Upon this the
bridegroom kisses the bride-tne
sweetness being supposed to be
provided by this kiss aalutes the
company, ard takes h:s leave, or
which the bridesmaids sing a song
with chorus something like this
'.Fa~ewell, happy bridegroom:
But return to be still more harpy.'
Courting time has now begun
Every evening the lover comes t.
} his lady's home with present
} which ls always something good tt
eat-generaily cakes or sugar
; plums. He makes love undcl
rather awkward CIRCUMSTANCES, fo
} the bridesmaids cit about the be-
} trothcd pair in s circle, singinf
I songs descriptive OF their happiness
One pities the poor Young Rus
3 slams little at this point, but thu
wedding day is not long delayed
3 The last evening of the courtsh;I
0 is enlivened by the presentation 0
5 the gifts of the bridegroom, whicl
5 must inclnde brushes, combs, soaI
I and perfumery. On fcccivin.
4 these the bridesmaids instantly car
2 ry the bride away and wash hel
8 dress her hair and perfume he
4 handkerchief. Thus tonched uT
Q she returns to the company, an
l the brides father gives his fntur
. son-in-law the marriage portion
z which he takes home with him in
| neat bag.
% The next morning he returns fo
- the lady herself, She receives hir
e with her hair unbraided and flow
q ing down her back. They al
married ty the ceremonies of th
q Greek church, and the old foil
n never so to the wedding Dime
\ Those eternal bridesmaids, who,
9 they mnst hate by this time, al
there, however, still on duty, an
'6 the evening closes by the Bird
n, kreelipg down and pulling off he
III husbands boots to prove her intel
tion to be al ohedicnt and subrnis
= sive wife.
> Good-natured bridegrooms gen
IN IN orally hide jewelry or money
~ their boots, WHICH the bride ms
20 take possession of as balm for h,
pride. After the wedding day IL
k parents begin to give feasts, ar
keep it up week, and it is not u
til all this is over that the your
couple see those blessed brides
m maids take their departure. The
ID are then compelled to kiss theI
l. thank them, and give to each
IN present. How would von like