The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-10-13
How Russian Girls Are Oourted.

How Russian Girls Are Oourted.
Love is the same the world over, but
''courting" is managed very differently
in different countries. Russian counting,
among the middle classes, is peculiar.
The first Whit-Sunday after the young
girl is acknowledged by her mother to
be of marriagable years, she is taken to
the Petersburg summer garden to join
the "bridal promenade" This consists
of the daughters of the Russian trades
men walking in procession, followed by
their parents. Up and down they 60.
pretending to chat with each other and
to take no notice of the young men
the tradesmen's sons dressed in their
best clothes-who walk in another pro-
cession on the other side. However,
every now and then some young fellow
slips out of his proper rank and adds
himself to the line of girls on the other
side, speaking to one particularly. The
parents of the girl join in conversation
in few minutes, and soon they leave
the promenade and are Joined by the
parents of the young man. Generally,
tie old folks have talked it well over be-
fore, but on this occasion everyone pre-
tends to be surprised. On the next day
a female confidante calls on the girls
parents and requests her hand. This
granted, all the relations on both sides
meet and argue about the portion to be
given with the girl. If this is not salts
factory, all is at IN end if it is what is
expected, the betrothal takes place.
The bride and bridegroom kneel down
upon a great fur mat, and the bride
takes q ring from her finger and gives
it to the bridegroom, who returns the
gift by another. The BRIDES mother
meanwhile crumbles piece of bread
over her daughters head, and her faith
err holds the image of his daughters
patron saint over his future son-in-law's
well brushed locks. AS they arise brides
maids sing wedding song. The guests
each bring forward present of some
sort. Wine is handed about, and some
one says it is bitter and needs sweeten-
ing. Upon this the bridegroom kisses
the bride-the sweetness being supposed
to be provided by this kiss-salutes the
company and takes his leave, on which
the bridesmaids sing song with cho-
rus something like this:
Farewell, happy bridegroom,
But return to be still more happy"
Counting time has now begun. Every
evening the lover comes to his lady's
home with q present which is always
something good to eat-generally cakes
or sugar plums. He makes love under
awkward circumstances, for the brides
maids sit about the betrothed pair in a
circle, singing songs descriptive of their
happiness.
The last evening of the courtship is
enlivened by the presentation of the
gifts of the bridegroom, which must in
clude brushes, combs, soap and per-
fumery. On receiving these, the brides
maids instantly carry the bride away,
and wash her, dress her hair and per-
fume her handkerchief.
Thus touched up, she returns to the
company, and the brides father gives
his future son-in-law the marriage por-
ton, which he takes home with him in
n neat bag.
The next morning he returns for the
lady herself. She receives him with her
hair unbranded and flowing down her
back. They are married by the cere-
monies of the Greek church, and the
old folks never go to the wedding din
ner.
Those eternal bridesmaids, whom they
must hate by this time, are there, how
ever, still on duty, and the evening
closes by the bride kneeling down and
pulling off her husbands boots to prove
her intention to be an obedient and sub
missive wife.
Good-natured bridegrooms generally
hide jewelry or money in their boots,
which the bride may take possession OF
as balm for her pride. After the wed.
ding day the parents begin to give feasts,
and keep it up a week, and it is not till
all this is over that the young couple
see those blessed bridesmaids take their
departure. They are then compelled to
kiss them, thank them. and give them
each a present.