The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-20
HOW RUSSIAN GIRLS ARE COUNTED.

Love is the same the world over, but
counting" is managed very differently in
different countries. Russian counting.
among the middle classes, is peculiar. The
first Whit-Sunday after the young girl Ia
acknowledged by her mother to be Of mar
riageable years, she is taken to the Peters
burg summer-garden to join the bridal
promenade This consists Of the daugh-
tiers of the Russian tradesmen walking in
procession, followed by their parents. Up
and down they 60, pretending to chat with
each other and take no notice Of the young
men-tradesmen's sons. dressed in their
best ciothes-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 moments. and
soon they leave the promenade and are
joined by the parents Of the young man.
Generally, the old folks have talked it wen
over before, but on this occasion every
one pretends to be surprised. On the
next day female confdante 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. IL this ia unsatisfac-
tory, all is at an end; if it is what il ex-
pected the betrothal takes place.
The bride and bridegroom kneel down
upon a great fur mat, and the bride takes
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 daugh-
ter's head, and her father holds the image
of his daughters patron saint over his
future son-in-law's well brushed locks. As
Al ~ hid dc MS
song The guests each bring forward
present of some sort. Wine is handed
about, and some one says it is bitter and
needs sweetening. Upon this the bride
groom kisses the bride-the sweetness be-
ing supposed to be provided by this kiss
salutes the company and takes his leave,
on which the bridesmaids sing song with
chorus 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 a present which is always something
good to eat-generally cakes Or sugar
plums He makes love under rather swk-
ward circumstances, for the bridesmaids
sit about the betrothed pair in circle
singing songs descriptive of their happi-
ness.
The last evening Of the courtship is en-
livened by the presentation OF the gifts OF
the bridegroom, which must include brush
es combs, soap and perfumery. On re-
ceiving these, the bridesmaids instantly
carry the bride away, and wash her, dress
her hair, and perfume her pocket handker-
chief
Thus touched up, she returns TO the COM
pany. and the brides father gives his sor-
in-law the marriage portion, which he
L. l. h h bar
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 ceremonies Of the
Greek church, and the old folks never 60
to the wedding dinner.
Those eternal bridesmaids, whom they
must hate by this time. are there. however.
still on duty, and the evening closes By the
bride kneeling down and pulling OF OF her
husbands boots to prove her intention 10
be an obedient and submissive wife.
Good-natured bridegrooms generally
hide jewelry or money in their boots. which
the bride may take possession Of as balm
| for the bride. After the wedding day the
parents begin TO give feasts. and keep 1t
up week, and it is not till all this 10 over
| that the young couple" see these blessed
bridesmaids take their departure. They
are then compelled to kiss them, thank
| them, and give them each present.
A Florida youth has discovered that