Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-04-03

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scarf; but if obdurate she sent the
man to the physician for healing
salves.
Among the Moravians it was the
custom for the minister to select wives
for the men of his congregation. If
SISTER" had any objection to the
brother selected for her life partner
she was permitted to state it, but it
was generally overruled by the priest
eloquence. Strange to say, the his
torians tells us that these marriages
We're generally happy.
GREENLANDERs.
In Greenland the services of the
pastor of his flock are also called in.
A mar who has made up his mind
that his worldly circumstances war
rant him in indulging in what has
been called 1.-The abstract desire of
every man to furnish board and lodg-
ing to some young lady" and has
decided which young lady he wishes
to be taxed for calls on the reverend
father and states the case The inquiry
is made whether the girl knows OF the
suit, to which the man replies that he
has made some preliminary love ma
king, which was not very kindly re
ceived, but adds, "Thou knowest the
ways of mankind. In Greenland, be
it remarked, it is an accepted fact in
social philosophy that womans no
means yes. The priest calls upon the
young women and pleads the case of
her lover, assuring her that he is a
good man; that he catches many seals,
etc. 1t is the custom of the women
to reject all proposals at first, but to
yield at last in an unwilling assent
If the priest thinks she is too obstinate
he generally remarks, "Ah, we'll, it is
no matter; ! can easily find another
woman who will have such good
provider " and turns to leave, which
action brings the stubborn maiden to
terms at once.
Ia ST. Petersburg, Russia, as custom
prevailed for many years though de-
clined greatly in Importance, it has
not gone wholly out of use-which
was designed to stimulate the laggards
in courtship. On Whit-Sunday there
was held, in the Summer Garden, one
of the city's parks, fair of all the
damsels of the city who wanted hus-
bands. Dressed in their best, with
ali the ornament at command, and
holding silver spoons or other ware in
their hands, to show that they were
not wholly portionless, they stood in
rows under the trees, attended by pa
rents or guardians to insure propriety
of behavior, to facilitate matrimonial
bargains. The men IN search of wives
strolled about scrutinizing all the can
didates at leisure. When a man saw
one that pleased him he usually intro
duced himself to her custodians and
if his statement of family, business
and prospects were satisfactory he
was made acquainted with the young
woman and invited to her residence.
After this the nupsial ceremony fol
lowed as speedily as the would be
bridegroom desired.
We had custom precisely like this
still in existence in a district in the
south of Ireland There it is known
as "shrafting," the name being de
rived from Shrove Tuesday, the day
on which it is held. On that day all
the manageable young people OF
both sexes are marshaled on the vii
liage green by the parents, the girls
in all the glory of Sunday gowns and
gay ribbons, as lovely as fresh blown
roses, evidently enjoying their blush
es, and the young men, also in their
best attire looking as foolish as only
the male human can look on exhibit
ion. The two sexes are stationed in
line apart from each other and the
parents pass between to vouchsafe
proposals or to receive them, and to
Maggie over marriage portions. The
preferences Of the young people are
fully understood by the elders and
commendable effort is made to crafty
them, the main object of the parents
being to secure as good setout as
possible for the young couples. As
this ceremony occurs on Sbrove
Tuesday, it is often "a short shrift
and a long rope to the willing vie
TINS, for Lent beginning the follow
ing day, which by force postpones
all marriages for six weeks the ma
jority of the couples are united by the
priest the same evening.
A California miner, having amaSsed
quite fortune, was returning by
ship to, New York to visit old friends
and to find him a wife. 4 young wo-
man on board the ship, serving in the
capacity of nursery governess to the
family of merchant on board, pleas
ed him much by her neat and modest
appearance. He therefore introduced
himself one day and broke the ice OF
his purpose with one reckless plunge
Madam, my name is ; my
parents and family reside in New
Hampshire; | have property amount
ing to 5000, 000, and expect TO engage in
business in, / am temperate
man and can give you good reference,
to testify of my general upright char
acter. am unma lied and want a
wife," The-lady took in the character
of he sutton at once. Thank you,
said she, Il will, " and on landing
they were forthwith married.
Such was the case with the young
lady who assured her lover that she
could make a beautiful cake, all filled
with fruit with ring on the top, and