St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-22
cURIos1T1Es OF LovEMAK1NG-
Cases II, Which Smddenness Has Carried
the Day. Instances in Which Women
Haze Taken the Initiatire.


Cases In Which Smddenness Has Carried
the Day. Instances in Which Women
Haze Taken the I,sitiattre.
Sir Arthur Helps gave it as his belief that
since the world was created two couples
ever made love after the same fashion. And
since sit takes all sorts of folks to make a
world' they may be fairly supposed to do
their counting in all sorts of ways. For in
stance, the counting of the aboriginal of Aus
tralia consisted simply in knocking the wo-
man of his preference down with club and
carrying her off. This form of wooing was
as brief, and was certainly commendable on
the score OF economy, since it subjected
neither party to the expense of lights, fires,
oyster suppers, ice cream, elaborate dresse S,
flowers, etc., which are the usual con conf
tants OF civilized love making. But the
method OF the Australians has been tried by
other than the dusky savages.
It is historical fact that William the Con-
queror conducted his courtship in similar
manner Having fallen in love with a
Flemish maiden he had told her of his pre-
ference but received in return only scorn
and Indifference. Becoming enragcd at this
he one day attacked the damsel in the open
street and pommeled her numerically. The
result was that she consented to his suit and
made him, when married, one of the meek
est wives imaginable. In civilized countries
of our day this counting ceremony is, strange
to say. sometimes used after marriage
Some curious counting customs prevailed
in Africa. In one tribe of Eastern Africa it is
regarded as the ne plus ultra of gallantry for
the lover to parade before the hut Of his in
amorata astride of huge boar. Mungo
Park tells of tribe in the interior where
custom compels woman to carry calabash
of water to the man who has expressed pre-
ference for her. Seated on mat before his
door. he washes his hands in the vessel, and
then the women drinks the water as token
of her affection. Less repulsive was the act
of the lover among the ancient Persans, who
burned his hand or cheek to prove his devo-
ton and then showed it to his lady love. If
she was ''willin'' she bound the injured
part with silken scarf; but if obdurate she
sent the man to the physician for heal
ing salves.
Among the Moravians it was the custom
for the minister to select wives for the men
of his congregation, If a ''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 priests elo-
ouence. Strange to say, the historian tells
US that these marriages were generally hap
Ply.
GREENLANDERS.
In Greenland the services of the pastor of
his flock are also called in. A man who has
made up his mind that his worldly circum-
stances warrant him in indulging in what
has been called ''the abstract desire of every
man to furnish board and lodging 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 making, which
was not very kindly received, but adds,
seThou knowest the ways of mankind" In
Greenland, be it remarked, it is an accepted
fact in social philosophy that a woman's no
means yes. The priest calls upon the young
woman and pleads the case of her lover, as
surfing her that he is good man; that he
catches many seals, etc. 1t is the custom
for the women to reject all proposals at first,
but to yield at last an unwilling assent. If
the priest thinks she is too obstinate he gen.
orally remarks, 'Ah, well, it is no matter; I
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.
In st, Petersburg, Russia, custom pre-
vailed for many years-though declined
greatly in importance, it has not gone who'll
" out of use-which was designed to stimu-
late the laggards in courtship. On Whit
Sunday there was held, in the Summer Gar
den, one of the city's parks, fair of all the
damsels of the city who wanted husbands.
Dressed in their best, with all the ornaments
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 parents or
guardians toinsure propriety Of behavior, to
facilitate matrimonial bargains. The men
in search of wives strolled about scrutinizing
all the candidates at leisure. When man
saw one that pleased him he usu.lly 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 nuptial ceremony
followed as speedily as the would be bride
groom desired.
We had custom precisely like this still in
existence in distiictin the south of Ireland.
There it is known as ''shrafting," the name
being derived 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 village green by the par
ents, 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 hui
man can look on exhibition. 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 haggle
over marriage portions. The preferences of
the young people are fully understood by the
elders and commendabe 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 cere-
mony occurs on Shrove Tuesday, it is often
ga short shrift and long rope' to the will
ing victims, for Lent beginning the following
day, which Der force postpones all marriages
for six weeks the majority of the couples are
united by the priest the same evening.
''Happy is the wooing
Which is not long in doing,''
the sentiment of the ardent Celt, was also
the belief of the famous DR.. Alternately. This
gentleman, when he made up his mind
to marry, was no longer young, and he
went about the business in an eminently
practical manner. Having met frequently
at the home of one his patients, young
woman whose comeliness and amiability
had quite pleased him, he sought private
interview with her, told her he would like to
marry her, if she had no objections, but had
no time to spend in counting her. If, how
ever she would marry him and could be
ready in two weeks, he would call and take
her to the church for the ceremony. She
was ready at the time appointed, and Meth