Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-04-23
COURTSHIP IN PERSIA.
Peculiar NTeth DDS Employed by Cupid
I'm the Land of the Shah.

/ LONDON, laICH Oil b1C
number of the St. James Gazette is
the following interesting description
of courtship in Persia: Love at first
sight is unusual in country where
the women are habitually veilled and
a glimpse even of lady's face is sell
dom to be got save by stratagen, or
by what is considered immodest-th
raising OF the corner Of her veil by
the lady herself Shrouded as she is
from head to foot in an immense sheet
of blue two yards square, a yet fur
ther precautiOn must be taken. Over
all this is placed rub band, or veil
no transparent or fimsy device, as is
our own lace ''fall" or the thin and
gauzy yaskmak of the Turkish belle.
serviceable alike to triumphant and
to fading beauty. The rhu~band is
piece of white calico or cambria, a
yard long, which hangs down like
long mask in front of the Persian
woman's face when clad In her hide
GUS and purposely unbecOming OUT
door costume, which, sad to say, is
also an impenetrable disguise. Ia it
ali women are alike. An aperture
four inches long, running transversely
LI1c eyes Il1C C1S1cSu
lady to see her way and little more.
For even this apertuee is covered by
elaborate and curious embroidery, be-
tween the threads of which she can
only peep, But the Persian belle will
yet find a way rewarding an admirer
with glance, and thus the marriages
so carefully brought about by parents
and relatives are not infrequently the
result of predictions slyly manifest
ed. The outdoor dress, being a dis
guise, cuts both ways, and the intri-
gante amuses herself with impunity.
Certain marriages take place because
In the eyes of Orientals they are
natural ones, such as the union of
first cousins. The children have been
like brother and sister from thG cradle,
and they are married as matter of
course; it is their fate and they must
submit to it. But outside these mar
riages of custom, and far more numer-
Gus than the marriages of prediction
to which we have referred, are the
marriages usually arranged by ''bro-
kers." These brokers are old women,
who always keep themselves in a po-
sition to quote the state Of the mar
riage market, which fuctuates. In
hard times even girls of good appear
ance are comparatively drug. In
times of plenty they rule high"
The marriage broker is ever well
come guest where there are daughters
to marry, and also in houses where
the sons wish TO find suitable bride.
The young people are not consulted
by the broker. She deals with the
parents and generally with the
mothers. Craftily as a householder
she runs glibly over the various ad-
vantages, mental, physical and Pc
cuniary, of her clientele of both
sexes. So.and>so is a steady, quiet
man. Such a one has brilliant pros
pects-has Important consideration
no other wife. AS for Yusuf, how
good-looking he is. And Hassan, no
man was ever so good-tempered. OF
the other sex she sang the praises no
less. The skill of Bebe as a house
kesper, the wealth of the ugly daugh
ter of the banker, the dangerous
charms Of the potionless Zuleakha
she can never say too much about.
Her main business is to bargain for
the suna to be paid to the father for
his daughters hand; a sum which is
usually expended by that father ia
pots and pans (all of copper and
other utensils, which he presents to
his child as her separate property.
The details being settled after much
haggllng. the young people are en-
gagged, and the marriage broker gets
her commission both from the parents
of the bridegroom and those of the
BRIDE elect. Among the poor and the
laboring classes the bargain is ar
ranged on other grounds. The
peasant takes a wife for her thews
and sinews, or her skill at weaving
carpets or making cheese, while the
bridegroom is or is not eligible, accor-
ding as he may BE capable of hard
work, or may hold some small Office
or have bit of land or a shop. Here
the marriage broker" is generally an
amateur, who coaducts the negotia-
tions purely from that love of match
making which is such q blessing to
the world.
The akd, or marriage contract, is
simply a legal form; but it is mar
riage and not betrothsl. A few
friends are invited; the bride -perN
haps a child of ten is seated in
room with her parents and relations;
over the door hangs the usual curtain.
Or, if the ceremony takes place
IN one room or the open air, the
women are all yelled. At the other
end of the curtain, in an outer room
or Ia the open air, are the male guests;
and here squats the moollah or priest
of the quarter, who now drones oEt
ia menotonous voice the marriage
contract, which has been previously
drawn cut by him. ''It is agreed be-
tween Hassan the draper, who is vak-
eel agent for Houssein, the son of
the baker, that he, Houssein, hereby
acknowledges the receipt Of the por>
ton Nissa, the daughter of Achmet
the grocer" Here follows the list Of
the property of the bride IN lands,
moneys, houses, cattle, dresses, fur
niture, carpets, pots, pans, and SO en-.
Always a copy of the Koran and
certain weight of sewing silk are .aen-