West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-07-03

der the influence.
Even after a couple are duly en-
gagol and the patcrnal blessing be-
slowed, which happy climax i, brought
about by third party. who negouatcs
for the lover with the Young lady'S
family. Romeo is not permitted To see
his Juliet for one moment alone. lie
may call at stated intervals, If the
parents consent, and converse with his
hancce in the presence Of her family:
but although the formal bctrothai is a
legal ceremony, duly witnessed and
recorded, and almost rs binding
aS marriage itself not until the hN-
mcncal knot is securely tied can hc
exchange one word with her i'm private.
or ION IN her pCrambulat uns ON the
plaza, or attend her anywhere i'm pub
lie. Such trilling details rs asccrtaininv
her tastes and getting acquainted with
her temper are reserved for Counubial
bliss However unsuitable the union
may prove, there is no release but death
under the Cathol c regime. which MAKES
divorce impossible Naturally domestic
tragedies sometimes occur, but truth
compclS us 90 admit that thcv are far
more rare than IN our own land. whore
every opportunity is afforded for intimate
acquaintauCcShip before marriage. The
reason lies in the different education of
the weaker sex. Girls are not cultured
up to the Bostonian point i'm occult
sciences, but the utmost limit of their
learning is little music, a smuttcrng
OF drawing, and perhaps a language or
two besides Their own. Their dainty
fingers can execute marvcls of lace
work and embroidery and sometimes
can fashion their own garmcut-: they
are thoroughly Convcrsant with the
lives OF all the saints and saintCsscS and
the minutcst details of church require
mentS; they can repeat yards upon
yards of catcchsm and OriSOHcs. and
have been carefully nurlurcd i'm the
idea, which has become pert of their
mental being. that the chief end of
woman Is to bc obodient aud submissive
wives, and that upon them dcyolycs the
piouS duty of performing all the prayers
and penanccs that may bc needed to-
win Heaven grace for their sons and
husbands Their gentle hearts. more
over are 10y nature lille with warmcst
tenderness and womanly dcvot on, and
the husband must bc brute indeed if
he can not manage such better half
VINO never dreamed of rebellion.
In many Mexican cities it is customary
TO announce the engagement by printed
cards, similar 10 those used for wed
dln2s, funerals and hOHr0s for the dead.
Among my numerous collection here is
one in fuultlcss Spanish. which SAYS
that SenOr Don MaurO Narci-o Scpul-
Vcda y /aratc and ScnOrita Dolores Re
iugio Nillasena have contracted matri-
mony &. Z. are bctrOthed), anI have
hf -, .fl.. .
pOSictOn dc I--at the readers disposal.
IN Mexico. as in Spain and other South
crn countries, "A lady retains her maiden
cognomcn after mari aye, and though
she attaches her husband to IT,, by
means OF ne, Is still universally known
by her own family name
Marriage here means the expenditure
of more money than the AVERAGE youth
can acquire before his salad days are
safely over. Here a. elsewhere.
bnchclorhood becomes chronic if too
long INDUCED. and few afflicted with il
I'LL after middle age care then tO brave
the pcrlls OF matrimOny. Therefore
Mexico is full Of eligible unmarried
men, and the surplus women OF Now
England can not do better than migra e.
hithcr According 10 Mexican custom.
only furnish a house beforehand. but
must purchase all the welding trous-
scau, even 10 rcmDtcst accts-ions of
toilet, which may be- needed i'm years TO
come. He is also c<pr. ted 10 make
gifts 10 the bridesmaids the brides
family, and all Immediately concerned
besides dcfraving the expense. of we'd
ding festivities. II must be- rcmnm-
bcred that everything cost. enormously y
here "a compared 10 our price, hou g.
hold furniture aud goods all kinds
being imported at great cNpcn.o iu
transportation, as there are compare
lively no manufacturers and few rail-
roads and the duties are simply out
ragcOus
Fortunately for the groom- depleted
pocket book, there is no Going on ON
wedding tours, the presence Of any
thing but stage or mule transit boiug Of
too recent date TO have established n
ia hiOn for such fOOlishuc-- Two -cp-
orato and distinct ceremonies arc re-
qnircd 10 satisfy the demands Of both
state and Church. That of the latter
Is an exceedingly long and tedious rite.
during the progress OF which the con
tracing parties are Obliged 10 knccl
many times, and while i'm that position
q heavy rope Of white silk. firmly tied
IN % true lovers knot. is thrown over
their shoulders, symbOlizing hymeuoal
bondage. ] have never seen or heard
Of bride belonging 90 the better
classes in MoXicO who was not married
i'm white silk or satin. with thc traIi
tOual vail, orange blossoms. and nU
and doubt whether one would consid-
or herself lawfully welded ii otherwise
oitircd, for there must be no deviation
from established custom; even # the
parties are poor i'm aIl save good family
True, the frightened Romeo generally
manages 10 put his foot through 'hc
flowing vail while she struggles with
the enlargement Of her delicate dra-
peries in kncclnQ and rising. and n
must be- confessed that not infrcquont-
~ the most elegant bridal costume
which was ordered with the rest of thc
uou-seau fits her decidedly too loo e-
lV To would bo % miracle indeed. If
dresses made by masculine direction.
without ever having been tried ON by
the lady for whom they were designed
should Do her. 20. our Chatham street
trond would say. "Lika the paper ON
tne wall J have sincerely pitcd more
nan one poor little bride. whose gplcn-
DID 'roussnau. purchased with the lavish
generosity of prcmaritei lovo. which
scorn- expenses as never aficrward
comprises numbers Of rich dresses I'm
winch she - o ligod 90 array herself for