Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-04-17
CnURTSHIP IN PERSIA.
Peculiar Methods Employed by Cupid
IN the Land of the shah

LONDON, March SIN the current
number OF the st. James Gazette is
the following interesting description
of courtship in Persia: Love at first
sight is unusual IN a country where
the women are ha5itually YELLED and
a glimpse even of lady's face is sci
dom to be got save by stratagem, or
by what is considered immodest-the
raising of the corner of her veil by
the lady herself Shrouded as sue is
from head to foot in au 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 fiimsy devico, 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 a
long mask in front of the Persian
woman's face when clad In her hide
Gus and purposely upbecoming out
door costume, which, sad TO say, is
also an impenetrable disguise. In it
ali women are alike. An aperture
four inches long, running transversely
across the eyes, enables the Persian
lady to ste her way and little more.
For even this aportuee.Is covered by
elaborate and curious embroidery, be
tween the threads of which she can
only peep, But the Persian belle will
yet find way rewardins 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 dis
guise, cuts both ways, and the intri-
gahtc 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 the 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 po
sition to quote the state OF the mar
riage market, which fluctuates. 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 10 find suitable bride.
Tie young people are not consulted
by the broker. She deals with the
parents and generally with the
mothers. Craftily as householder
she rams glibly over the various ad
vantages, meRtal, physical and PEI
cuniary, of her clientele of both
sexes. So,and>so is steady, quiet
man. Such one has brilliant pros
pects-has Important consideratlOn)
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 house
keeper, the wealth of the ugly daugh
ter of the banker, the dangerous
charms of the potionlrss Zuleakhs
she can HGver say too much about
Her main business IS TO bargain for
the SUM to be paid to the father for
his daughters hand: sum which is
usually expended by that father in
pots and pans (all of copper aad
other utensils, which he presents to
his child as her separate property.
The details being settled after much
haggiing. 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 msy hold some small Office
or have a bit of land or shop Here
the marriage broker" is generally an
amateur, who conducts the negotia-
tons purely from that love of match
making which IS such blessing to
the world