Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-07-01
MOHAMMEDAN MARRIAGES.

MOHAMMEDAN MARRIAGES.
The ladies of the United States now hav,
official authority, as it were, on "Moham
medan Marriages" S. S. Cox, sour Minis
ter to Turkey" has furnished complete In
formation on this interesting subject, in the
July number of The North american Reviev
And never, since the lively and versatile
Mr.. Cox described that gorgeous sunset o
his youth so vividly as to attach glowing
feature of nature to his name, has he depict
ed anything with more enthusiasm and
| fidelity than he now portrays a Turkish
maiden, from the time she becomes nom.
inee" for marriage to the close of the 'elec.
tion."
Although poygamy is the law of the land
| in Turkey-Where free bachelor may be
come enthralled to four wives, if he desires
to throw himself away in that costly and
reckless manner-stil, it appears, the forms
of betrothal and marriage are quite as Ella
| borately, if not rectitudinaly considered, in
| Constantinople, as they are in tho highly
moral and Christian city of New York.
TO be sure, marriage with Mussulmans is
merely civil transaction" with mo re-
ligious ceremony especially obligatory" In
fact the only theological part of the pro-
gramme referred to by Mr.. Cox takes place
just before the consummation of the mar
rage, when the BRIDES feminine acquain-
pious exclamation, "NIashallah!" which
means, "May Allah guard you!"
Mohammedans often betroth their child
ren in infancy. The right TO make the con-
tract rests with the father, the paternal
grandfather, or some one in the position of
legal guardian. If the fatherand the grand.
sthhs atthsF make dIbssse. CONTRACTS the grand.
cans but the grandfather, being the older,
undoubtedly knows more about such things,
especially in Turkey, and 80 tho law may
be imagined to rest on reasonable founda-
ton. In our higher civilization it ls unne
cessary for parents to make marriage con-
tracts for their children ; for the young peo:.
plo are generally so smart and we'll educated
that they can beat the old folks two to one
at q sharp bargain. The Turks are far be.
hind us, but they evidently mean we'll.
In his North american Reuiep article, Mr..
| Cox limits himself to the special con5idera-
ton of marriage formalities between free
adults not covered by contract in their In
fancy.
| "As soon as tho boy attains the marriage
able age, his father and mother cast about
to find him a wife," The mother looks
| around carefully in all the harems
of her "set"-that is, the rooms
separately and solely devoted to Turkish
| ladies. in the households of her friends
| When she finds a damsel that she
thinks would make moe, high-toned
daughter.in.law, the fact is reported, with
full particulars, to the boys father. If he
| likes the description, which is the best pho
togrsph he can get, the mothers next step
is to call on the damsel and invite her to be
one of party to the Turkish bath; for bath
inc parties are as fashionable in Constanti-
noble as picnics are in Hoboken. The bath,
in fact, is, to some extent, o picnic. Cooks
are kept busy preparing for it, and it ends
in q banquet. The ladies go in full dress,
attended by servants, and las soon as the
parties meet, there is q series OF endless
compliments.n The candidate for mother
in-law pays special, unremitting attention
to the young girl who is the queen OF
the May on this bathing excursion.
The bath and banquet, coffee, sher-
bet and cigarettes, are beautifully
adapted to bring out virginal attractions
both physical and mental, to tbe eye OF "a an
experienced would-be naoenef'ln'ih"; Sno
knows good deal about the young natner
at the conclusion OF the picnic which may
last three or four hours" >,
Then she makes second ana more 80 ue
tailed report to her husband. If it is favor
able and he audits it, che pays visit TO Tue
other family and "pops the queshon"-.sS
tha o;rIjs mother. She always bushes ana
:. ysry much surprised, but feels duly non
ored by the pyoposal, and promises to lay
Il hafore the girls father. If he consents
the two old governors hold meeting, come
down to business, and fix up the dover ano
the "happy day."
The other half is held back as o sort OF al
mony for the wife in case of Reputation
In Turkey this precaution is a wise one; 10
divorce is easy, and divorced wife Is un
der the painful penalty of remaining slngl
for six months. During that time tne nai
dover is handy for board and clothes:
In the Ottoman Empire marriage 1estiV. Wv
Ties generally begin on Monday ana iast !ou
days' Four different grades OF lnVltatlon
are sent out for these different Gays, oee1n
ming with cards to the hign olgnltas.es y
the place, and ending Win open uoors a " ~ %
a.;ga aach in the separate establishment,
.ha;r relatives and friends, go through tn,
oaranonial. On the fourth day-the aitel
uonn of Thursday two parties game
~ tho house where the couple are to i've.
49, .ha Uomen in the harem lik and the men
.ho W. ssIam Xix. which means in Englisn @ eau
Sa1 on. their own side OF PARTITION ine
see sea display lis of the brides preseots Is IN - o
~ Iau IN almost as civilized fashion rs Tue
d do it on Fifth avenue: : ~, rb,irs,,a
: Rut IN the morning of this inufa""
= .hara na' has o been gorgeous procession of ca
d rn r;saes from the brides old home. que ,,'