Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-08-14
MARRIAGE IN PERSIA.
1reat Importance of the Mother.
fn.LaVv In that Country.
From the st. James Gazette. 7

sreat Importance of the Mother.
fn.Lnw In that Country.
From the st. James Gazette.J
In Persia a girl marres to fill the
place of her husbands confidant and
friend, to rule his household, and.
above all things, TO be mother of
chiidfen. The marriages of the rich
are generally dictated BY policy, wh,'e
those OF the middle and lower classt
are often arranged by the parents.
Love matches are the exception. Per-
| SANS as a rule try to arrange what thew
consider suitable matches for their
children. Polygamy is the exception
ana not the rule, and where there are
TWO or more wives there are also two
or more establishments. Neither lodo.
Ings, money, servants, clothes, nor
Jewels are held in common, and the
only source OF contention is the So
clety OF the husband. Bnt the wives.
instead of being jealous rivals, are
usually the best of friends.
While it is quite trne that theoreti-
cally man can be rid of his wife by
saving before witnesses: "Thou. art
divorced, yet practically to obtain a
divorcei in Persia Is almost as difficult
as IL Is i'll Europe. In Persia the poor
est OF women does not marry without
q settlement, which has TO be made
good i'll case Of divorce; and at her
marriage her relatives exact from the
husband an acknowledgment of a far
arger portion than is actually paid to
him. 1t is the liability to pay this, the
"mehr, that restrains the husband
from divorce save on the strongest
grounds. In cases where mutual dis
taste IS very strong, aud divorce de-
sired by both parties, the matter is
simply arranged by the wife agreeing
not to exact the whole or even part
OF her settlement. There is another
safeguard against frivolous divorce-a
uiVorced man or woman does not find
iC easy 10 make respectable marriage,
The marriage of first cousins Is the
favorite union. The reason ia that
cousins have acquaintance and friends
from childhood, while to all the rest of
the world. save her brothers and sis
tefs, the young girl is a veiled mystery;
SO that unless there is mutual disin-
or too great disparity of
age, the Persian youth looks naturally
TO the daughter of my uncle" as his
future wife. Often the cousins are
Detrothed from childhood. As q rule.
classes do not mingie in marriage. The
sons OF merchants wed merchants'
daughters, the young tradesman mates
with his like, and SO with the members
OF the servant and soldier classes.
But III Persia, as everywhere else,
extraordinary personal attractions soon
become known and have their advan-
tage. The beauty of the lower or
middle classes need not aspire in vain.
Inc mother of the kings eldest and
Iavorlte son, the most powerful man in
PERSIA, was the daughter of miller,
who caught the Shahss eve while wash
Ing clothes at the brook side. Manv
poor and handsome girl Is welded
without portion for her beauty's sake.
The young wife does not Immediate
" assume the responsibilities of her
position. Carefully tended as bride
Tor the first year Of her welded life,
she willingly remains under the tutu-
age of her mother-in.law if she have
one, or if she be the daughter of
widow her mother usually accompanies
her to her new establishment. Mothers.
n-Iaw have better time IN Persia
nan i'll some other countries. There
hey are regarded as the natural guar
1ians of the inexperienced bride, and
he proper care-takers of the younp
mother and her infant offspring. From
he mother-in-law is learned the arts
II housekeeping. Under her ewes all
purchases are made from the huckster
,r female peddler, for visit to the
bazaar by young wife before she has
,lessed her husband with children
would be considered a scandal among
he upper. middle, or tradesman class.
)nly among the very poor of the vii
lagers does the young wife, save ON
ceremonial occasions, leave the shadow
# her husbands roof. tree during the
lrst year of her marriage
But the first year of WifehOod has
'assed away, and relatives and friends
ave been summoned to celebrate the
lappy birth of a son or daughter. If
he former, then indeed is the position
I the wife happy one. She receives
he congratulations of her friends and
cquaintances and holds high festival.
Ter husband dignifies her by the title
Mother Of Hassan,' or whatever
ne little ones name may be, and from
nat day her owu name is no longer
sed: If she is only blessed with a
still she is not cursed with
fertility, that terror of the Oriental
roman; and she may hope that heaven
hay yet bless her with son.
Consulted in all matters, the Persian
life is her husbands trusted confidant
MI counselor. ''But she Is yelled, the
oor thing, closely veiled!" exclaims
le pitying EDglfsh woman. Yes, she is
eilei. And loath would she be to
art with what she looks on as a dis
notion and privilege To her the
I'll is the badge of modesty and the
ken OF responsibility.
And has she any ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
~ education; or is she merely the
other of the children? These oues-
ons are easily answered. Many OF
70 Persian middle-clss s. women are
ghly educated ACCORDING to Oriental
cas-. They read and often write
'etry; they sing and play, as rule,
eii, ana are nistressesa of all the arts
plain and fancy needlework; pastry
aking and confectionery are among
cir pleasures. The accomplishments
the poor ones are naturally of a
ore useful kind. They are good cooks
Il bread-bakers; they make the
'thes OF the entire household; they
.en are able to add largely to the
lily income by their knowledge of
me business or trade, and none of
em are idle