Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-02
MARRIAGE IN THE ORIENT.
Sunset" Cox Describes the Moham-
medan Ceremony.

Sunset" Cox Describes the Moham-
medan Ceremony.
The ladies of the United States now
have official authority, as it were, ON
"MOhammedan Marriages" S. S. Cox,
"our Minister to Turkey" has furnished
complete Information on this interesting
subject in the July number OF the North
American Revue w. And never since the
lively and versatile Mr.. Cox described
that gorgeous sunset of his youth 80 WV
idly as to attach "A glowing feature of ma
ture TO his name has he depicted anything
with more enthusiasm and fidelity than
he now portrays Il Turkish maiden from
the time she becomes a nominee" for
marriage to the close OF the election"
Although pollgamy is the law OF the land
in rurkey-where a free bachelor may
become enthTalled TO four or five wives If
he desires to throw himself away in that
costly and reckless manner-still, it APP
pears, the forms of betrothal and mar
riage are quite as deliberately, il not recti-
tudlnally, considered in ConstantinOple
as they are in The highly moral and Chris
tian city of New Gork. To be sure, mar
rage with Mussulmans is "merely civil
transaction" with mo religious cere-
mony especially obligatory" In TACT. the
only theological part Of the programme
referred to by Mr.. Cox takes place Just
before the cOnsummatlon OF the marriage,
when the brides feminine acQuaintances
salute and take leave OF her with the
pious exclamation, "Mashallahw which
means May allah guard yOuw
Mohammedars often bet.oth their chill
dren in infancy. The right to make the
contract rests with the father, the pa
ternal grandfather, or some one ia the
position OF legal guardian. If tue father
and the grandfather make different con-
tracts the grand iather's arrangement pre-
walls. AT first thought this seems rather
strange to Americans, but the grandfather,
being the older, undoubtedly knows more
about sucn things, especially in Turkey,
and SO the law may be imagined to rest
on a reasonable foundation. In our higher
civilization It Is unnecessary for parents
TO make marriage contracts for their
children, for the young people are gener-
ally so smart and well educated that they
can beat the old folks two TO one at a
sharp bargain. The Turks are far behind
us, but they evidently mean well.
I'm his North American Review article
Mr.. Cox limits himself 20 the special con-
slderation OF marriage tormalities be-
tween tree adults not covered by contract
in their infancy. CAS- soon as the boy at
tainS "A manageable age his father and
mother cast about TO md 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 damsel that
she thinks would make a nice, night toned
daughter-in.law the fact is reported, with
full particulars, 10 the boys father. II
he likes the description, which is the best
photograph he can get, the mothers next
step is TO call on the damsel and invite
her to be one OF a party to the Turkish
bath, for bathing parties are as fashion,
able in COnstautinople as picnics are in
H0boken. The bath. in fact, is 10 some
extent picnIc. Cooks are kept busy
preparing for 1t, and it ends in banquet.
The ladies 20 in full dress, attended by
servants, and las soon as the parties
meet there Is series OF endless compli-
ments" The candidate for motEer-in-