The Arizona sentinel., 1886-08-28
desperate anoer because she allowed

desperate anger because she allowed
 herself, after a years hard saving, to
 buy some calico for Sunday dress. I
 know an old couple, parents of num-
 Der of grown-up children, who at cer-
 tain seasons in the year, as regularly as l clock-work, are intoxicated. Every
 thing that is found in the house is taken
 to the tavern and exchanged for vodka,
 and thus by the time they begin to real
 ize their horrid position, good portion
 of linen, grain, flour and eggs is gone.
 The husbands anger then knows no
 limits, and the poor feeble wife, who
 probably is the least to blame, suffers
 from her lord all insults imaginable. 1
 know a quiet and peaceful young
 peasant, who after being constantly
 ridiculed by his comrades for being too
 lenient with his wife, for allowing her
 to have too much to say, slapped her
 face upon one solemn occasion in the
 presence of his friends merely for the
 sake of denying this degrading accusa-
 ton and establishing his reputation as
 her master. Such is the lot of peas
 ant woman. She is perfectly aware of
 the i'll treatment awaiting her in her fu
 ture home, yet she is satisfied and re-
 signed to her fate,
 Oftentimes, however, it happens that
 peasant marries not only without hav-
 ing the faintest idea of the girls char
 acter, but almost without having had
 chance to exchange few words with her. This is generally done at the time,
 when for some reason or other. there IS
 no possibility of marrying any of the
 girls of his own village, and when
 marry he must. On fine morning the
 bridegroom, dressed up in his best
 wooden svita, with the brightest red
 colored belt, high sheepskin hat and
 newest of boots, may be seen proudly
 starting out in company with few
 elderly and experienced peasants en-
 gagged for this purpose by the bride
 grOom's parents, in search of a good
 girl No house containing a girl is
 passed by.
 Upon entering the house the wife
 hunting party say few words of GUS 1 tomary salutation, such as ''health be
 to you, good people," and immediately,
 without beating around the bush, ap-
 proach the subject. This business-Ike i transaction, it is worth while mention ing, is often carried on in the absence
 of the girl directly concerned in the
 matter. The bridegroom upon such oc-
 casions is supposed to have but little or
 nothing to say. The conversation is
 carried on between the parents of the
 girl and those entrusted with this inn
 portant mission. If the girls parents, | for some reason or other, Ic not intend
 to let their child he married at present
 the guests are politely toi, Q, and after
 inquiring if there are any suitable girH in that Immediate neighhc@ooH .le leave the house. As general lhii,S' hoHeuer the party eAperlenceS HC ui
 fculty in obtainirT the ohlect uesiIeu; After the parents have decided the gln is summoned ai Cnce, and here IT, quently ensu es a s,ene worthy of an att
 ist's brush. She takes her place by the
 stove and withoit lifting her eyes. b.t-
 ing her nails ard assuming the most h.
 nocent face. fequently keeps the patty waiting for Q long while before the laconic ''ves" (da) isextorted from her There is h.rdly need of adding thst when once the parents decision f ma le no prayers or tears on the gigi part ! can alter ii. 4 rope and strap brings the most stubborn tchadO to t-rms-
 As soon as the busy seasor Is over the marriage season takes its pace. 1t gen orally lasts from the midd5 of SepJ5m- Der till late in Novembe7. The young folks begin to prepare themselves for the approaching festivities. Women have their hands full n preparing vari- ous fancy baked dishes and other things suitable upon such occasions-men in bottling the vodka, engaging musicians and working about the house. The viii lage, which only a few weeks ago looked as though it were forsaken, assumes now a gay and lively appearance. Every vilIaC-~- iN now more or less in a state Df eXcltemehG- Q-t here tk pIluI' lressed in brocaded snort skirt With lalf dozen folds, in a charming long ,r sleeveless garment called korsyet. her lair full of bright and streaming rib ,ons and flowers, starts out, accom- panied by her girl friend, called druzhka, o invite her relatives and friends to the wedding. Every one she meets, whether friend or stranger, is greeted with bow nearly to the ground. That means ''You ore welcome, good people, to attend my Very often I used to avail myself of such opportunities. What in terested me most the first time [ attended peasants wedding was the sight of the lively crowd that surrounded the izba (hut) where the wedding took place. The |, gloomy and stern expression so natural S to the peasant it seemed to me was t changed to one of joy and happiness. No uproar, no strong language, in { short, not the least sign of any thing { -ough could be noticed in the lively ( ,rowd; all behaved in a manner worthy 2 If people of higher standard of cul- S ure. The brides father, who, upon ' uch occasions is called swat by every t ,ody, passed around the crowd and ' reated all who were present as well as Z le could from large bottle of vodka { md a wooden dish full of slices of wheat ( bread, which answered the purpose of l wedding cake. Wishes for the prosper , ty of the newly-married couple, of the I parents of the bride bridegroom and of III good people in general, as well as i or the eternal peace of the dead, were I leard upon all sides. Fs
 But here the ringing of bell some what startled the crowd. ''Ah, the I A few moments later 2 hree wagons, each with troika, or pan of three horses, stopped in front # the gate. As the bridegroom, accom- panied by his parents and relatives, was bout to enter the yard number of c ,arohoks with q lono roDe in their