Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-20
MARRIAGE IN RUSSIA.

MkDDTLNE IN DTSCTt
MaIthlAuL ~ hC OolA'
.,,,. , ~
oHf"Nso WHIT 'N1Oo nN'e ING
PEASANTS VIEWS OF MATR MONY.
rhe HARD Lot OF feasants "he-bru-
tality of Her Lord and Msster-How
Cour,shtn 4. M.n.v.d-Tb. wadatny
/ The Russian peasant enters the bonds Of
matrimonY Tor no other reason on earth but
that of securing hard working slave But
few wise sayings Of his own will illustrate
his views Of married life more forcibly than
any mere description: A harl working wife
Is like a good milking COW; one supplies with
milk the other with linen" A disohedlent
wife is like a wild horS.; the more lashes she
gets the tanner she becomes To love a wife
is To strike her upon every suitable occtSiOn. :"
/ And to strike wife ON every suitable oC
Caslun, almost on the day after marrying her,
Is indeed no novelty among the leasantry.
remember case where a peasant nearly
Choked his wife to death III his desperate
anger because she allowed herself, after
years hard saving, tc buy some calico for
Sunday dress
know an old couple, parents OF number
of grown up children, VIII" at certain seasons
III the year, AS regularly as clockwork- are III
tONicated. Everything that is found in the
housc Is taken {" the tavern and exchanged
for vodka, and thus toy the time they begin I"
realize their horrid position good portion "f
linen, grain, Hour ami eggs Is gone. The nus
bands anger then knows no limits, and the
poor, feeble wife, who probably is the least to
blame, suffers from her lord all insults lmasln-
able. ! know a quiet and peaceful young
peasant, who after being constantly ridiculed
by his conn aides for being too lenient with his
wife, for allowing her to have too much to
say, slapped her face upon one solemn occa-
sion III the presence of his friends merely for
the sake Of denying this degrading accusation
and establishing ms reputation as her master
Such n the lot OF a peasant woman. She l.
perfectly aware OF the lil-treatment awaiting
her IN her future home, Yet she Is satisfied ana
resigned to her fate.
METHOD OF COURTsHIP.
Oftentmes, however. it happens that
peasant marrieS not only without having
the faintest idea Of the girls character, but
almost without having had a chance TO ex-
change a few words with her. This is gem
orally done at the time, when, for some reason
or other there is no possibility of marrying
anv of the girls of his own village, and when
marry he must. On fine morning the bride
groom, dressed up in his hest woolen syita,
with the brightest red cOlored belt, high sheep
skin hat and newest of boots, may be seen
proudly starting out in company with few
elderly and experienced peasants engaged for
this purpose by the bridegroom's parents, in
search of a good girl No house containing
girl is passed by.
Upon entering the house the wife-hunting
party say few words of customary saluta-
tion such as health be 10 you, good people,
and immediately, without beating around the
bush, approach the subject This business
like transaction. it is worth while mentioning,
is often carried on in the absence of the girl
directly concerned in the matter. The bride
groom upon such occasions is supposed To have
but little or nothing Ia say. The cOnverSa-
ton Is carried ON between the parents of the
girl and those intrusted with this important
mission. II the girls parents. for some rea-
son or other, do not intend to let their child
b.. married at present, the guests are politely
told 80. and after irquiring if there are any
suitable girls in that immediate neighbor
hood they leave the house. As general
thing, however, the party experiences no
difficulty i'll attaining the object desired
After the parents have decided the girl Is
summoned AT once, ami here frequently en-
sues a scene worthy of an artists brush. She
takes her place by the stove. and without
lifting her ewes, biting her nails and assuming
the most innocent face, frequently keeps the
party waiting for a long while before the
lacOnic "yes" tda) is eXtOrted from her. There
is hardly need of adding that when once the
parents decision Is made no prayers or tears
on the girls part can alter it. A rope and
strap brings the most stubborn tchado 10
terms.
THE WEDDING DAY.
As soon as the busy season Is over the mar
riage season takes It's place 1t generally last
from the middle Of September TIL late IN No
venber. The young folks begin to prepare
Women have their hands full in preparing
various fancy baked dishes and other thing
suitable upon such occasion-men IN bottlmg
the vodka, engaging musicians and working
about the house. The village, which only a
few weeks ago looked as though 1t were Tor
Saken, assumes now a gay and lively appear
ance. Every vlllager Is more or less IN STATE
of excitement. But here the BRIDE, dressed III
a brocaded short skirt with ha1 dozen folds,
in a charming long or sleeveless garment
called korsyet, her hair full OF bright anu
streaming ribbons and MOWERS, starts OUT, ac-
20 invite her relatives and friends TO the wed
ding. Every one she meets, whether friend
or stranger, is greeted with bow nearly to