The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-08-06
Russian Weddings.
THE PEASANTS VIEWS OF MATRIMoNY IN
THAT CURIOUS COUNTRY.


The Russian peasant enters the
bonds of matrimony for no other reason
on earth but that of securing a hard.
working slave. But a few wise say
ings OF his own will illustrate his views
of married life more forcibly than any
mere description "a hard working
wife is like good milking COW; one
supplies with milk, the other with
linen "a disobedient wife is like
wild horse the more lashes she gets
the tanner she becomes" "To love a
wife is to strike her upon every suitable
occasion" And to strike wife upon
every suitable occasion, almost on the
day after marrying her, is indeed no
novelty among peasantry. remem-
ber case where peasant nearly
choked his wife to death in his despe-
rate anger because she allowed herself,
after a years hard saving, to buy some
calico for Sunday dress. i know an
old couple, parents of a number of
grown-up children, who at certain sea
sons in the year, as regularly as clock
work, are intoxicated Everything
that is found in the house is taken to
the tavern and exchanged for vodka,
and thus by the time they begin to re-
alize their horrid position a good por-
ton of linen, grain, flower and eggs is
gone. The husbands anger then
knows no limits, aud the poor feeble
wife, probably the least to blame, suffers
from her lord all insults Imaginable l
know quiet and peaceful young peas
ant, who, after being constantly ridi-
culed 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-
tion and establishing his reputation as
her master Such is the lot of peas
ant woman. She is perfectly aware of
the ill-treatment awaiting her in her
future home, yet she is satisfied and re-
signed 10 her fate.
Oftentimes, however, it happens
that peasant marries not only with
out having the faintest idea of the
girls character, but almost without
having had achance 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
a fine morning the bridegroom, dress
ed up in his wooden eoita, with the
brightest red colored belt, high sheep
skin hat and newest of boots, may be
seen starting out in company with a
| few elderly and experienced peasants
engaged for this purpose by the bride
grooms parents, in search of good
girl. No house containing a girl is
passed by.
Upon entering the house the wife
hunting party say few words of Gus.
tomary salutation such as "bealth be to
you, good people, and Immediately,
without beating around the bush, ap-
proach the subject. This business-li like
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
occasions 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
important mission. If the girls par
ents, for some reason or other, do not
intend to let their child be married at
present, the guests are politely told So
and after inquiring if there are any
suitable girls it that immediate neigh
borhood they leave the house AS a
general thing, however, the party ex-
periences no difficulty in attaining the
object desired. After the parents have
decided the girl is summoned at once,
and here frequently ensues a scene
worthy of an artists brush. She takes
her place by the stove and without lift
ing her eyes, biting her nails and -assum-
ing the most innocent face, frequently
keeps the party waiting ror a long
while before .he laconic eyes, (da) 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 bring the most stubborn
| tchado to terms.