The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-09-10
RUSSIAN MARRIAGES.

KUSSlAN MAKklAUES.
The Good Wife Must Be q Smart
Field Hand.
The Model Husband Should show His
Observation-Disclosures for . Bride
Sad Scenes 1t the Wedding
TO Work, 1t Once.
1T is not the walls that adorn the hut,
but its contents" says Russian prov
erb, which, simple though 1t is, implies
great philosophical and practical
truth. The constant pressure Of every
day necessities on the one hand and its
direct result, the absence Of higher in
terest and purposes in life, on the other.
sufficiently account for the peasant be-
ing cool. calm and reserved. even IN
occasions when people of higher civil
ization would undoubtedly display their
better and softer natures. In selecting
: companion for life'' the Russian
parobok (young fellow is generally
guided BY tho advice Of his parents, or
elders, and by the conventional standard
Of what peasants wife should be. Ac-
cording to his ideal she must, in the
first place. be Of strong and hearty
constitution, not afraid of hard work,
willing, Industrious short in every
regard fulfill the hard duties which her
future home may impose upon her. In
the second place, she is supposed to be-
come absolutely the slave Of her hus-
band Whatever the lord-husband de-
cides upon the slave-wlfe must consent
TO, else ill-treatment in its various bru-
tai forms is sure to follow the roor
woman till death puts an end to her
wretched lie. --z-s.-.---
"A pretty face is . matter Of second
ary or no importance whatever to the
peasant. who. using his own words. is
not to put his wife on8he market for
SALE The promptnes5Fw with which .
girl binds the sheaves in the field il suf-
fcieht to enchant the wealthiest Of the
peasants in the village. II wins her =
good many admirers among the paro-
boks, even of the surrounding villages.
Such girl, ugly though she may be,
stands good chances of making profit
able and advantageous match is,
Of securing home where she is sure
that fresh rye bread. borsch, salt pork
and such like delicacies will always
adorn her table. A comparatively we'll
tb-do peasant is often seen to marry =
poor and rather ugly girl because the
latter answers the ideal standard,
When once parobok-with his pa
rents consent, of course, has made up
his mind to marry certain girl moth
ing c. make him 90 back on his de-
cison. l)isrega any obstacles that
may b in his way, be Is as firm =
rock in carrying out his purpose.
Whenever an opportunity OF seeing
the sweet object offers itself to hun
IL is generally taken advantage Of. and
TINS something like courtship springs
up between the young lovers. This,
however, is of no long duration. and is
Of the simplest character. The parobok
frequently visits ~ dyevka, bat this Is
generally done when the parents Of
the latter are in the land Of dreams. A
stable Or pig-shcd. . corner Of which
y often found to be occupied by .
peasant girl Is summer residence,
answers the purpose of reception
room Or parlor. Il Is there. in that
improviscd parlor. where young lovers
reveal their hearts TO each other. It i
tneres amid the darkness and silence Of
tne nfgn1 with nothing TO be soen and
notning 20 he heard. except possibly
mo 040f6lUR OF plQ. which. uDOD guch