The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-08-25
RUSSIAN MARRIAGES.
The Good Wife Must Be a Smart
Field Hand.
The Model Husband Should Show His
bority"-Hunting for n Bride
Sad Scenes at the Wedding
To Work, at Once.

10 NOrk, HI onCe.
at 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
dav 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 on
occasions when people of a 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 the 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 slaye-wlfe must consent
TO, else Entertainment in it's various bru-
tai forms is sure to follow the poor
woman till death puts an end to her
wretched life.
"a pretty face is a matter of second
airy or no Importance whatever to the
peasant, who, using his own words, is
not to put his wife on the market for
SALE The promptness with which a
girl binds the sheaves in the field is suf-
fcient to enchant the wealthiest of the
peasants in the village. 1t wins her a
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-that is,
of securing a 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
TODD peasant is often seen to marry a
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 can make him 90 back on his de-
cision. Disregarding any obstacles that
may be in his way, he is as firm as a
rock in carrying out his purpose.
Whenever an opportunity of seeing
the sweet object offers itself to HIM
it's generally taken advantage of, and
thus something like a courtship springs
up between the young lovers. This,
however, is of no long duration, and is
OF the simplest character. The parobok
frequently visits his dyevka, but this is
generally done when the parents of
the latter are in the land of dreams A
stable or a pig-shed, corner of which
Is often found to be occupied by a
peasant girl as summer residence,
answers the purpose OF reception
room or parlor. 1t is there, in that
lmproyised parlor, where young lovers
reveal their hearts to each other. 1t is
there, amid the darkness and silence OF
the night, with nothing to be seen and
nothing to be heard, except possibly
the snorting of pig, which, upon such
an occasion, falls like the sweet sound
OF music upon the ears of those engaged
IN amorous conversations, it is there
that peasant may for once in his life
feel inspired Indeed, that disagreeable
and apparently inconsequental snorting
Oh the pig is often a source OF great
pleasure and inspiration for the peasant.
IL Is, in its way, an aria, which often
reminds him of days gone by, an aria
which fills his heart with hope and glory
LOT The future! But here, too, practical
TAX about every day rural life FREEDOM
mates. The discussion of a days work,
Or the good or bad qualities of a horse,
acoW, pig, and so on, is not at all
unlikely to be the topic of conversation
between lovers. When once the mo-
meentary inspiration has vanished,
neither word, nor an expression in
IN. .ne face of either the parobok or the
me girl signifies any thing beyond the
oru nary dry transaction of practical
business.
As the reader can see for himself, the
P'asant enters the bonds of matrImony
ior no other reason on earth but that Of
securing a Woodworking slave. But g
rev wise sayings of his own will illus.
.la'e his views of married life more
s.ofelofy than mere description: "a
inara'working wife is like good milk
ing COW; one supplies with milk, the
o'ner with linen" "a disobedien,
WI, MIe Is like wild horse; the more
u. ~. nei she gets the tanner she becomes. '
10 love wife is to strike her upor
eSerysultable OCCASION" And to strike
wife upon every suitable occasion
almost on the day after marrying her, il
iaueed no novelty among the peasantry
remember case where peasan
RtNTl. 1