Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-01-26

riagcable girls assemble, with their
parents. in order to be viewed and
claimed. All the relatives on the fe.
male side contribute to the dover of
the young woman. and this goes with
the damsel 10 the market. The
young men also bring the best
they possess. and appear on the
occasion gaXly appareled. There is a
good deal CT bargaining ut times, and.
as cattle are included among the gifts.
the place resembles great fair. When
Tie betro:hal is eff c;cd the pledge of
attachment is not ring out an en-
broidered handkerchief
In Syria certain recognized articles
are handed over 10 the brides father
as symbol of purchase. The articles
are usually a carpet. a nose-ring. a
neck-chain, bracelets and n camel bag.
They must be passed over to the father
for forms sake, rs they bee ONE event.
ually the property Of the young wife.
The cheapest and simplest transac-
lion of the kind appears 10 prevail in
Lapiand. It is said that if one in that
country asks the father of marriage
able girl to take drink and the offer
is accepted the understanding is that
the person giving the treat is accepted
as the girls sutton. We're a custom
like this prevalent in England it might
seriously affect 4 certain branch of the
revenue. We should probably also
have fewer marriages in Britain were
another custom appertaining 10 the
welded state introduced there.
1t seems that in Mexico there is a
large percentage of bachelors. but II
very small percentage of unprotected
+, males. The anomaly is explained by
the fact that the Mexican on his mar
riage chivalrously undertakes the care
of the female relatives and dependents
of his wife. There is q sort of hercdi-
,ary right and privilege in The matter
On the death of husband family
council is called. and the male rcla.
iives of TIE widow and those of her
husband pledge themselves TO care for
and protcct the bereaved family.
This is done even though the children
are grown up and the widow wealthy.
There would appear to be no choice
OH the woman's part. custom. if not law.
prescribing that her male kindred
shall administer her affairs. and look
after the interests of her children.
Even if the widow be poor there is no
apparent Sinking on the part of the
male relatives of the obligation resting
upon them. and it is said that when a
Mexican marries he virtually contracts
TO protect and honor all the female
relatives of his wife. and TO provide
for them if need be.
Some exceedingly beautiful rites are
introduced in the marriage Of we'll
tO-do Chinese couple. and are copied
to some extent by the poorer classes
The bride is conducted by 4 number of
female attendants TO her husband
house; but before she crosses the
threshold handkerchief is thrown
over her head and every thing is shut
out from her sight. This is to teach
her that on entering the marriage state
she is cropping in the dark future. but
that if she will trust in her husband
and rely on him to guide her she need
not fear to go forward, for i. will be
his duty and pleasure to guide her
steps. When she is ushered into the
presence of her intended husband the
handkerchief is removed from her eyes
and she is led to Il couch.
Here she takes a seat, and the bride
groom sits beside her. taking care to
rest on II portion of the robe she wears.
Should she seek TO remove the robe
out of the mans way the augury is
not pleasant one; but should she al
low him to sit upon it she tells
him plainly by that token that
she is his captive. and willing to
he led by him. Certain devotional
ceremonies follow upon this intro
ductory ritual. and then refreshments
arc served. Tea is made i'm cups after
the fashion of the country. The bride
and bridegroom take Il sip and then
the contents of the cups they have
been using are mixed together. to sig
nifty the blending of tho two lives.
o her and more elaborate ceremonies
take place. and several DAYS clapse be-
fore they come to an end; but these
preliminary proceedings are the most
interesting, and to the parties con-
cerned the most trying of all.
The day of that particular form of
the romance of courtship which had
its elimination ut Gretna Green has
passed away. Scotland. sill. how
ever. presents facilities for marriage
which are not enjoyed in En- gland.
The ceremony may be legally per-
formed there at any hour and at any
place. There are similar formali;ies
to those we have here in ;hc way of
banns and registration. if the parties
be so minded. rs they mostly are; but
couple NAV become legally man
and wife across the border by !, very
slender form of publicity. Per-
haps that is one reason why actions
for breach-of-promise of marriage arc
SO seldom brought in Scotch courts;
but suits for divorce are equally rare
among our Northern ncighborS. In
the United States, where facilities for
marriage are greater than they are
anywhere else among E iglish-sp peak
ing people. cases of breach-of-promiso
are also few in number; but. unlike
Scotland. divorces in America are by