Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-10-06
METHODS OF COURTING.
THE SAVAGE LOVER GENERALLY
SHOWS A LACK OF TENDERNESS.
Courtstip Among the EsquiniauS-How
the Australian Captures His Bridc-Thc
STYLE In Certain Parts OF Asia--A Curl
Gus Custom In Holland.

the Australian Captures His Bridc--Thc |
style In Certain Parts OF Asia--A Curl
Gus Custom In Holland.
Among the ancient AssyriaDs all mar |
riageable young girls were assembled ut |
one place, and the public crier put them
mp FOR sale one after the other. Tho
money which was received for those who
were handsome, and consequently sold
well, was bestowed as q wedding portion
on those who wero plain When tho most
beautiful had been disposed Of the more
ordinary looking ones were offered for n
certain sum, and allotted TO those willing
TO take them.
In ancient Greece the lover was seldom
favored with an opportunity of telling
his passion TO his mistress and he used
TO publish IL by inscribng her name ON
the walls, on the bark of the trees In the
public walks, and upon the leaves of
books. He would decorate the door Of
her house with garlands, and make hba-
tions of wine before it, in the manner
that was practiced In the Temple OF
cupid.
According TO DIR. Hayes, courtship
among the Esquitnaux has not much
tenderness about it. The match Is made
by the parents of the couple, Tho lover
must 90 out and capture Polar bear as
an evidence of his courage and strength.
That accomplished, he snesks behind the
door of his sweetheart's house, and when
she comes out he pounces upon her and
tries TO carry her to his dog sledge. She
screams bites, kicks and breaks away
from him. He gives chase, whereupon all
tho old women of the settlement rush out
and beat her With frozen strips Of seal
skin. ST. falls down exhausted, tho
lover lashes her to his sledge, whips up
his dogs, dashes swiftly over the frozen
snow, and the wedding Is consummated.
The Australian lover Is still more lack
ing In tenderness, II tho statement made
by Myers Deley Is true. The lover makes
up his mind IA to which woman shall be
his bride, and then hides in the bushes in
the vicinity of her dwelling. As soon as
sho comes near the spot where he Is con
ccalcd be knocks her down with a club
and carries her off before she comes to. If
he does not get her to his hut before she
recovers there Is likely to be a lively fight
In the bush, for the Australian damsel is
generally vigorous one, and may have
reasons of her own for ohjecting to his at.
tcntions. The lover may then be obliged to
club her again, and us that Is considered
to be somewhat of n reflection on the ardor
with which his earlier effort was made, he
into his first love tap MS he can summon.
In some parts Of Asia tho question of
mans title TO u bride must be settled by
a fierce fight between the friends OF the
contracting parties. II his forces are vic.
torious, his sweetheart becomes his
trophy. II her friends arc victorious, he
must pay such price as tho yictors de-
mand. All over that country some Ger
cmony OF violence or exhibition Of ply
sical power must precede n wedding.
Some native tribes insist upon foot race
between tho bride and bridegroom to de
eide the question of marriage, and others
require a long chase on horseback. In
some sections of Asia the lover must
carry off his bride on his back. If he
reaches his hut with her there can be no
protest against the marriage. Failing in
that, be must pay her parents for her In
cattle. The willing bride makes no out
cry; the unwilling bride rouses the whole
village, the residents of which try to res.
cue her.
In the Isthmus of Daricn either sex can
do the courting, while in the Urkraine
the girl generally attends to 1t. When
she falls III love with IA man, she goes TO
| his house and declares her passion. If he
declines to accept her, she remains there
and his case becomes rather distressing
| To turn her ont would provoke her kin
dred to avenge the insult. The young
| follow has no resort left him but TO rur
| away from home until the damscl is other
wise disposed of.
A curious custom prevails in Quo
| Beierand, Holland October is the aus
| pcous month, and on the first Sunday
| (llnown as review day the lads and lassca
attired in their best, promenade thc
village separately, stare each other out o
countenance, and then retire to make NJ
their minds on the second Sunday, whicl
Is called decision day. The young mel
go up and pay their compliments to tn
fails ones of their choice, 10 learn if the,
arc regarded with favor. On tho thir
Sunday, or day OF purchase, the swain i
expected to snatch tho pocket handkcr
chief of his adorcd one, and if she sub
mts to it with good grace he un
dcrstands that his chances Of winnin!
her are hatttring. The captures
pledge is restored TO tho fair owne
ON the fourth Sunday, tho Sunday o
Taking Possession" and 1t rarely hap
| pens that the damsel refuses the lover fo
whom she has indicated preference. o.
tho Sunday following, tho suitor, accord
ing to custom, calls at the house of hi
inamorata, where he is asked to tea, If
piece of the crust VI ginger bread loaf
| handed TO MN, thefc Is hHhlnS lett 10
him but to retire. If, on the other hant
the parents offer the young man n plec
of the Crumb he is allowed to come agai
and Is admitted into the family
On tho Island of Ilimia, opposit
Rhodes, girl is not allowed TO have
lover until she has brought up ccrtai
quantity of sponges, and given proof {
| her agility to take them from n ccrtai
depth. On tho Island Of NiCarus the ri
is not consulted. Her father gives her I
the best diver among her suitOrs. L
who can stay longest under the water al
gather the most sponges marries Il
! maid. Prank II. StaufTcr in The Epocl