The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-02
RUSSIAN CUSTOMS.
How Marriages and Funerals Are
Managed
Wooings Conducted by Paid ambassadors
Weddings Always at NIght-Sin-
guiar Death Announcements
Burial Rites

In no feature in Russian life is there
n wider variance between the order of
doing things in America than court
ship and marriage Every thing is
done by negotiation, and marriage
ambassadors are quite as common and
respectable as prebste lawyers n the
United States
Until few years ago the popular
age of marriage was very low Boys
fourteen or fifteen years old. and girls
from twelve to fourteen married, and
the parents were universally glad of it.
As soon as the girl go. out of swad-
ding clothes, or the boy could amble
around on the streets, the parents be-
gan TO cast about for n match. When
an opportunity presented itself the
ambassador was employed and nego-
tiations were begun. Thus it fire.
quently happened that there was q be-
trothal before either of the contract
ing parties knew any thing about the
existence or object of the marriage
VOW. Finally this thing became an
excess, and the Government declared
it a crime for persons to marry under
or above certain ages. Now the male
under eighteen or over eighty years of
age, and the females are forbidden to
wed till they are sixteen or after they
are sixty. And there are restraints
against frequent marriages, which
would quite discourage the profession
nj widowerS and widows of the United
States. If you marry twice. the law
Of the church, which is the law of the
land, gives you two years penance,
which means exclusion for that length
of time from holy communion. Should
you marry three times, five years
penance are given. To marry fourth
lime is to sever relations from the
church forever and invite the condem-
nation of the Saviour. Remarriages
are unknown here, and separations are
final.
Girls of manageable age and
women of responsibility are very sell
dom seen upon the streets alone.
Generally a male servant follows in
close proximity. Should a boy or man
see girl or woman he admires, he
makes post haste to an ambassador,
employs him, and marriage negotia-
tions begin. 1t is the business of the
negOtiatOr to represent to the parents
and the girl the good qualities of the
young man; to show his ability. his
grace, fine appearance and business
worth to their best advantage He
generally pleads his case well. Sell
dom is time given for consideration.
If the lineage and the personal quail
ties suit the parents first and the girl
latterly, the offer is accepted. 1t is
then the business of the ambassador to
fetch forth the young man. They
kiss, fix the date and partake of q be-
trothal supper, the only persons pres
ent being the family of the young
lady, the young man and his nego-
fiator. No announcement of the match
is made. Not until the wedding knot
is tied does the glib ambassador get his
pay. 1t then depends upon the sta
ton of the parties to the match, the
sternness and intricacy of the case and
the liberality of the client Some
times both parties make him presents
ami he fares well. Usually he profits
to about the same extent as the prose-
cutting lawyer in the United States
when he gets divorce proceeding
through.
At one time there was fixed day
for matchmaking 1t was Whit
Monday, and was known as the day
for choosing brides" The summer
gardens were the exhibiting places.
The anxious mothers were present in
force, and the solicitious fathers looked
after their sons. The girls were
dressed in all the finery they could
buy or borrow. They had silks, sat
ins, laces and jewels. Some of them
were gaudy. The girls were placed in
lines, and the fathers with their sons
passed along in review. The latter
made mental memoranda of the girls,
and during the following week nego-
tiations followed. Although this Gus
tom has been almost abolished, it is
yet observed to some extent, and the
summer garden on Viii: Monday is
an interesting place to visit The girls
are modest and ofttimes pretty.
Russian marriages invariably take
place at night, and if they are among
the peasants. to which class the ..ne-
gotiation" custom is now mostly con-
fined, the ambassador who made the
match is the principal guest First
the wedding garments receive the
priests blessing, the parents solemnly
bless the daughter and son at their re-
spcctivp homes, and the sacred pictures
are three times waved over the heads
of the contracting parties. If the par
ties are of sufficient Importance as to
have attendants, the lady in honor
leads the bride-elect to the carriage.
and then they proceed to the church.
The bridegroom in prospect is mean
while at his own home, and couriers
from his affianced brides abode run to