The Delta independent., 1888-11-20
All Kinds of COurting.
Frank H. stauffer in the Epoch.


Among the ancient Assyrians all
marriageable young girls were as
sembled at one place, and the public
,rier put them up for sale, one after
the other, The money which was re-
reived for those who were handsome,
and consequently sold well, was be-
slowed as a weddingportion on those
who were plain. When the most
beautiful had been disposed Of the
more ordinary looking ones were Of
fered for a certain sum, and allotted
to those willing to take them.
In ancient Greece the lover was sell
dom favored with an opportunity of
telling his passion to his mistress,
and he used to publish it by In
scribing her name Oh 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 garlahds, and make liba-
tions of wine before it, in the manner
that was practiced in the temple OF
cupid.
NO TENDERNESS WASTED.
According to DR.. Hayes, courtship
among the Esquimaux has not much
tenderness about it. The match is
made by the parents of the couple.
The lover must go out and capture
a Polar bear as an evidence of his
courage and strength. That accom-
p,isbol ba ornolys l,oh;,I %bo - 6
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 and kicks, and
breaks away from him. He gives
chase, whereupon all the old women
of the settlement rush out and beat
her with frozen strips of seals.iin.
She falls down exhausted, the lover
lashes her to his sledge, whips up his
dogs, dashes swiftly through the
frozen snow, and the wedding is con-
summated.
THE BEGINNING OF MARTIAL HOSTILE
TIES.
The Australian lover is still more
lacking in tenderness. if the state
ment by Myers Deley is true. The
lover makes up his mind as to which
woman shall be his bride, and then
hides in the bushes in the vicinity of
her dwelling. AS soon as she comes
near the spot where he is concealed
he knocks her down with club, and
carries her off before she comes to.
II he does not get her to his hut be-
fore she RECEIVERS there is likely to be
a lively fight in the bush, for the
Australian damsel is generally a Wig
orous one, and may have reasons of
her own for objecting to his atten-
tion. The lover may then be obliged
to club her again, and as that is con-
sidered to be somewhat of q refiec-
tion on the ardor with which his ear
lier efforts was made he his apt to
put as much soul and muscle into his
first love tap as he can summon.
BATTLE FOR A BRIDE.
In some parts of Asia the question
of IL mans title to bride must be
settled by a fierce fight between the
friends of the contracting parties. If
his forces are victorious his sweat
heart becomes his trophy. If her
friends are victorious he must pay
such u price as the victors demand.
All over that country some ceremony
of violence or exhibition of physical
power must precede wedding. Some
native tribes insist upon foot race
between the bride and bridegroom to
decide the question of marriage, and
Others require long chase on horse
back. 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, he must
pay her parents for herin cattle. The
willing bride makes no outcry; the
unwilling bride arouses the whole vii
lage, the residents ofwhich try to res
cue her.
ETERNAL LEAP YEAR.
In the Isthmus OF Darien either sex
can do the counting, while in the Urk-
raine the girl generally attends to
it. When she falls in love with q
man she goes to his house and de-
clares her passion. If he declines to
accept her she remains there, and his
case becomes rather distressing. To
turn her out would provoke her kin
dred to avenge the insult. The
young fellow has no resort left him
but to run away from home until the
damsel is otherwise disposed of.
A MATTER OF GINGERBREAD.
A curious custom prevails in Oud
Baierland, Holland. October is the
auspicious month, and on the first
Sunday (known as review day. the
lads and lasses, attired in their best,
promenade the village separately,
stare each other out Of countenance
and then retire to make up their
minds on the second Sunday, which
is called decision day The young
men go up and pay their compli-
ments to the fair ones OF their choice,
to learn if they are regarded with
favor. On the third Sunday, or day
of purchase, the swain is expected to
snatch the pocket-handkerchie ofhis
adored one, and if she submits to it
with good grace he understands that
his chances of winning her are fiat
tering. The captured pledge is re-
stored to the fair owner on the fourth
Sunday, the Sunday of Taking Pos
session. and it rarely happens that
the damsel refuses the eloverfor whom
she has indicated preference. On
the Sunday following the suitor, ac-