Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-05-04
Counting i'm Russia


"courtng" is managed very differently
in different countries. What might be
highly proper in foreign country
would put the good danes of our land
to blush. Russian counting. among the
middle classes. is peculiar. The first
Whit Sunday after the young girl is &C
knowledged by her mother TO be of
manageable years she is taken to the
Petersburg summer garden to join the
'br dial promenade. This consists OF
the daughters of the Russian tradesmen
walking in procession, followed by the +
parents. Up and down they go. pre-
tending to talk to each other and to
take no notice OF the young men, but
all the time keeping up sly Irritation
with the tradesmen' s sons. who walk in
n procession on the opposite side.
Every little while some young man
steps out Of his rank and walks beside
of some pretty girl. much to the envy
of the others.
The parents of the girl join IN the
conversation in few moments and
soon they leave the promenade and are
! joined by the parents of the swain. OF
course the old folks have talked IT well
over before. but on this occasion every
one pretends to be surprised. The next
day following. "a female confdente calls
on the girls parents and requests
her hand. After the parents consent
is gained, all the relatives on both sides
meet and talk over the portion to be
given with the girl. Every girl must
have her dowry. Every mother on the
birth Of girl lays aside a certain
amount every year for marriage por-
ton, knowing the larger the sum she
can bestow upon her daughter the
wealther the match she can make. II
the dowry is not satisfactory all is at an
end; If it is what is expected, the betroth-
al takes place.
The bride and bridegroom kneel down
upon a great fur rug and the bride
takes ring from her finger and gives
IT TO the bridegroom. who returns the
gift by another. The brides mother
meanwhile crumbles piece of bread
over her daughters head. and her
father holds the image of his daughter )
patron saint over his future son-in-law
bridesmaids sing a weddmg-song. Then
the guests bring forward Il present OF
some sort Wine is next handed
around, someOne-usually one of the
bridesmaids-says it is bitter and needs
sweetening. Upon this the bridegroom
kisses the brIde-thc kiss being us
sweetening for the wine. He then sa-
lates the company, and takes his leave
on which the br idesmaids sing song
with chorus something Ike tn :;
Farewell happy bridegroom,
But return aud be still more happy.
Counting has now begun in good
earnest Every evening the lover comes
to his lady's home with present. which
is always something good to eat--cakes
or sugar-plums. his might be objcc-
tionable to most young men in this
country, as he is expected to bring
enough for all the family. Then. too.
he makes love under very embarrassing
circumstances. for the bridesmaids sit
about the bethrothed par in a circle,
singing songs descriptive of their hap
piness. This of course. would hardly
do for the average over in this country
but the Russian lover bears the matyr-
dom meekly.
The last evening of the courtship is
enlivened by the presentation of the
gifts of the bridegroom. which must in
clude brushes. combs, soap and perfum-
cry. On receiving these the brides
maids instantly carry the bride away,
and wash her, dress her hair. and per-
fume her pocket handkerchief. Thus
fixed up, she returns to the company,
and the brides father gives his future
son in law the marriage potion. which
lie takes home with him in a bag.
The next morning he returns for his
bride. She receives him with her hair
unbraided and flowing down her back.
They are married by the ceremonies Of
the Greek church. The old folks never
60 TO the wedding dinner. but those
eternal bridesmaids, whom they must
hate by this time. are there, still on
duty. and the evening closes by the
bride knesling down and pulling off her
husbands boots to prove intention
to be an obedient ard submissive wife.
Well disposed husbands usually hide
jewelry or money In their boots, which |
the bride may take possession of as
palm for humiliation.
After the wedding day the parents
begin to give feasts and they keep it up |
a week, and it is not until all this is
over, that those blessed bridesmaids
take their departure. They are then
compelled to kiss them. thank them
and give each of them present -
Minnie L Armstrong, in Evening WIS.,
conSin.