The Arizona sentinel., 1888-02-04

Many African t1DeS lOlOW out the principle of this ancient practice; and that it is not wholly obsolete in Europe was shown recently in a traveller s ac- count of curious marriage custom among the Roumanians in the West erly Carepathians. The statement was made that every year, at the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, market l is held on the crest of the Gaina from five thousand to six thousand feet above | the level of the sea, and here the mar riageabIe 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 yo,lr& woman. and this goes with the dam3el to the market. The young men also bring the best they possess. and appear on the occasion gayly appareled. There is a good deal of bargaining at times, ands as cattle are included among the gifts. the place resembles a great fair. When the betrothal is effe cled the pledge of attachment is not ring, but an em- broidered handkerchief
 In Syria certain recognized articles are handed over 10 the brides father as a symbol of purchase. The articles are usually a carpet, nOSe-ring, a neck-cdain, bracelets and a camel bag. They must be passed over to the father for forms sake, as they become event. ually the property of the young wife.
 The cheapest and simplest transac- ton of the kind appears to prevail in Lapland. It is said that if one in that country asks the father of a marriage able girl to take a drink and the offer is accepted the understanding is that the person giving the treat is accepted as the girls suitor Were a custom like this prevalent in England it might seriously affect certain branch of the revenue. We shoulI problbly also have fewer marriages in Britain were another custom appertaining to the welded state introG uced there.
 It seems that in Mexico there is a large percentage of bachelors, but a very small percentage of unprotected females. The anomaly is explained by the fact that the Mexican on his mar riage chivalrously undert ales the care of the female relatives and dependents of his wife. There is a sort of heredi- lary right and privilege in the matter. On the death of husband a family council is called, and the male rela- lives of the widow and- those of her husband pledge themselves 10 care for and protect the bercaved family. This is done even though the children are grown up and the widow wealthy. There would appear to be no choice on 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 shirking on inc 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 10 provide for them if need be.
 Some exceedingly beautiful rites are introduced in the marriage of a we'll to-do Chinese couple, and are copied to some extent by the poorer classes. The bride is conducted by a number of female attendants 10 her husband s 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 groping 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 forwarl, for 1t will be his duty and pleasure to guide hel steps. When she is ushered into the .f.Fresence of her intended husband the handkerchief is removed from her eyes
 and she is led to a couch.
 Here she takes a. seat,, and the bride,
 groom sits beside her, taking care tC
 rest on a portion of the robe she wears.
 Should she seek to remove the r0bt out of the mans way the augury i not pleasant one; but should she al
 low him to sit upon it she tell him plainly b. liiat token tha she is his captive, and willing t be led by lrim. Certain devotiona ceremonies follow upon this intro
 ductory ritual, and then refreshment are served. Tea is made in cups afte
 the fashion of the country The brid and bridegroom take sip and theI | the contents of the cups they hav
 been using are mixed together, to sig , nifty the blending of the two lives Other and more elaborate ceremonie , take place, and several days elapse be , fore they come to an end; but thes l preliminary proceedings are the mos l interesting. and to the parties con 5 cerned the ost'trying of all. . ! The day of that particular form O s the romance of courtship which haC 9 its culmination at Gretna Green ha 2 passed away Scotland. s;flL .. how l ever, presents facilities for .marriag 2 which are not enjoyed in .En gland $ The ceremony may be legally pei f formed there at any hour and at an D place. There are similar fQrmalilie 3 to those we haNs here in the way c 9 banns and registration, if the parti6 = be so minded, as they mostly are; lou 7 q couple may become leg&lly. ma
 and wife across the borTat By a yer = slender form of publicity. .PeI { haps that is one reason why. action : for breach-of-promise df, maff4age";tt