The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1888-02-24
RUSSIAN CUSTOMS.
How Marriages and Funerals Are
Managed.
Wooincs Conducted by Paid ambassadors
Weddings Always at Night-Sln-
guar Death Announcements
Burial Rites.


In no feature in Russian life is there
a 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 rs probate lawyers in 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 gos out of swad-
ding clothes, or the boy could amble
around on the streets the parents be-
gan TO east about for u match. When
an opportunity presented itself the
ambassador was employed and ncgo.
tiations were begun. Thus it fire.
quently happened that there was be-
trothal before either of the contract
inc parties knew any thing about the
existence or object of the marriage
VOW. Finally this thing became an
excess, and the Government declared
it Il 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
al widowcrS 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 a fourth
time 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 II male servant follows in
close proximity. Should boy or man
see girl or woman he admircs, 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 be-
trothal supper, the only persons pres
ent being the family of the young
lady, the young man and his nego-
tiator. No announcement Of the match
is made. Not until the wedding knot
is tied does the glib ambassador get his
pay. 1t thou depends upon the sta
ton of the pariie' to the match. the
sternnoss and intriVacy of the case and
the liberality of the client Some
times both parties make lin presents
and he fares well. Usually hc profits
to about the same extent as tho 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