Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-12-14
ALL KINDS OF couRTsHIP.
THE QUEER METHODS REs0RTED
TO TO PROCURE LIFE
PARTNERS.
Frank II. stauffer in Epoch.

Among the ancient Assy rians all
manageable young girls were as
sembled at one place, aud the pub
lie crier put them up for sale one
after the other. The money which
was received for those who were
handsome, and, consequently sold
we'll, was bestowed as a wedding
portion on those who were plain
When the most beautiful had been
disposed OF the more ordinary look
ing ones were offered for a certain
sum and allotted to those willing
to take them.
In ancient Greece the lover was
seldom favored with an opportuni'
ty of telling his passion to bis mis-
tress, and he used to publish it by
inscribing her name on the walls,
and on the bark of trees in the
public walks, and upon the leaves
of books. lie would decorate the
door OF her house with garlands,
and make libatlons of vine before
it, in the manner that was prac.
ticed in the temple OF Cupid.
According to DR.. Hayes, court
ship among the Esquimaux has not
much tenderness about il. The
match is made by the parents of
the couple. The lover must 60 out
and capture polar bear as an eyi'
dence of his courage and strength.
That accomplished, ne sneaks be-
hind the door of his sweethearps
house, and when she comes out he
pounces upon her and tries to carry
her to his dog sledge. She screams,
bites, kicks, and breaks away from
him. lie gives chase, whereupon
all the old women in the settlement
rush out and beat her with frozen
strips of sealskln. She falls down
exhausted, the lover lashes her to
his sledge, whips up his dogs,
dashes swiftly over the frozen
snow, and the wedding is consum-
mated.
The Australian lover is still more
lacking in tenderness, if the state
meuts made 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 dwell
ing. AS soon as she comes near
the spot where he is concealed be
knocks her down with a club and
carries her off before she comes to.
If he does not get her to his hut
before she RECEIVERS, there is likely
to be a lively fight in the bush, for
the Australian damsel is generally
vigorous one, and may ha We
reasons of her own for Directing to
his attentions. The lover m ay
then be obliged to club her again,
and az that is considered to be
somewhat OF a reflection on the ar.
dor with which his earlier effort
was made, he is apt to put as much
soul and muscle into his first love
tap as he can summon.
In some parts Of Asia the cues
ton of mans title to a bride must
be settled by fierce fight between
the friends OF the contracting par
ties. If his forces are victorious
his sweetheart becomes his trophy.
If her friends are victorious h e
must pay such a price as the vic
tors demand. All over that cOun.
try some ceremony OF violence or
exhibition of physical power must
precede a wedding. Some native
tribes insist upon foot race be-
tween the bride and bridegroom to
decide the question of marriage, and
others require a long chase on
horseback. In some sections OF
Asia the lover must carry off his
bride on bis back. If he reaches
his hut with her there can be no
protest against the marriage. Fail.
ing in that he mustpay her parents
for her in cattle. The wiling BRIDE
makes no cutlery the unwilling
BRIDE aronses the whole village, the
residents of which try to rescue her.
In the isthmus of Panama either
sex can do the counting, while in
the Ukraine the girls generally at
tends to it. When she falls 10 love
with a man she goes TO his house
and declares her passion. If he
declines to accept her she remains
there, and his case becomes rather
distressing. To turn her ont would
provoke her kindred to avenge the
insult. The young fellow has no
resort left him but to run away from
home until the dapsel is otherwise
disposed OF,
A curious custom prevails 10 Oud
Beielland, Holland. October is the
auspiclOus 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 cOlntenance,
and then retire to make up their
minds on the second Sunday, which
is called decision day. The young
men 90 up and pay their compli.
ments to the fair ones Of their choice
to learn il they are regarded with
favor. On the third Sunday, or
day of purchase, the swain is ex.
pecipd 10 snatch the pocket hand.