Daily Republican., 1889-02-09
ODD COUNTING.

riageAble young girls were assembled at
one place, aud the public crier put them
up for salc one after another. The money
which was received for those who were
handsome, and consequently sold well,
was bestowed as wedding PORTION upon
those who are plain. When the most
beautiful had been disposed OF, the more
ordinary-looklng ones were offered for a
certain sum aud allotted to those willing
TO take them.
In ancient Greece the lover was seldom
| favored with an opportunity of telling
his pas sion TO his mistress and he used to
| publi;h II by inscribing her name on the
| walls, on the bark Of trees in the public
walks and upon the leaves of books. He
would decorate the door OF her house
with gsrlsnds and make lIbatlons of wine
before 1t, In the manner that was prac-
tlced Ia the temple OF Cupid.
According 10 DIR. Hayes, courtship
among the Esquimaux has rot mach ten
derness 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 aud strength.
That accomplished, he sneaks behind the
door OF his sweethesrt's house, and when
she comes out he pounces upon her and
tries - carry her to his dog sledge. She
eNh'eAEf OibSog hiShb anu bANahb away
from him. lie gives chase, whereupon
all the old women of the settlement run
out and beat her with frozen strips of
scalskin. She falls down exhausted, the
lover lashes her to his sledge, whips up
his dogs, dashes swiftly over tho frozen
snow, and the wedding is consummated.
The Australian lover is still more lack
ing in tenderness, il the statement made
by Meyers Delay 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 ss she comes near the spo where
he 10 concealed he knocks her down with
club, aid carries her of before she
comes TO. Ifhe does no, get her off to
his hut before she RECEIVERS there is likely
to be lively fight in the bush, for the
Australian damsel Is generally vigorous
one, aud may have reasons OF her own for
oblecting to his attentions. The lover
may then be obliged to club her ngaip,
and as that is considered to he somewhat
OF reelection on the ardor with which his
earlier effort was made, he is apt to put
as much soul and music into his first love
tap as he can summon.
In some parts OF Asia the question of a
mans title to bride must lie settled by
a fierce eight between the friends of the
contracting parties. II his forces are
victorious his sweetheart becomes his
trophy. If her friends are victorious he
must pay such price as the yictors de-
mand. All over the country some cere-
mony OF violence or exhibition OF pbysi-
cal 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 horseback.
In some sections of Asia the lover must
carry oil his bride on his back. II he
ri aches his hut with her thtr eau be no
rotest against the marriage. Failing in
that he must pay her parents for her ia
cattle. The willing bride makes no out
cry, the unwilling bride arouses the
whole village, the residents of which try
to rescue her.
In the Isthmus OF Darien either sex can
do the counting, while in the Ukraine the
girl generally attends TO It. When she
falls IN love with a man she goes to his
house and declares her passion. II he
decliHes TO accept h.r 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 dleposed Of
| A curious cu.tom prevails In 0ud
BelerlAnd, Holland. October Is the sus-
,picious month; and on the first Sunday
(known as review day) the lads and
lasses, attired In their best, p omenade
the village separately, stare each other
out of countenanee, and then retire to
make up their minds on the second Sun
day, which is called decision day.
The young men 20 up aud pay their
| IN the fair nua nf THAR
choice, 10 learn If they are regarded with
favor. On the third Sunday, or day Of
purbhsse, the swain is expected to snatch
The pocket handkerchief of his adored
one, and If she submits to 1t with good
| grace he understands that his chance of
winning her is fattering.
The captured pledge is restored to the
fair owner on the fourth Sunday, the
"Sunday OF Taking Possession" and it
rarely happens that the damsel refuses
the lover for whom she has indicated
preference. On the Sunday following.
the sutton, according t. custom, calls ut
the h1uss of his inamorata, where he Is
asked to tea If n piece OF the crust of
gingerbread loaf Is handed him there Is
nothing left for him but TO retire. II, on
the other hand, the parents Offer the
young man a piece of the crumb, he is
allowed to come again and Ia admitted TO
the family.
On the island of Hamis, opposite
Rhodes, girl is not allowed to have a
lover until she has brought up certain
number OF sponges aud given proof of
her ability to take them from certain
depth.
On the island of Nicarus the girl is not
consulted. Her father gives her to the
best diver among her sultors. He who
can stay longest under the water and
gather the most sponges marries the
maid.
Hone, in his liable Book" gives an
account of lover who walked three
miles every evening for fourteen years to
court his sweetheart, besides lodging her
home after church on Sunday afternoons.
The distance Travelled was more than
$4,000 miles. For the first seven he only
stood and courted In the door porch, but
for the remaining seven he ventured to
hang his hat on pin In the passage and
SIT on the kitchen settle. They were
finally married and lived so unhappily