The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-01-19
ODD COURTING.
Quaint and Curious Ways of ,yooiny That
People Have.

Quaint and Curious Wavs of Iyooing THAI
People Have.
Among the ancient Assyrians al
manageable young girls were assem-
bled at one place, and the public
crier put hem up for sac one after
another. The money which was
received for those who were hand
some, and consequently sold well,
was bestowed as wedding portion
upon those who we're plain. When
the most beautiful had been disposed
OF, the more ordinary looking 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 oDportun ty
of telling his passion to his mistress
and he used to publish it by inscrib
ing her name on the walls, on the
bark of the trees in the public walks
and upon the leaves of books. He
would decorate the door of her house
with garlands and make libations OF
wine before it, in the manner that
was practiced in the temple of Cupid.
According to DR.. Hayes, court
ship among the Esquimaux has not
much tenderness about it. The
match is made by the parents of the
couple. The lover must go out and
capture polar bear as an evidence
of his courage and strength. That
accomplished. he sneaks behind the
| door of his sweetheart's house, and
when she comes out he pounce upon
her and tries to carry her to his dog
sledge. She screams, bites, kicks
and breaks away from him. He gives
chase. whereuron all the old women
of the settlement run out and beat
her with frozen strips of sealskin. She
fails down exhausted. the lover lashes
her to his sledge, whips up his dogs,
dashes swiftly over the frozen snow,
and the wedding is consummated.
The Australian lover is still more
lacking in tenderness, ifthe 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 as she comes
near the spot where he is concealed
he knocks her down with club, and
carries her off before she cones to.
If he does not 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 Wig
orous one, and may have reasons ot
her own for objecting to his atten-
lions. The lover may then be obliged
to club her again, and as that is con-
sidered to be somewhat OF a reflec-
ton 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 a bride must be
settled by a fierce fight between the
friends of the contracting parties. If
his forces are victorious, his sweet
heart becomes his trophy. If her
friends are victorious he must pay
such price as the victors demand.
All over the country some ceremony
of violence or exhibition of physical
power must precede a wedding.
Some native tribes insist upon loot
race between the bride and bride
groom to decide the question OF mar
riage, and others require long chase
on horseback. In some sections OF
Asia the lover must carry off his bride
on his back. If he reaches his hut
with her there can be no protest
against the marriage. Failing in thar
he must pay her parents Tor her in
cattle. The willing bride makes no
outcry, 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 courting, while in the
Ukraine the girl generally attends
to it. When she falls in love with a
man she goes to his house and de-
clares her passion. If he declines tc
accept her, she remains there and
his case becomes rather distressing
To turn her out would provoke hel
kindred to avenge the insult. The
young fellow has no resort left hin
but to run away from home until the
damsel is otherwise disposed OF.
A curious custom prevails in Quo
Belerland, Holland. October is the
suspicious month, and on the tirst
Sunday (known as review day. the
lads and lasseS, attired in their best
promenade the village separately
stare each other out of counteuanCe
and then retire to make up thei
minds on the second Sunday, which
is called decision day. The young
men go up and pay their compli
ments to their fair one of their cholc'
to learn if they are regarded will
favor. On the third Sunday, or da,
of purchase, the swain is expected tt
snatch the pocket handkerchief G
: his adored one, and if she submits t.
it with good grace he understand
that his chance of winning her i
f flattering.
The captured pledge is restored t
, the fair owner on the fourth Sunda
the Sunday Of Taking Possession,
and it rarely happens that the dam