The Wahpeton times., 1889-08-15

They Vary consldsEAhlx Id piffsr-
ont Parts OF the World,

tsAN&ys-yAIX,N0n0l0 IN Diner.
ent Parts Of the World.
Among the ancient Assyrians all mar
riageable young girls were assembled
at one place, and the public crier put
them up for sale one after the other,
says q writer in the Epoch. The money
which was received for those who were
handsome. and consequently sold we'll,
was bestowed a. wedding portion on
those who were plain. When the most
beautiful had been disposed of the more
ordinary looking ones were offered for
certain sum, and allotted to those
willing to take them.
In ancient Greece the lover was sell
dom favored with an opportunity of
telling his passion to his mistress.
and he used to publish it by inscribing
her name on the walls, on the bark OF
the trees in the public walks and upon
the leaves Of books. He would decor
ate the door of her house with gar
lands, and make libations of wine be-
fore 1t, in the manner that was practis.
ed in the temple of Cupid.
According to DR.. Hayes, courtshin
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 a
polar bear as an evidence of his cour-
age and strength. That accomplished.
he sneaks behind the door of his sweet
hearts 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. He gives chase, where
upon all the old women in the neiphbor-
hood rush out and beat her with frozen
strips of sealskin. She falls down ex-
hausted, 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, if this statement
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 dwelling.
AS soon as she comes near the spot
where he is concealed he knocks her
down with a club, and carries her off
before she comesto If he does not get
her to his hut before she RECEIVERS, there
Is likely to be lively fight in the bush,
for the Australian damsel is generally
vigorous one, and may have reasons
OF her own for objecting to his atten-
tions. The lover may then be obliged
to club her again, and that is considered
to be somewhat of reflection on the
ardor with which his earlier effort was
made, he is apt to put as much soul and
muscle into his first love pat as he can
summon. -, -
In some parts of Asia the question of
mans little to bride must be set
tied by a fierce fight between
the friends Of the contract
ing parties. If his forces are
victorious his sweetheart becomes his
trophy. If her friends are victorious he .
must pay such price as the victors de-
mand. All over that country some cere-
mony of violence or exebition of physi-
cal power must precede wedding.
Some native tribes insist upon a foot
race between the bride and bridegroom
to decide the question of marriage, and
others require long chase on horse
back. In some sections of Aria the
lover must carry off his bride on his
back. If he reaches his hut with her
there can be no protest againnt the
marriage; failing in that, he must pay |
her parents for her in cattle. The will
ling bride makes no 'outcry; the unwil-
ling 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 declares her pas
sion. If he declines to accept her she
remains there, and his case becomes
rather distressing. To turn her out
would provoke her kindred to avense
the insult. The young fellow has no re-
sort left him but to run away. from
home until the damsel is otherwise
disposed of. y
A curious custom prevails in Oud
Beierland, Holland. October is the
suspicious month, and on the first Sun
day (known as review day. the lads
and lasses, attired in their best, pro-
menade the village separately, stare
each other out of countenance, and then
retire to make up their minds on the
second Sunday, which is called decision
day. The young men go up and pay
their compliments to the fair ones of |
their choice, to learn if they are regard
ed with favor. On the third Sunday, or |
day of purchase, the swain is expected |
to snatch the pocket handkerchief of |
his adored one, and if she submits to it |
with good grace he understands that
his chances of winning her are Aatter-
ing. The captured pledge is restored
to the fair owner on the fourth Sunday, |
the Sunday of taking possession" and
1t rarely happens that the damsel re-
fuses the lover for whom she has indi-
Gated a preference. On tho S,,rdov