The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-01

impatient youths, and stretches out her arms TO-
wards them. as if to WOO their approach. This is
the moment for giving the signal to commence inc
chase and each impatient youth, daShng his point
ed heels in his coursers sides, darts like the I'M
hooded hawk in pursuit of the fugitive dove. Inc
savannah is generally extensive, say twelve miles
long and three in width and as the horsemen speed
across the plain the favo red lover becomes apparent
very soon by the efforts of the maiden TO avoid all
Others who might approach her.
In some parts of Tierol peculiar and beautiful
custom still prevails. When girl is about to be
married before she leaves home to go the church.
her mother hands her kerchief, which Is called
tear kerchief 1t is made of newly-spun linen, and
has never been used. With this kerchief she dries
her tears when she leaves her fathers house, and
while she stands at the altar After the marriage Is
over and the bride has gone with her husband to
their own new home, she folds up thu kerchief and
places it unwashed in the linen closet where it re-
mains untouched until her life journey is ended;
then the kerchef will be taken from its place and
spread over the placid features of the dead never 10
he removed until we are summoned TO come forth
on the resurrection morn.
When a young gentleman in Lapland desires to
assume new responsibilities he lays in large stock
of brandy, and his parents, relatives and friends
meet in as great numbers as possible to treat the
friends of the bride desired Neither orlde nor
bridegroom is expected to betray anxiety or inter
est in the proceedings The arctic Mrs. Grumpy who
is very strict in such matters. would be very mueh
scandalzed if they should. Besides the great mas
Of relatives and friends of auns and fourth cousins
who must attend there is still greater number OF
outsiders who are attracted by their curiosity to sec
whether anybody gets the mitten. The intensity Of
their curiosity is TO some extent determined by tho
| amount of brandy circulating. On the side OF the
gallant there is a spokesman, called sognonalVe
Brandy flask in hand he goes over to the other party
and offers liquid hospitality to the father and mothe
of the young lady. This is a signal for indiscrm
mate attack ola similar nature by the entire invad
| ing party upon the lady's friends EveryboG!
drinks to her father and mother, and she herself
! borne in great memory. When all are sufficient!
/ elated the proposal is embodied in a long speech
vibrating between poetry and prose Her parent
ask 10 see the kieh the wooiug presents II they ar
accepted the matter Is settled. Most matches al
made at the fairs and great festivals but they an
never made without brandy Indeed, "Courting viii
brandy" is proyerb among Laplanders equiyalen
to the French CONNIE 6aui- When the lady IS re-
ad the sutton is not he very often throws his brand
away. The influence in matrimonial matters Is nc
where felt more strongly than among the Lap'
Dress counts for nothing; one sheepskin IS as GOO
as another. Rank Is determined only BY the nun
Der Of reindeer man owns.
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