Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-06-28
PRIMITIVE couRTsHIR.
Cursous Customs That StIn Prevail In ths
Mountains Of Albania.


All through the mountains and vil'
lagos Of what was once known % Ale
bania, but which now Is lost on the map
Of Europe as Q separate nation, the old
and primitive customs still exist and
the maiden Of to-day Is wooed and won
as was her great grandmother In her
youth.
Young girls throughoutall this region
have more liberty than any other OF the
Oriental nations, except the Montene'
grins, partly because they are upright
by nature, and partly because OF On I'M
written law that makes young girl 80
cred in those half-savage lands
Every male member Of the young
girls family through countless genera
tions would be bound to be perpetual
vendetta against every man of every
branch Of the family whoever would
wrong any girl, and as the men OF these
two nations are perfect marksmen and
men OF the fiercest courage, any man
would think many times before he
would dare insult one Of these girla
Thus the girls 90 about on the mount
aims with their little hocks and herds In
security, and at sunset they all go with
their earthern pitchers to the village
fountains or to the natural spring, from
whence they obtain the drinking water
for the night
The girls and women all stand about
brown and barefooted, with bright eyes
and gayly colored embroidered gar.
ments, and with tinkling little pend.
ants in their hair and around their
necks and wrists. All their wealth Is
thus spent and the barbaric display 10
attractive. Homes are simply shelters
and places to sleep in, and in even the
well-to-do families little attempt Is
made at decorating them, all the family
putting into dress and ornament their
surplus, and what they buy goes down
to grandchildren, as It Is always OF
sterling though crude value Many
girls have string Of gold coins around
the neck, which constitutes the dowry,
30 that the sutton can see at glance
her fortune.
These gatherings at the fountain,
aside from their useful purpose, serve
for the dissemination Of news, and the
matches are also made there, for when
young man feels that he wants par
ticular young girl for his wife he first
tells several Of his young men friends
and then takes his rife and starts with
them toward the fountain, and tries to
time his arrival so that he will reach
there Just as this particular young
woman has lifted her cruise Of water to
her head and started toward home. He
then raises his rife and shoots d.
rectly at that cruise and breaks Il, LETT
ting all the water fall on the girl,
after which he steps forward and takes
her hand, and they walk bashfuliy TO
her parents who quickly understand
the matter and bring out bread, and
wine, and dried fruits, which two latter
have been saved for the occasion Of their
daughters betrothal
Sometimes the parents object, but
very seldom, and the girl almost never.
The young man who would break cruise
and afterward refuse the young girls
hand would be instantly killed by the
young girls relatives, and, failing rela-
tives, other men would do itas a just and
religious vengeance. The young men
gather at the fountains and chat and
laugh freely with all the girls, but
never one word of love-making Is al
lowed or said before the open declare.
ton by breaking the cruise Of water.
After that the young couple can wander
unchecked among the flowers and trees
until the wedding, which Is never very
long delayed.
Girls marry very young In these
places and make contented and loving
wives They labor hard and sre very
ignorant and their highest ambition Is
to embroider the richest and finest
Jacket and cloak for their husbands and
to have ct least 1.50O pieces Of snowy
linen in his fustanelle or white kilt
which he wears They are adept in this
gold embroidery. 1t Is quite possible
that the young couple understand each
other in some occult way before the
final declaration is made.-Vienna Cor.
N. Y. Press