Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06
CURIOUS COURTSHIfS
Practices Among Ancient Peoples
and Modern Savage Tribes.
AUCTION OF BRIDES In BABYLON.
January Welded to May With an Indian
Race in South America.
THE SPEED TEST In ICY LAPLAND
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH I

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATcH.1
In some parts of the world the methods of
solemnizing marriage were very peculiar
and interesting. The ancient Babylonians
had law which provided that when the
maidens of that city arrived at marriage
able age they were to be auctioned off to the
highest bidder. As matter Of course the
most shapely and beautiful ones commanded
the highest prices, and the rich Babylonians
naturally carried off the most attractive
prizes. After these had been disposed of
the auctioneer placed the ugly ones on sale,
and as an incentive he offered a small sum
of money to anyone willing to become pur-
chaser. This bonus was contributed by the
pretty maidens, and very often their less
favored sisters were the recipient of snug
dowries.
Each buyer prior to taking his purchase
to her new home was required to give Sc
curitY that he would marry her. After the
sale, should any of the parties repent of
their bargain, they were permitted to annul
the purchase, and the sums paid were re-
stored to them. Of course parents had no
choice in the selection of husbands for their
daughters.
| THROWING CAKE OVER A HOUSE.
Among the Liburnians, the inhabitants
of city which stood on the site Of the mod
ern Leghorn, before the wedding banquet
was concluded the bride and all the guests
were required to rise from the table, and she
then repaired to the bridegroom's house,
where she threw over the roof a large cake
made of coarse dough. They firmly be-
lieved that the higher it was thrown the
happier the union would be and the better
housewife she would prove. As the houses
were very low-in reality were huts-and
the cake as hard as a stone, lusty bride
seldom, if ever, failed to insure the lucky
omen. During this ceremony two male
friends of the married couple attended the
bride, and when she had concluded the task
presented her with new shoes and stockings.
| She signifed her acceptance of the gift by
| giving them two or three old handkerchiefs.
The beauty of Circassian women has be-
| come proverbial. In no other part of the
world is greater care exercised in bringing
up the female children. They are taught to
embroider and make their own costumes, in
addition to which they must learn to make
mems clothing, in order that when married
thev may present their husbands with a
wedding outfit. Soon after the birth of a
| girl, wide leather belt is sewed around her
waist and is not removed until it bursts,
when a second one is adjusted. On the
night OF her marriage the belt is cut with a
dagger by her husband, and in many in
stances with fatal results.
| THE GIFTS OF THE FATHER.
The father makes his daughter a present
on her wedding day, but the major part of
| what he intends ior her is reserved until the
birth of the first child, when the father
clothes her in the dress Of matron, the
chief distinction of which consists of veil
that entirely conceals her face and figure.
| The habitation Of married Circassian con-
sists of two huts, one occupied by the hus-
band and the other by his wife and family.
| The court separating the two buildings is
surrounded by palisades, and it would never
| be suspected that they constituted one estab-
| lishment.
One of the strangest matrimonial cere-
monies is that practiced by an Indian tribe
/ residing on the banks OF the Orinoco river
in South America. The old men are mar
ried to the budding maidens, and decrepit
women are mated with youths not yet out
of their teens. The reason given for this is
that age may correct the petulance of youth,
and that to join persons equal in age and
imprudence in wedlock is to place two fools
together. One redeeming trait about this
custom is that the marriage of the Young
men with the old women is merely sort of
apprenticeship, as, after a few months pro-
baton they are permitted to wed women of
their own age.
AN OLD MEXICAN CUSTOM.
The Mexican method of courtship, as
practiced at one time, but never seen at the
present day, was very remarkable. When
a Mexican arrived at the so-called years of
discretion suitable life partner was Sc.
lected for him. The native priests were
consulted, and if they predicted happy
union the girl was demanded o. her parents
hu lod vho
ranked among the most respectable of the
would-be groom's acquaintances. Their
visits were necessary.
The bride-elect was then given lengthy
lecture on the duties of her new life, after
which she was conducted to her father-in-
laws house. The bridegroom and his rela-
tives received her at the door of the house,
four of the female members of the family
bearing torches. Upon meeting, the bride
and bridegroom offered incense to each
other, and being conducted indoors. they
were both seated on curiously wrought
mat placed in the middle of the room. A
priest now approached and tied part of the
gown of the bride to the mantle of the
groom, this constituting the chief part of
the bridal ceremony. The bride and groom
shut themselves up for four days, spending
the time in fasting and prayer. At the end
OF that period they were considered man and
wife.
FOOT RACING FOR WIVES.
The Laplanders consider it capital Of
fense to wed a maid without the permission
of her parents or relatives, and invariably |
execute those who have the temerity to at |
tempt such candestine marriages. When |
a Lap has discovered his affinity the fashion !
is to invite the friends of both to witness |
foot race between himself and the one he in |
tends to wed. The maiden is given such |
long start in this novel race for a wife that,
unless she is willing, she can seldom be |
overtaken. If she outruns her suitor he can |
never again ask for trial ofspeed, as it is a |
penal offense to renew the offer of marriage. |
In the days of ancient Rome, the bride
was brought to the house of her husband /
preceded by five persons bearing torches, the
signihcation of which was that married per-
sons have need of five deities to aid and pro-
tect them. These were Jupiter, Juno, Venus,
Suada and Diana or Lucina. When the
woman reached the door of her future home
she annointed the posts with oil, and from
this ceremony was known thereafter as
un1or (annointer), which, for the sake of
euphony became uxor, whence is derived the
English term uxorious. Another rule among
these people was that the bride should be
brought to her husband with veil or other
covering over her head. This ceremony was
called nuDti8, from nubo, to veil, and was
the origin of the modern word nuptial.