Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-29


era of civilization dawned the lover always
Australian native of today knocks down the
woman he desires for wife with his club and
drags her of, this ceremony constituting the
requisite legal form. Among the Kalmucks Of
central Asia the girl whom youth desires to
win is put on horse and rides off at full speed,
the lover pursuing soon as she is Judged to
have got fair start. Ii he cannot overtake
her the match is of, but if he succeeds in catch
ing her she becomes his wife. When she
likes the young man it is to be presumed that
she does not ride her hardest. With the Ahitas
OF the Philippine Islands when a man wishes
to marry young woman she is given an hour $
start IN the woods, and. if he finds her and
brings her back before sunset, il is "A lawful
marriage Ever SO many people still preserve
the form of marriage by capture. even though
the actual custom no longer exists. When an
Indian of Chile has agreed on the price he
shall pay for a girl to her parents the recog-
nized mode Of proceeding is that he surprises
her. or Is supposed 10 do 80. and carries her of
10 the woods for a few days. after which the
happy couple return home
nat seems much like a civilized honey
moon
The idea of it is precisely the same and the
custom Is derived from ;he same source. Just
as SAID, the honeymoon Is In fact a survival of
the primitive custom of marriage by capture.
As nations have advanced in civilization and
communities have become larger the actual
capture OF wives has become announcement and
unnecessary. Gradually, therefore, it has sunk
more and more into mere form. Thus the re-
qulrements OF fashion were satisfied with your
running on with your own bride out of town
for "A month
Very expensive / found it. I should have
preferred not TO acquire my wife by capture"
An! But my dear fellow. You were obliged
TO make show OF carrying her off If YOU
wished to do the proper thing. The very bride
cake at your wedding, of which 1 was given a
slice. Is simply survival of the barbarous
method of marriage by eating together. This
latter custom Is IN Use today among many
tribes OF Indians. Among modern savages YOU
VIII ma the same customs III vogue now that
were doubtless used by our own primitive an
cestors, and this consideration alone renders a
study Of their ways very interesting. Speak
Ing OF weddings reminds one of kissing the
bride. Now, as to that, kissing seems to US SO
natural an expression of affection that we
should expect it to be found all over the world
Yet 1t Is unknown to the Australian, the New
Zealanders, the Papuans. the negro of west
Africa and the Eskimo. In some parts of Cen
trai Africa II Is considered a mark of respect to
turn the back on a superior.
The Todas Of the Neilgherry hills. in India,
Show respect by raising the open right hand
and resting the thumb on the end of the nose.
Captain Cook asserts that the inhabitants of an
Island In the Pacific ocean, called Mallicolo,
show admiration by kissing. Among the Es-
klmo 1t is customary to pull persons nose as
compliment. And among the Chinese. who
are not savage but barbarous. coffin is re-
garded as neat and appropriate present for
an aged person, especially if in bad health