The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-08-21
PRIMITIVE coyRTsHiF.
~-s
Eufaous Customs That still Prevail In The
Mountains or Albania.

Mountains OF Albania.
All through the mountains and viii
lagos of what was once known as AZ
bania, but which now is lost on the map
Of Europe as a 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-
grifts, partly because they are upright
by nature, and PARTLY because OF an nm
written law that makes young girl sa-
cred In those half-savage lands.
Every male. member Of the young
girls family through countless 'gonera-
tons 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 fiorcest courage, any man
would think many times before lie
would dare insult one OF these girls.
Thus the girls go about on the mount
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. :
r 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
neeks and wrists. All their wealth is
thus spent, and tile barbaric display is
attractive. Homes are simply shelters
and places to sleep in. and in even the
wpff=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 dewry,-
so that the sutton can see at a 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
tel S several of his young men friends
and then takes his rifle and starts with
them toward the fountain, and Nries to
time his arrival SO that he win reach
there just as this partcu lar young
woman has lifted her cruise of water to
ef4head= and started toward home Ha
then raises his I fIe and shoots d :
rectly at that cruise and breaks it, let
ting all the water fall on the girl,
after which he steps forward and takes
her hand, and they walk bashfully to
s.her parents, who quickly understand
Che matter and bring out bread, and
wine, and dried fruits, which two latter
have been saved for the occasion of their
daughters betrotha1.
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 tho
young girl,s relatives. and, failing rela-
tives, other men would do itas 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-epen- declara-
tion 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 are very
ignorant and their highest ambition is
TO embroider sthe richest and finest
jacket and cloak for their husbands and
to have at least 1850 pieces of snowy
linen in his fustanelle or white kilt
which he wears. They are adeptin tn 8
gold embroidery. 1t is quito possible
that the young couple understand each
other in some occult way before the
final declaration is made. Vienna Cor.
n. Y. Press.