Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-21
MAKING ONE OF TWO.
queer Ways of Tieing Nuptial Knots,
Some Make it a Business Like
Affair.
The Marriage Ceremony as Performed
III Most all Countries of the
World.
Our Good. Old. Plain. American Wav
After all. is as Good
as Any.
New York Press.

goes ON, SO long as there are youth to WOO
and maldens to be won, courtship and mar
rage will be subjects OF perhaps greater
interest than all other things put together.
We IN America, where, in the case of choos-
ing husband or wife, as in everything
else, there is so much freedom of action,
can better appreciate the sanctity and
beauty of the marriage tie by comparing
our customs, forms and ceremonies with
those of other countries.
1t is known, of course, that in all Euro
pean countries, women, particularly of the
upper classes, have very little to say in re-
gard to this life step, parents or guardians
arranging everything to their own salts
faction. and acquaintlng her of the details
afterward.
In France the marriage de conven-
ance" is the only one thought of, and we
are told that in these marriages very often
the husband is man past middle age, a
man who has become satiated with all the
pleasures Of life, so decides to settle down
and spend his declining years in a SEM
blance of responsibility. To do this he
will marry, and that too, a young, inno-
cent girl who, perhaps, just from con-
vent or the hands Of a governess, is des-
tined to all too quickly have her fairy
castles in the air, - her girlish illusions,
quickly dispelled.
The Frenchman who wants to marry
may address himself 10 number of inter-
medlarles. In case he has already fixed
his choice and is known to her parents and
guardians he may lay his case before
| them. If, on the contrary, he just makes
up his mind to marry without any choice
at all, he can apply to his own relatives,
friends, matrimonial agencies, etc.
He must pretend to be very tired of
longing for the peace and quiet of domes-
meet some young girl with whom he conld
settle down and live happily.
In due time his interested friends find
one they think will suit him. He is in
vited to dinner, reception, anything to
meet her. Preliminaries in the way of
financial settlements are arranged and the
farce continued to the last word, "What
God hath joined together let no man put
assunder."
In Germany it is quite a business-like
affair. There is an officer in the German
army to-day who wears upon his finger a
ring which many years ago was given hi N
by the girl he loved but whom he had to
give up, she not having the "dower" req
ulslte for an army man S wife.
In Italy, while among the better class of
people, young man and woman are never
allowed to see each other alone, and there
is that same looking out on both sides for
the substantial part of the transaction,
still it is often an ''affaire de ceur," and
not ar unusual thing for an Italian lover
to give up home, parents and money in
order to wed the girl of his choice
When the families are upon good terms,
| however, the young man calls at the house
ami sees his loved one In the presence of
others. Though they are never alone, it
can be easily imagined that there is lam
guage Of eyes that cannot be easily STOP
ped, even if seen, and which tells thesyoung
man when to speak. Even after the
question is put to those of the young lady,
after settlements are made and the betroth-
| al made public, the lovers are never al
lowed to be alone, nor to show in any way
| their affection for each other.
Among the Turks marriage is civil
contract, and the union of the parties is
| registered by the cadi or magistrate
Neither bride nor groom is present and no
female friends of the bride attend. The
deed is executed by proxy, signed by wit
nesses, friends and a priest.
The marriage contract particularly en-
umerates the dowry to be settled on the
wife in case her husband dies or is divorc-
ed. In case one wife is of equal social
standing with her husband and the others
not, they are made to wait upon her and
are In certain sense her slaves, whether
she be married before them or not.
Indeed, in India it is the poor bride who
has all the hard work, but the women of
India, from the time she gives up her
childhood to the day Of her death, is the
very worst kind of a slave. When a new
wife is expected all the hardest and most
laborious work is left for her, and she has
nothing to eat until every other member
of the house is fed.
The men always eat first, the women
waiting on them; then the older wives eat
what is left, and the poor bride, often a
little girl, picks up any crumbs that may
come to her, and she is never al
lowed to see her husband alone till her
youth has gone past her and she is ugly
and decrepit.
Among the fashionable people in Russia
it is customary to soemnize marriages In
a DRAWN groom and by candle light. There
is 40 bridal tour. nor does the bride go
from parental authority.
Her father still has dominion over her,
can summon her from her husband if he is
i'll or needs her; can, if he loses his wife,
claim her services for three months, and
very often does SO. If his daughter s hus-
band dies he can compel her to return
home and become the guardian OF his
children. These privileges extend on y to
the father of the bride, the mother having
no rights at all. After the wedding
ceremony IN Russia there is banquet,
followed by ball, and after that another
supper.
In houses where old customs are still OBJ
served, at this last feast new satin slip
per of the bride is brought out. This is
used as drinking cup by the friends of
the groom, who pass it round and drink
the brides health in it, until it is thorough
" soaked with wine and will hold no
more. All of the speeches, or toasts to her
health, are replied to by her father instead
Of the groom
In Australia the mother and aunts do
not speak to the husband all the rest Of his
life If by chance they meet him, they
squat down, covering their faces with
their hands, and if obliged TO speak in each
others presence use a funny kind Of lingo
called ''turn tongue" When the married
pair have been taken to the new hut pre-
pared for them, for two moons the BRIDE
groom aid his best man" sleep On one
side of the fire, while the bride and her
maids sleep On the other.
They are not allowed to speak to each
other, and are all that time huge joke to
the rest of the young people around, who
anuse themselves all day by peeping in
and laughing at them.
In Iceland brida is known by her dress
which is finer and more costly than that of