The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-10
MhDENs AUCTloAED OFF.
Custom Of the Babylonians When
Their Girls Were Of Mar
riageable Age.
The Thurman Bride Had to Throw
q Cake Over the
House.
Customs OF Oronoco Indians In Mating
Old and Young-Capitai Ofenso to
Elopo In L4apland.

Til some parts Of the world the methods
of solsmnizing marriage were very peculiar
and interesting. The ancient B~abylonians
had a law which provided that when ths
maidens of that city arrived at a marriage
able age they were to be auctionad OF to
the highest bidder. A a matter of course
the most shapely and beautiful ones com
manded the highest prices and the rich
B~abylonians naturally carried OFT the most
attractive prizes.
After these had been disposed OF the auc-
tioneer placed the ugly ones on sale. and as
an incentive he offered a small sum of
money to any one willing to become a pur-
chaser. This bonus was contributed by the
pretty maidsns, and very often their less
favored sisters were the recipients Of snug
dowriss. M
Each buyer prior to taking his purchase
to her new home was required to give So
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
GuOlC6 ia bu0 oCAoOpASA Va
their daughters.
Among the Liburnians, writes q CORE
spondent of the Pittsburg Dispatch, the in
habitants of a city which stood on the site
OF the modern Leghorn. before the wedding
banquet was concluded the bride and all
tho guests were required to rise from the
table, and she then repaired to the bride
groom's house, whore she threw over the
ROOT a large cake made of course
dough. They firmly believe 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 husband the cake as
hard as stone, q lusty bride seldom, if ever,
failed to insure the lucky omen. During
this ceremony two male friends of the mar
RED couple attended the bride, and when
she had concluded the task presented her
with now shoes and stockings. She signi-
fed her acceptance of the gift by giving
them two or three old handkerchiefs.
The beauty of CircRssian women has be-
proverbial, In no otoer part of the
world is greater care taken in bringing up
the female children. They are taught to
embroider and make their own costumes. in
mems clothing, in order that when married
they may present their husbands with a
wedding outfit. Soon after the birth of a
girl q wide leather belt is sewed around her
waist ahd is not removed until it bursts,
when a second one is adjusted, On the
night of the marriage the belt is cut with a
dagger by her husband, and in many in
stances with fatal results.
One of the s%trangest matrimonial oere-
monies ia that practiced by an Indian tribe
residing on the banks OF the Oronoco river
in South America. The old men are married
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 petulanos of youth,
and that to join persons equal in age and
in wedlock is to place two fools
together. One redeeming trait about this
is that tho marriage of the young
men with the old women ia merely a sort of
apprenticeship, as after a few months pro-
they are permitted to we'd women OF
their own age.
The Mexican method of courtship, as
practiced at one time, but never seen at the
day, was very remarkable. When a
Mexican arrives at the so-called years of
discretion, q suitable life partner was &C.
lected for him.. The native priests were
union the girl was demanded of her parents
By certain women called solicitors, who
ranked among the most respectable of the
groom'g a~cquaintances.
The bride-elect was given a lengthy lee
ture on the duties of her new life, after
she was conducted to her father-in-
house. The bridegroom and his rela-
received her at the door Of tho house.
four of the female members of the family
bearing torches. Upon meeting the bride
bridegroom offered incense to each
other, and being conducted indoors they
were both seated on q curiouslv 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 for four days, spending
tho time in fasting and prayer. At the end
that period they were considered man
ind wife.
Tho Laplanders consider it a capital Of
[ense to wed a maid without the permis-
sion OF her parents or relatives, and inyari.
ably execute those who have the temerity
q attempt such clandestine marriages.
When a Lap has discovered his affinity the
ashton is to invite the friends of both to
q footrace between himself and the
me he Intends to wed. The maiden is
,iven such a long start in this novel race
a wife that unless she is willing she can
'eidom be oyertaken. If she outruns her
'ultor he can never again ask for q trial Of
as ii is penal offense to renew the
of marriage.
In the days of ancient Rome the bride
vas brought to the house of her husband
by five persons bearing torches,
he Significance of which was that married
PERSONS have need of five deities to aid and
them. Those were jupiter, Juno,
Jenus, Suada and Diana or Lucina. When
he woman reached the door of her future
She anointed the posts with oil, and
rom this ceremony was known thereafter
inxor (anointer), which, for the sake of
'uphony, became uxor, whence is derived
he English term uxorious. Another rule
lmong these people was that the bride
'hould be brought to the husband with a
ell or other covering over her head. This
'eremony WAS called nuptise, from nubo, to
ell. and was the origin of the modern
Vord nuptial.
'Grieved to Death Over His Failure.