St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-01-10
vINGTON, ST. TAMMANY PARISH LA. SATURDAY,

tor. cow
1t has been suggested that In th
hurling OF the stones We can trace tn
origin OF the throwing OF old slipper
after the welded couples Of our ow
land; but 1t seems long way to 20 {
Khondistan to derive the origin Of tn
amusing custom over which SO mucl
skill is sometimes exercised to insur
the slipper keeping company with then
on their honeymoon.
Among the Kalmucks We have
slight variation Of the programme. I
seems that tho man who wants to MARI,
any particular girl, has to win her b,
the heetness Of his horse. Shc i
mounted ON horseback, and gallops OF
as fast IS she can 60 He follows; ant
II he can catch her she is his wife, ant
has to return to his tent with him. W.
are told that there has never been al
instance where she has been caught i
she has no desire to become his wife
but 1t would seem from this. that after
he has paid her parents the pricc theo
agreed upon. she has no option but te
avoid the marriage by successful
flight
It is not unknown to many that until
quite recently . similar custom pre-
vailed in Wales. The bridegroom. hav.
Ing won the damsers heart appeared
with all his friends mounted at her
door on the wedding morn and demand
ed her from her parents. The BRIDE 8
friends, likewise on horseback. refused
to give her up. upon which scufile en-
sued. She was suddenly mounted be.
hind her nearest kinsman and carried
on. pursued by the bridegroom and tho
whole body of friends, who with loud
shouts and much laughter gallop after
her. 1t was not uncommon to see two
or three hundred people riding along At
full speed, crossing in front and jostling
ono another to tho delighted amusc-
ment Of the onlookers.. When they and
their horses were thoroughly exhausted.
the bridegroom was allowed to overtakc
the bride. carry her away in triumph,
the whole party finishing tho day with
feasting and festivity.
Sir Henry Piers gave an account OF q
similar kind OF ceremony in the wilds
of Ireland. where the interested parties
met somewhere between fho two DWELL
ings to discuss the matter and make ar.
rangementa II an agreement was con.
cluded, the agreement bottle was drunk,
and then the brides father sent round
to all his ncighbors and friends to col
lect his wife's portion. to which every
one gavc COW or . heifer. These tho
husband had to restore to their rc-
spective donors IL tho bride died child.
less within . certain time. On tho day
Of bringing home. the bridegroom and
his friends rode out to meet the bride
and her friends at tho place of meeting.
Being come near each other, the custom
was OF old to cast short darts at the
company attending the bride. but at
such . distance that seldom any hurt
ersued, although We do hear that on
one such occasion . noble lord lost an
eye, which must have gone far to sound
the kneu Of this quaint old custom.
Another curious instance affording
evidence Of ancient capture occurs in .
certain Arab tribe Tho betrothal
takes place apparently in similar man.
ner to that Of young English people Of
the nineteenth century; but tho mar
rage is only rendered complete by the
husband bringing lamb in his arms to
The tent Of the girls father and there
:utting its throat before Witnesses As
'oon - the blood falls to the ground tho
Is complete. and he retires to
his tent 20 await his lady. A game Of
is played by tho girl and
~ the people OF the village. who pursue
Ter - she runs from tent 70 tent At
ast she Is caught and led on in tri-
lmph by some Of the women to her
over, who. taking possession Of her,
orces her into his tent
Perhaps tho Bedouin Arabs of Mount |
'inal conduct their matrimonial ar
angements in the strangest fashion,
or when . man desires to marry hc
oes to tho maiden's father and makes
bid. which may or may not bc &C
epted Should the father think tho
fer sufficiently tempting. the salc Is
without the chief person con-
erned being consulted When sho
ONES homo In tho evening with tho
attlc. shc Is met At short distance
rom tho camp BY her intended husband
nd two Of his friends. and Is carried Of
= force to her fathers tent
II, however, she has timo to defend
crself. and suspects their crrand, sho
efends herself like . young tigress, bit.
Is. kicking. throwing sticks and stones
nd anything that comes to hand 1t her
often injuring them Sc
srely. even though sho IL not alto
sthee averse to tho match. Tho
eeatsr resistencc shc makes the great
praise shc receives from her compan.
ns. who record 1t In her favor forever
ter. When she Is safely In her fathers
mt they throw mans cloak over her,
ID make . formal announcement OF
" future husbands name. She Is
aced on . camel In her bridal dress
Ill struggling with might and main,
I'd has to Be held on by tho young
en-. Then she is led round three times,
ID sfterward taken into her husbands
Mt, the ceremony being woand up with
. usual feast and presents to the bride.
In comparing these few instances
lied from current authorities upon folk |
re and kindred subjects, IL will DO seen
~ prosaic is tho modern English mar
lge. which. even after . thoroughly
mantio courtsnip. peaceably assures
. ardent lover OF his victory. There
, not many fashionable young mea
ont town who would seek matrimony,
it could only Be STAINED at the risk
. broken head or other practical 9
OF his wife's prowes&-
amber'S Journal r. .-..s+