Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-07-02
MATCH MAKING IN IRELAND.
CUSTOMS THAT PREVAIL AMogg TIL
FAMILIES oF SMALL pARMEIs.


the small farmer and labOring Glasses
In the west Of Ireland was, at least up
10 1870, entirely matter OF business
10 much money on the girls side to be
given, on condition that the BRIDE
groom elect should receive 20 much
lanu from his parents yet nm unhappy
union was such rare occurrence that
iuringa residence amongst them Of
oveftwenty.hvc years, with the full
est opportunities for knowing, ! never
knew OF even one really unhappy mar.
risge, saysA writer Of the indianapolis
Journal Whena farmer with, say
thirty acres of good land, held at a
moderate rent, has a daughter who has
arrived at marriageable age, which
hhbout 21or u yeafs, he begins 10 look
about for n suitable mate for her. II
there u not In his Immediate neigh.
borhood one who pOssps.es the quali-
hcations necessary, he makes Inquiries,
generally from some 0ne OF the mum.
erous bcggors, who, travelling over the
county within n radius " ten miles
call at each house Mt regular Intervals
aud through these walking news.
papers, as they may be termed, having
found n man who, having farm Of
land about tho same eiku ms his own,
anu who has mafriagoable sou, lac
starts on ON n Saturday morning for
market town usually frvqucntod by
thi, man whose son he wishes 10 get
for his daughter. Toward tho after.
noon, after the business " the day IN
over, the farmer who IL husbanJ-scclS.
Ing looks around until he finds the
party ho Il In search Of, and, having
hccostcd him, Invites him 10 n saloon
10 join him In quart 0fporter. After
they have refreshed the inner man by
several glasses for m0st probably hi
companion has treated him 10 another
quart - he breaches the object for
which ho has sought the company Of
his friend, and asks him how much
land would he be prepared % give over
10 the possession OfhisHOn N lac cOuli
get a good match Of u girl for wife.
u adopt the paflance usually employ.
ed on such Occaaions.l The friend
thus appealed 10 will probably ask,
before he commits himself % definite
reply. GLOW much fortune will you
give your daughter" Though II "
his Intention 10 give, say 500,
which IL about the sum q farmer la the
west OF ireland, with thirty acres OF
land, would give with his daughter,
he will probably Offer $3.50 ~ u icoler |
until he finds out what the other IL la. !
clinvd 10 10. The party thus appealed |
TO VIII say he Intends 10 give perhaps |
ten acrus out VI his twenty-five or
thirty acres or, na IL most frequently !
arranged, about for ncrcs OF land suit |
able for growing crops, aud the graz.
lug OF 30 many cows aud calves, sheep, |
etc. The man anxious for the well !
fare Of his daughter viii try aud make |
better terms by getting the other 10 /
promise more land, or Increase gazing /
privileges; he agrees 10 give his daugh. |
ter 80 more II tho other Increases the |
sons allowance. After blrgalnlug- |
tmay DO for some hours, during which /
time the quart measure has been 10.
plcnishcd again and agaln-cach lie.
comes satisfied with tho arrangement.
promised by the other. There IN no
signing OF any documents by either
party; they are quite satisfied u ar-
ccpt the promises made verbally, aud
rarely indeed aro they violated. The
next point for discussion Il 10 arrange
Tor u meeting, generally at the home
OF the bridegroom elect, where the
money, the girls fortune, n 10 be- paid
over, the day for the wedding selected,
aud tho number OF couples each con.
tracing party II 10 Invite 10 the wed.
ding settled, each paying an equal pro.
portion oftho cost 0f the vlanda 10 10
provided for the wedding feast.
ON the appointed evening the thr.
ents OF the girl repair 10 tho nome ofthe
future son'in.law, where probably they
sec the young mau for tho fir.t time,
but OF Que thing they will DO assured
before commencing oven th. initial
negotiations; that Il that tho young
man II perfectly sound aud whole. No
race OF people IN tho world are more
particular IN this respect than are tho
p.santry OF ireland. They win not,
unless under unusual circumstance,
permit son or daughter 10 marry any
one who has any bodily deiormity ORD
feet. They care little about personal
and young man will not
receive $40 extra because VI his good
looks. There 10 generally little feast
prepared Tor tho expected guests. This
consists OF a large homemade cake,
with plenty Of good tea, butter, eggs,
stc., aud after tho supper some hot
punch today will bc handed around.
Then the 400 IL paid over Into tho
hands Of the bridegfoom-to be. Not
he slightest fear has he that the other
parties win fall 10 hilhl their part Of
he agreement. This money II retained
~ the old couple for their individual
1870 and benefit, the young couple de.
diving no benefit from II. Probably Il
Will he expended In the providing Of a
ultablc husband fora daughter OF thelr
,wn. The day fixed upon for their
Wedding Is generally at laast within a ,
week or so u that on which tho money
= paid over. In many cases the two
most Interested In all those negotiations
nay have never met before the day /
N which they are 10 be united for life, /
II II may be they have seen each other {
4 church OF at some fair, hut .aa a gen. )
raj rule, they have been strangers 10 .
aoh other until they meet In church.
u being arranged, the wedding day
, come, and this bride and bridegroom
With their friends, meet, rs | have
aid before, perhaps for tho first time, i
uislde the church door. Near by :
III be seen a motley array ~ vehicles, d
he Irish Jtunting car, which n PEG. a
liar 10 Ireland, predOmlnating. There o
70 generally number Of young men u
n horseback who accompany the II
ridal party home after the ceremony
over.-EI, d