The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-01-13
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uNcIvILlzeo MARRIAGES.
Queer Ceremonies by which the Bride.
groom Receives His Bride.

groom Receives His Bride.
Compared with the simple rites of
less civilized people our marriage
ceremony seems q trying ordeal for a
young and bashful couple to go
through, says the London Iid-Bits.
The Cherokee form of marriage is per-
haps the simplest and most expressive
of any. The man and woman merely
join hands over running steam. em-
blematical of the wish that their future
lives, hopes, and aspirations should
flow in the same channel.
Between the mountains of India and
Persia is powerful tribe. among whom
an extraordinary custom prevails.
Women's rights apparently have re-
ceived full recognition, for the ladies
of the tribe can choose their own hus-
bands. All single lady has TO do when
she wishes to change her state is to
send servant to pin handkerchief
to the hat of the man on whom her
fancy lights and he is obliged to marry
her, except he can show he is too poor
to purchase her at the price her father
requires.
tribes have of popping the question
rites. The man sends and purchases
the lady's wearing apparel. OF course,
if she does not like the gentleman she
need not part with the contents of her
wardrobe; but if he is the favored one
she readily does so. knowing that
when the evening comes they will be
returned to her by the suitor in per-
son. He spends the night beneath the
same roof with her. and next day. after
a certain amount of feasting is gone
through, the couples thumbs are tied
together. and thenceforward they are
| man and wife.
| In certain parts of Africa a custom
once prevailed (and may still of the
| bride bringing bowl or calabash of
water for the bridegroom to wash his
| hands in. If he eondescended to do
so she there and then acknowledged
| him as her lord and master. and more
over drank the water as proof of her
love and fidelity, and cases have been
/ known where q copious shedding of
tears of joy and thankfulness accom-
/ panied the latter act.
paGHg seH}ee ef ef the the aboriginal races
! of America the would-be Bridegroom
sometimes experienced considerable
| difficulty in winning a bride. There
was 6 matrimonial mount on which
the priest stood, around which the
| swain had to chase the fair one. If
4 he was not a favored suitor the lady
| generally managed to make the circuit
three times before being overtaken.
in which case she was not compelled
| to marry her pHrsuer. How amusing
| it would be in this country to see fat
| old bachelor (that is, if minus of rich
esq chasing a nimble maiden round q
| hillock.
But infinitely more trouble has 3
/ youth of the P hilippines ere be is al
| lowed to take a wife to his bosom.
After the parents on both sides have
come to terms the young gentleman
has to work for his intended father
| in-law for a certain time, very often
for four years, and sometimes longer.
During this time he must mind his p's
and q's, for if he does anything wrong
he is instantly discarded. Very fre-
| quently unscrupulous fathers make a
practice of dismissing their daughters
young men on the merest pretense.
thus enriching themselves by their
gratuitous labor.
A strange practice is that of betroth-
ing girl before she is born, con-
ditionally of course. The Calmues do
so. But the girl is allowed an oppor-
tunitv on her bridal morning of winning g
her freedom should she dislike the man
her parents have chosen for her. The
marriage ceremony is performed by
the bride riding away at full speed
pursued by the bridegroom, who must
capture her and bring her back; if he
fail to do so he is deemed unworthy OF
her hand. Very rarely can a Calmuc
lady be overtaken unless she has par
tiality for her pursuer.
In some parts of India an extraor-
dinary ceremony is performed. The
bridegroom. bride, and priest drive I
COW and calf into the water. and theI
all three lay hand on the cows tai
while the priest pours some water OF
it from brass vessel, by which ac
the couple are joined forever in tht
bonds of matrimony. The priest claim:
the cow and calf. together with al
! money the happy pair may give to tn,
idols to propitiate them as a recon
pense for his trouble.
When young Savoyard goes a
wooing he pays considerably more at
: tention to the admired ones fire thar
her face. If she leaves the billets o
, wood undisturbed on the hearth it is
sign he is welcome; but should sh
place one of the blazing faggots in al
upright position kgainst the others i
is hint for him to take his departure
|