Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-19
MARRIAGE As IT WAa
Customs That Have Gone Toward the Evolu-
tisa Of Our Present System.

tisa Of Our Present System
From Fank Leeise's Weekly.
The FIRST attempt OF the barbarian 10 estab-
lish some form Of legal relation in lieu Of the
free love of earlier time was the marriage by
capture. In this the young man. having seen
some girl Of his tribe who pleased his fancy,
called together band Of his brother braves.
and catching his victim at some de,enseless
moment, bound and gagged her and dragged
her away to his home, henceforth to be his
wife.
Two effective scenes are those representing
FIRST, the maiden. happily sleeping in her rude
hut, while the love maddened brave stealthily
enters and quietly but firmly tangles his jagged
spear head in her heavy hair without rousing
her; and. second, the poor girl awake and be
Ing dragged away by the hair of her head, her
bands and feet tied, by her ruthless captor.
lhis was very common method, aud Is even
now practiced in the wiids of Australia.
mobilization of this custom was found
among the Egyptiana There. the female pop
uiation met at the public baths and the charms
OF this and that Young girl were described &c
the youth who wished TO wed by his female rel.
atives When he decided upon one that suited
his fancy, an arrangement was made with the
girl father The prospective bridegroom. al
the head OF gorgeous procession of has friends
accompanied by musicians and dancing girls
then won't TO the girls home in the evening,
and made show Of tearing his resisting bride
from her fathers protecting arms.
Ihereupon he placed her. entirely covered
BY an embroidered and ieweled-studded veil
under . magnificent canopy borne by -four
slaves. and, in company with torchbearers
singers with all the display possible. bore her
away to his home. Once there the singers
sing and the dancers dance, while the bride
still carefully veiled, walks up and down before
the groom TO display her grace and charm.
The entertainment finally over and the guests
departed the husband unveils her and for the
first time feasts his eyes upon her beauties
These are two especially effective scenes.
Next In importance we have the marriage BY
purchase. Strictly speaking, tins custom varies
among the different nationalities rs to the &C.
tual wedding ceremonies almost all Of which
were. however, wild and picturesque; but q
view Of . slave market always gives a line oppor-
tunity for pictorial effect Here We have the
girls yet to be sold postured in the foreground,
while their unfortunate comrade is standing
on exhibition before the group Of BUYERS, q
professional exhibitor, herself a Nubinn slave,
calling attention to the good points of the
present Tot"
At the extreme left . slave il Just covering
his masters recent purchase, while the auc-
tioneer in his box cries his Going going gone y
over the freedom and happiness of a defense
less woman. The prospective buyers, with ra-
dent faces, each clothed in brilliantly be-
decked garments and bearing q casket OF Jewels
in bis hand to win loving glances from indif.
ferent eyes, form an appropriate background
to the white robes and sad or stony faces Of the
girls in front