Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-11-19

across seven seas and over high noun.
tains, 10 rest beneath their shadow and
enjoy her happiness undisturbed.
The other girls, one after another,
then follow suit, when the same love
chanting is repeated until all the young
women have made their choice. Then
comes the turn Of the young men, each
OF whom will select a partner and 20
through the same performance. The
jollilcation concludes with the dancing
Of the Russian Cossack, after which
each young peasant escorts the object OF
his choice 10 her home.
When the time comes to make a
formal declaration OF his Intentions. the
youth accompanied by one OF more
members Of his family, who are sup.
posed to assist him in obtaining the
parents consentl proceeds to the house
OF his ladylove to make known his de-
sires TO her father and mother, The
latter, not at all surprised, usually regales
the aspirant with a long lecture on the
trials aud duties OF married life, lament
ing the Ills aud Ignoring the blessings.
and winds up by declaring that her
daughter is too young to be handed
over to the cruel tyranny Of an eNacting
husband.
This custom Is in every instance rigidly
followed, so fearful are the parents that
the young man might think their child
too easily won.
The sutton. in the hope OF conciliating
the mother for she appears most pTomi.
nent in the matter, the fathers consent
being a mere iormality), next begins to
make her little peace offerings, mean.
while expa,iating ON his undying love for
her daughter and how happy he will
| make her. The mother lends .eluc.
tant ear to the ardent lovers protesla.
| tons until reasonable number ol
| presents have accumulated, when she
finally yields a rather unwilling assent.
She then tells him that he must obtain
the fathers consent-an altogether un-
necessary proceeding, for as a rule, he
is only too willing to he relieved OF the
burden Of his daughters support.
You will naturally ask 'yhat has be,
come OF the victim during the wooers
numerous visits to the little home
With throbbing heart she silently listens
in an adjoining room, where each word
spoken by her lover falls like sweet
music on her ears,
All preliminarie, being finally ar.
ranged between the mother and lover,
the daughter IS called into the room "a
receive the maternal blessing, instead Of
which she prostrates herself at her
mothers feet, declaring that she has nc
desire TO leave her home. She prefers
10 lead a life OF freedom. Mother ard
lover soon overcome her objections.
and. At last, she Yields a COY a,seo,.
The Young couple then kneel To receive
the blessing d both parents, after winch
the priest is summoned to bestow his
This ~ performed In a solemn and i'm,
pressive manner, and at iti conclusion a
ring Is placed on The finger OF each oil
thc contracting paitics. This latter
ceremony is considered quite as import,
ant as the performance ol the mar iage
rite. The neighbors are next notified,
that they may tender their congratula'
lions, and seated around a long table
they partake OF the national beverage
tea,
The above is but an outline o. these
interesting ceremonies, which are pathe,
tic and impressive TO an extreme
degree,