The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-31
WAYS OF SECURING A WIFE.
Interesting Details Of Old NuptiaI
FeaStS and CeTemOnialS.
Curious Marriage Customs of the An
Gent Jews-Brides Bought or Sc
Iected by the Groom's Parents.
Cupid Was Unconcerned.
From the Chicago Inter Ocean

In an upper chamber the betrothed
pair stood under canopy The bride
was yelled and both wore crowns. which
we're several times exchanged. The Off
eating elder, who stood to the left, gave
cup of wine to the betrothed and they
pledged one another, the bridegroom
draining the vessel, then crushing it
under his heel and swearing fidelity until
its powdered fragrants should be re
united The whole company then
formed in procession and marched round
the canopy chanting psalms and shower
ing rice upon the bride. The officiating
minister meanwhile invoked the
seven blessings upon them, drank from
the benedictory cup, and passed it around
the assembly, and the ceremony was con-
Guided 1t was not until after dark that
the bride was taken to her new home, at
tended by friends of each of the contract
ing parties, bearing hymeneal lamps as
tokens of respect. Here feast was
spread and the festivities commence, in
many instances lasting as long as seven
days.
This was the ceremony as performed by
the early Jewish tribes, and was the oc-
casion of all the pomp and splendor of that
age.
The marriage ceremony originated with
our first parents. BE fruitful and multi
ply and replenish the earth" 1t was a
short ceremony, but was regarded by the
Jews as a solemn precept to and a strict
obligation upon them Out of this duty
set upon them to procreate grew the ne
cessity for binding contract, either re-
ligious or civil, by which man should be
pedient purposes of civilized society.
Monogamy was the original law, but the
unity OF thebond soon became impaired
by polygamy, which seems to have first
become common among the Caananites.
Soon it swept over all the nations of the
earth, tainting each in turn, and though
the first wife held the highest place,
subsequent ones were taken by all those
who could afford it,
Among the early nations the choice of a
bride devolved, not upon the bridegroom
himself, but upon his relations, or some
friends deputed by him for the purpose.
and while his wishes were always
respected in regard to the one selected, he
was not known in the affair until all the
arrangements had been completed. Oc-
casiOnally when the lady was superior in
rank or wealth son-in-law was selected
by the father. In such instances the girl
was not consulted, but was bargained for
without knowledge, and if the husband
master he was held to account by the
relatives. In either case the selection
was Immediately followed by betrothal,
and presents BETTING the rank and wealth
OF the groom were given to the bride-elect
and her family.
The time between the betrothal and the
wedding varied from ten days to a year,
during which time the maiden was ac-
corded all the respect due a married
woman. She could no longer dispose of
or let her property, and unfaithfulness to
her vows was punishable by death.
OLD JEWISH CUSTOMS.
The Jews had certain days set apart for
the solemnizing Of marriage and this Gus
tom has perhaps been the origin of many
OF the superstitions of the present day.
With them Thursday was set apart for
widows, who seemed to WELD as great
sway and be-as much sought for as in the
nineteenth century. Wednesday was set
apart for maidens, not because it was
considered the luckieSt day of the week,
but because the sanhedrim held its meet
mgs on Thursday, and therefore the
newly married man could, on the follow
ing day, bring his wife before the meet
ING if he had any cause for complaint
against her.
The ancient Greek legislators consid-
cred marriage a matter of public as well
as private interest and passed very string
ent laws ON the subject. More attention
was paid to the physical condition and
mental capacity in this country, the
amount of wealth being a secondary con-
Slderation. when compared with physical
qualifications In each instance the an
cestry was traced and if aught of blem-
lsh was found the union was not only dis
outraged but forbidden. Here it was
considered the duty of every citizen to
raise healthy and legitimate children for
the states as well as their own good.
The Greek ceremony was attended with
the same ostentation as the Jewish. At
BPOtia and other places the axletree of
the carriage was burned upon the arrival
al the bridegroOm's house as a sign that
the bride was not to return or go abroad.
Upon entering the house the married pair
received the greetings and congratula-
ions of the friends who were waiting to
meet them, and. as no civil right con-
nected with marriage was required by
creek law, to witness the fact of the
marriage having taken place, The bride
was generally conducted into the house
by her mother, who bore lighted torch.
A servant carried a sieve and the bride
herself bore vessel, in which was
parched barley, d symbol of her readiness
10 attend to her household duties
SWeetmeats werel showered upon the
par, as emblems of plenty and prosperity
Inc bride wore wreaths of myrtle, wild
thyme and roses which had been plucked
by herself, as 1t would have been an ill
omen to buy them. After the banquet,
winch followed, was over, the husband
and wife ate a ounce as an indication that
Ihelr mutual relationship should be sweet
and agreeable.
PRESENTS among this people were never
given until the next morning and were
sometimes called unwilling presents, it be
ing the first time the bride took the cover
ing from her face
~ 9partans were equally as careful as the
Gieeks and made celibacy or ill-condi-
Ioned matches punishable under the law.
vi such Importance did they regard this
mat they fined their King Archidamus
Ior marrying a very little woman, con-
auerlng that their children would be de-
Generated and unworthy of the nation;
an Old bachelor was stigmatized and one
vi the penalties attached to his state was
70 walk naked in the winter through the
HIifket place singing a satirical song on
himself, and this was repeated each year
lhtll he married or left the country.
Hreat lmmunities and -enoouragements
were accorded those having large families,
1Iree children emitting them to a dis
count off their taxes, while those so fortu-
ndt0 as to have four were entirely
exempt