Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-10-22
LOVER CAN STAY TILL DAWN.
Olive Schreiner Describes a Courtship
Among the Beers


The other day we quoted some ex-
tracts from the interesting article by
Miss Olive Schreiner c.Stray Thoughts
on South African in the Fortnightly
Review. Here is an account of Boer
courtship customs from the same
paper:
When he has seated himself in the
front room the house mother in her
elbow chair proceeds to enquire after
the health of his relatives, and, il she
now meets him for the first time, in
quires the number of his brothers and
sisters, and questions him .gravely on
other points OF personal and family
history of the same nature, which is
considered polite attention. There
are from time to time slight creakings
OF the door of the bedroom in which
the daughters are attiring themselves,
as one or the other attempts to peep
through the crack in the boards, or to
hold 1t slightly ajar. II there be two
of manageable age, they both put on
their best clean gowns and tie clean
handkerchiefs around their throats,
and If they be so fortunate as to remem-
Der to bring the cocoanut oil into the
room, they heavily dress their hair
with it. Just as the Kaffir maid is
bringing the lights into the front room
they appear aud shake hands with the
stranger, who silently rises and extends
his fingers, and they both proceed about
their evening duty, preparing the coffee
and supper, but in doing so find it
necessary to return frequently to look
for something III the little wall cup
board in the front room, or to fetch
some article from the sleeping apart
ments which opeI out of it. The young
man sits on the sofa and turns his rid
ing whip round and round, answering
the house mothers questions or sitting
silent, but keenly noting the differen
figures or other points of resemblance
or difference between the sisters. When
the family gather round the supper
table. the elder girls, more especially
the eldest, wait on them; the children
keep their eyes fixed on the stranger
even as they eat, and the young man
locks into his plate and eats silently or
answers questions from the house
father, but notes all that takes place.
When the supper is ended the family
return to the front room and the young
children go off to bed one by one.
Then comes the hour of trial if the
young man be bashful and unused to-
courtship, for, having made up his mind
which daughter he desires 10 pay his
attention to, it is now necessary he
should request the parents permission
to sit up with her. If either the parents
or young lady object, which latter isl
seldom the case. there is refusal, and
the courtshlp is nipped in this, its very
first phase; If they consent, the mother
gets out or allows the
daughter to get out, couple of tallow
candles, which are to burnt during the !
night Then, when the rest Of the |
family have retired, the maiden of his |
choice comes and seats herself beside |
him on the sofa. From time to time
there are creakings at the different
room, as the children or other members
of the family get out of bed to peep
at them, and the young maiden l
may even suggest their retiring to The
back room, if there be one, but after
awhile the whole household falls asleep,
the tallow candle burns dimly on the
table, and the youth and maiden pass
the long night seated side by side and
conyersing, the girl generally making
coffee near morning, that they may keep
themselves awake. About 4, or little
earlier, she gives him final cup, and
and when the rest of the family rise he
Is alreay gone. To be found there when
the sun rose would be a breach of
etiquette. If the youth and maiden
have approved of one another they
have made a promise to exchange rings,
have made al appointment for his next
coming in a week or ten days time. If
either has disliked the other there is
no necessity for him to return, and in
no case is either bound by this first
visit. He may ride around and sit up
with half dozen maidens in success
sion, and this is not uncommOnly done,
he young man who rides around too
much runs the risk OF acquiring a bad
name. as It is supposed the girls have
refused him, or that ne is not serious
N his attentions. If all goes satisfac-
.orily he returns again in a week or
ZEN days time and sits up once more
And 1t is now necessary that he should
.hink very gravely of the matter, for
he third or fourth time he comes, in
stead of riding away before dawn, 1t is
that he will wait till the
)afents have risen and he and the maid
IN of his choice will ask the parents
,oneent to the marriage, and i. ID also
in understood thing that he would not
lave come had his own parents not con-
,ented The elders are now formally