Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1899-02-10
THE WAYSOF WOOING
ARE THE SANE IN MOST COUNTRIES
THEY WERE CENTURIES AGO

Custom which Never Dies-Sponges De
eide the Destiny OF Himl. Bridss-swes,
simplicity In Burmah-w here the Bride's
Ears Are Boxed-A Bridal Collection.
The wooing OF In many countries
varies not a whit from the customs
and ceremonies in vogue when the
world was very young. For example,
now. as centuries go, q bonfire plays
an important part OF every wedding
celebrated in Paris. the marriage cere-
mony being read before one.
The planting of q fir tree is one of
the ceremonies attending a Swedish
wedding. which usually lasts several
days. A peasant bride is adorned with
her friends trinkcts. bracelets, neck
iaees and rings. which they hang upon
her head, neck, arms, bodice and even
upon her shoes. Then a silver ring is
placed in one shoe for good luck.
In Norway the bride does not wear
a wedding veil. but a big head
dress, which towers high above her
brow.
In Bulgaria all newly married wom-
en- are obliged to remain dumb for a
month after marriage, except when ad-
dressed by their husbands. When 1t
is desirable to remove this restriction
permanently the husband presents her
Win n gin, tEtH Sut Cdu
to her hearts content.
Ii a girl marries in Russia without
the consent of her parents she is sent
to prison and deprived of her share
of the family property.
In Lithuania, province of Russia,
II Is customary that the brides ears
should be boxed before the marriage
ceremony. No matter how tender
hearted the mother may be. she makes
ii point to administer hearty smack
TO her daughter ia the presence of
witnesses, and note is made of the
fact. The mothers intention is a kind
one, as the reason for it is to protect
the bride should her marriage prove an
unhappy one. In that case she will
sue for divorce. and her plea will
be that she was forced into the mar
riage against her will, and on that
score the verdict of the judge will
be in her favor.
OF all the marriage rites OF which
one ever heard. those of Burmah bear
away the palm for consciseness and
sweet simplicity. Here it is upon the
dusky lady that the pleasing duties of
courtship devolye. She sees a youth
whom she deems calculated to make
her happy. and forthwith offers him
stick OF candy. If he accepts her
proposal he promptly eats the token
of affection, and they are thereby
made man and wife. There Is no fur
ther ceremony, and no witnesses are
necessary. In the act of eating alone
this most primitive marriage rite con-
sists. But If, on the contrary, the
youth is not willing. he assures her
that that particular kind of candy is
not to his taste. and the maiden must
seek elsewhere for one more appreciat-
i've of her candy and Of her affections.
In Hungary, in certain rural dis
tricts. a very curious custom prevails,
which Is very popular among the
maidens who are not possessed of a
dowry. On the morning of her we'd
ding 1t is the custom of the bride to
wash the hands and faces of the as
sembled e2n who in return throw
- 1nnn1en for these ablutions
The simplest and perhaps the most
impressive marriage ceremony is that
in use among the Cherokee Indians.
The couple Join hands over a running
stream, which is symbolic OF the desire
that their lives shall thereafter flow
on in the same channel.
An old marriage custom obtains in
the island of Hiinla. opposite the
island of Rhodes. The Greeks, by
whom it is peopled earn their living
by the sponge fisheries. No girl is al
lowed to marry until she has brought
up certain number of sponges, which
must be taken from a certain depth.
In some of the other Greek islands it
is the men who must dive for the
sponges. If there are several suitors
for the hand of a maiden the father
bestows her on the man who can bring
up the largest number of SDoDgeS