The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-02


Dull Counting in Syria.
Mr. Shadid. q yonng Syrian student.
Is visiting Wichita and tells many inter
esting things about his ancient country.
lie says that the Inhabitants o. Palestine.
now called Syrians ike other civilized
nations o. tie world. look upon rn2tr!-
raony as being essential. but they d;f-
fer vastly from other nations Is 70 the
relationship between man ana wife. They
believe the woman is made for man and
not man for the woman, and therefore
man rlarries for his own convenience,
unlike his majesty. the American shs
laarIies because ne loves and wants 20
please the woman he takes FOR his wife.
The marriage age in Syria is generally
between Il and . for the young man.
and Il up 10 y for the young lady. The
bridegroom is almost always several
yearsolder than his bride. Marriage IS.
by no means brought about through the
sole wishes and decision OF the parties
involved. for their parents have enough
interest IN it TO have their decision he
forehand. IN fact. it is quite often the
bridegroom's parents hunt up q becoming
bride for him. Sometimes, when the
parents Of the young man find a little
girl they admire and ike greatly. and
who sometimes, is only years old, and
is OF course too young TO marry. they en-
gage her to him. He. perhaps. is not
over. say, maybe ten years. This they
do 50 that they are sure no one else
can marry the little girl.
Marriage is generally brought about
IN the following way. A young man
sees young lady whom he thinks he
admires. He visits her house, and spends
the evening with the whole family. The
next thing he does ne tells his parents
he wants TO marry this girl or that girl
If his people happen 10 dislike her peo-
pie or in someway do not think It proper
TO allow such union. they steadfastly
object and generally 1t is given UP
unless the young hero thinks he knows
his business. Then, like some young
Americans, he runs away with the one Of
his choice and gets married. On his
return, the father generally prevents him
from living with the family because Of his
disobedionce and frreverence and the
shame he has brought upon his people.
But if the parents are pleased with his
choice and see it suitable, they will send
are generally whited Sepulchers to the
girls home, on certain evening, dur
ing which time they dc more talking and
arguing possibly than at any other time
In some parts OF the country. the bride
groom is supposed TO give so much money
TO his bride, which viii. really. in late
years, go back TO his pocket and in other
places, the brides parents are supposed
10 furnish her with a certain sum of
money and the largeness Of this sum de-
ponds on the circumstances of her people
and largely. on goodness Of wealth OF the
sutton. Those influential men We have
just mentioned, so TO carry the news
and to fix the money matter as Wen. In
case the brides people agree. the engage
ment will be fixed in few days through
the priest. The engagement is generally
from one year up TO four years, during
which time the young man calls at the
girls home. provided her people are
there, because they are not supposed 10
go together nor TO meet together or hold
conversation alone. In short, counting
does not exist and it is not necessary
/ add that if our YOUR Americans were
to undergo that rule in Syria they would
all be bachelors or send for sweethearts
by the carload
When the time agreed upon expires,
the marriage begins a week before the
day set for them TO be pronounced man
and wife. During this week the bride
groom's house is overcrowded with pco-
pie who are invited 70 make their oc-
casion gay and cheerful. Daring this
time men drink intoxicants. have horse
races, dancing and singing. ladies dance
also. The men dance by themselves. as
also do the ladies. OF course. you don
expect them TO mix in counting. The
dancing is done by sinsulaIs, rot by
pairs When the day comes they arc
married and then the great big supper
comes along and when that IS over, the
custom is that the men, each in turn.
hand the bridegroom a certain amount Of
money that they feel disposed 10 give.
or that he had given them when they had
their occasion. The ladies do the same.