Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-10-31
NEVER SEE THEIR WIVES.
Customs Among Uncivilized That Have Had
Their Prototypes in Modern Days.

Customs Among Uncivilzed That Have Had
Their Prototypes in Modern Days.
Among certain African tribes hus.
bands are not permitted to look upon
their wives. They live in huts apart
and only during the night are they al
lowed to visit their brides. This Gus
tom, which prevails in the neigborhood
OF Timbuctoo, is equalled in singular
ity by that in vogue at Futa, where
wives never permit their husbands to
see them unveiled until three year.
have elapsed since their marriage.
In ancient Sparta the husband was
only able to seek the society of hi.
vile by stealth and under cover oil
dark ness, as seems to be the case
among the Turkomans Of the present
day, on whom, sometimes for the
space of two years after marriage, q
similar taboo is laid. Circassian wo.
men, although they do not carry
prudence to this extravagant excess
always live on the coolest terms with
their husbands until they have be.
come mothers.
Among civilized peoples eccentric
ity has been known to afford snalo.
gous, if solitary, examples; as in the
caee Of the wife OF Viennese doctor
who, having on the eve of the day
originally fixed for her marriage, been
stricken with smallpox. which com.
p!etely destroyed her good looks, be.
came bride only on condition that
she might ever by day wear thick
veil. This stipulation, however, she
herself afterwards rescinded.
A curious marriage was few years
since celebrated in the Russian prov
ince of Simbirsk. The bride, who, by
Withdrawing herself entirely from the
world, had obtained reputation FOL
great sanctity bestowed her hand
upon An ascetic of equal fame. The
couple had never previously seen each
other, nor did they when the priest
had made them one; for after the
ceremony, in which they took part
blindfolded, they separated, never te
meet again.
Almost as singular was the wedding
at which the bride wore a silk hand
kerchief wrapped loosely around hel
face, that took place in the sos in Z
church in the northern district o
London. To save her parents from
ruin she had consented to marry {
rich man, whom she regarded will
aversion, on the stipulation that h,
should never behold her when she hat
become his wife. After the ceremony
she returned TO her parents house
which, however, her husband, througi
the good Offices of friends, persuaded
her to abandon for his own.
A widow, whose husband had ha(
the misfortuns to be blind, was sough
in second marriage by a well-to.dt
citizen OF Leeds. She, however, re
jected his addresses, and on his de
manding q reason averred that sh'
could on no account permit him I.
exercise privilege that had not beer
enjoyed by her first choice-viz.: tina
Of looking upon her face. Her love-
fell in with her humor, and 90 oh
stinate did she prove when his wifi
that more than three months elapset
ere he could induce her to remove th,
thick veil under which since her wed
ding she had hidden her features.
Towards the close OF the eighteenth
century there appeared at Brunn. in
Bohemia, an impostor, named Maris
Zoller. who, giving herself out TO b
inspired. invariably wore q veil wher
among her followers-of whom sh.
had many-lest, as che pretended, tn,
divine effulgence that streamed from
her countenance should strike them
dead. A number believed in her pre-
tensions, among others . rich old
farmer, who went 20 far In his foil,
% to ask her hand in marriage.
Loath TO forego . wealthy husband
and at the same time unwilling Il
confess to gross imposture. she ad
vanced the fact that he must, as hel
husband, sooner or later behold tn,
splendor Of her face, and consequent!
perish miserably. The man, how
ever, - doubtless she intended, still
pressed his suit, and, ON her urging
that she dare not have murder on he
conscience, deprived himself OF sigh
that he might qualify for her husband
Soon afterwards Zoller, now that he
ridiculous assumptions were in nj
danger Of exposure, espoused he
fatuous wooer, who to the day OF hi
death believed that he had been provi
dentially favored.