The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-06-03
CoURTING IN FIFE.
How Young Men Signified Their Love
 at the Dinner Table.

How Young Men Signified Their Love
 at the Dinner Table.
 The mode of courtship in Fife in old en days had some very singular char acteristics. That it was modest in it's nature and did not embarrass the on- locker, and that it had a, good deal of true Scottish caution about it, we learn from the following quaint account by an old writer:
 When the young man. he wrote, hath the felicity to be invited of the same party with the maiden that hath won his affections, then doth he endea- vor to sit opposite to her at the table, where he giveth himself not up to those unseemly oglings and gazings which he practised in other parts, to the offence of aged virgins and other persons of much discretion; but, putting forth his foot, he presseth and treadeth withal upon the feet and toes of the maiden; whereupon, if she do not roar forth, it is sign that his addresses are we'll re- ceived, and the two come in due course before the minister. This form of at- tack is known by the name of 'Footie, and the degree of pressure doth denote and measure the warmth of the pas sion. Such young men as be bashful do hence make good speed; these do take with them more forward friend, who shall vicariously, and in their stead, give a light pressure, and per son who doth thus melt the ice of coy- ness between the parties is, in these parts. called "Lightfoot," from the lightness of his pressure"
 Curious customs with regard to mar riage were in force in many Fifeshire villages during the seventeenth centu- ry. After being proclaimed on three successive Sabbaths, the marriage could not take place until a pledge, usually amounting to five pounds session. At stated time after the marriage, if meanwhile the couple had behaved themselves to the satisfaction of the session, this sum was returned, but if not, the money was forfeited and went to the support of the poor. Many a time the eXpectant bridegroom had not such a sum as five pounds in his possession, and in that case kindly friend or neighbor would lend him the money.
 When the marriage of wealthy cou- pie took place the bridegroom was ev- pected to contribute very liberally to the poor-box; so that marriage in Fife would seem to have been rather cost ly affair in olden days.
 The marriage ceremony was per- formed by the minister in much the same way as at the present day. In the subsequent festivities the pipers played very important part. The proceedings would seem to have been generally of most uproarious nature, judging from the following minute of Aberdour kirk session, dated January, 1853: Tt is reported by some of the elders that there is any great abuse at brydalls, with pypers and the like"
 To put down rioting and disorder at weddings this session, who seem to have held the poor bagpipe players re- sponsible for much of the trouble, or dained that those who were about to be married must consign two dollars into the treasurer's hands, which should be restored after the marriage, provided there had been no abuse by pipers, but, in the event of such abuse, the said two dollars was to be confiscated for the use of the poor. The pipers usu- ally accompanied the marriage party from the house of the brides relations to that of the bridegroom.
 Penny weddings or, as they were sometimes called, Penny bridals," were very popular in Fife in the seven- teenth century. Each guest paid penny for the privilege of taking part in the festivities, and so great was the uproar often made by these paying guests" in order, presumably, to get as much excitement for their money as possible, that at length, in 1647, we read: '"The Presbytery of St. Andrews passed an act restricting the number of persons present at weddings to twen- ty, and the number present at contracts and baptisms to six or seven, and this act was extended by the synod to the whole of Fife. ."--Girninan, in the Scots- man.