The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-05-06
FOR THE LADIES
Some: f'acIa ABOUT EnGaaefaents
rhat W:!l Interest Ttein.

The longest engagement on record,
says the New York World, is - years
and it took place in Bohemia, where
engagements Of Is and even 20 years
are 81 common as to cause no remark.
The names of the wooer and wooed
were respectively Franz Rosner and
Anna Renner and they had been
cuurting continuously Tor IS years,
but had repeatedly deferred the bridal
day. At last Franz became fatally
i'll and was married on his death-oed
on the eve of his one hundredth birth
day, the age of the bride and widow
being go.
In Russia long engagements are not
relished by betrothed young men, al
though the ladies usually are not at
all arerse to them. Indeed, these
latter not infreQuently use all sorts Of
articles in order to stare off the wed
ding day to as distant d date as pos
sible. Perhaps the custom Which
DEGREES that the Russian bridegroom
elect must send his sweetheart pres
ent every day, no matter whether the
engagement last TUr ten week or ten
years, may have something to do with
this anomalous state OF affairs.
The regularly recognized length OF
Siamese engagement IS exactly one
Month. For the bride to ask for an
extension beyond that limit is held
to savor of reprehensible prudery.
Moreover in Siam, old maids are Vi :
known, sls all girls marry. The rea-
son for this is probably to be found in
the low estimation in which unmar-
ried women are held. They are not
only looked down upon; they are ab-
solutely OF no account whatever. as
soon as the marriage ceremony is per-
formed, however, the hitherto neglect
ed and despised little female atom be-
comes distinctly a somebody. Peo-
pie who would not have deigned tc
even recognize her existence while II
the state Of single ''bIessedness, now
admit her willingly to their houses
and even go out Of their way to seek
her friendship. Still, it is not until
she has become mother that she is
held to have reached her highest
estate. Then she has attained the
pinnacle of honor, can claim as
right presentation at court and is ad
dressed by the coveted titled OF The
Matronly One"
In the Argentine Republic an en-
gagged man who dallies beyond rea
sonable time ere leading his lance t
) the altar is heavily fined; that is If h'
|, is over -. Moreover, he is not per
:. mitted by the State after attaining
that age to enjoy tree the pleasure
Of haclelorhoud, even although d
NAV not have committed himself s.
far IS to have promised marriage Il
any maiden. In other words ever.
Argentine Jack must choose his Jill a
soon as he arrives at years CT diScre
rion. If he fails to do so the penalt
is u payment by the derauler OF s. ;
month t. the national treasury, ant
this IS Increased as the years g by u
tu no fewer than $50 per month
. Oaiy when he has Gel .brattd Ills cigh
: uietn birthday, il he ever dueS su is n
t held exempt. the ley islaCure probahl
j.. regarding him then as L "hopeles
case" 50 sir as the matrimonial marke
: is concerned. There is. hnWeve'
! even as a young man, one lnophole 0
. esvapa provided for him. Ii lie Cal
prove that he has proposed and bael
o re used three times in one year he i
q held To have, as it were. done III
b.,t. and To have earned immunity.