The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-22

~>Asz cline the men make love, the
women return the compliment and mar
riage follows. Or perhaps it would be
truer to say that in every cline seek
a wife or wives. and that either by love
or purchase they generally attain their end
In all such affairs, as managed in the far
off land l write about, courtship is a very
important business but one in which the
lady counts very little. As she is generally
married between the ages of fourteen and
sixteen it is evident that she is not old
enough, perhaps, TO be consulted about her
future welfare. Her woud-be husband is
not oftener more than twenty or twenty
one. Let me hasten to add at once that
there are no old maids in Siam, and that
therefore every girl gets married to some
body sooner or later.
A SIAMESE ELOPEMENT.
1t occasionally happens that a Siamese
youth sees Siamese maid who awakens
in him the warmest affections. Now they
can elope if they like In such a case they
run away together, stay away a few days.
and then return and beg forgiveness. They
visit no registrar. and no parson; but they
are every bit as much married by their
own act as If they had gone through all
the ceremonies 1 am about to describe. OF
course such a proceeding the above is
highly irregular, and is not usually resorted
to in the best society.
In the ordinary and conventional meth
cd of proceeding the young lover is partic
ularly careful to say nothing of his inten-
tions to the lady of his choice. Should he
do so he would probably be suspected of
improper intentions. and the young ladys
fat or
take the personal chastisement of the love-
sick swain. If he desires to secure the
ady's affections as we'll as her hand he
can purchase from some quack an effective
love potion. This he can scheme that the
young lady shall drink and after that she
would know no peace until her lot had
| been united with his.
The first formal proceeding to be taken is
for the young man to tell his father whom
he wishes to marry. A family council en-
| sues and If the young mans fancy is ap-
proved by his relatives they choose dis
| Greet and elderly lady who is acquainted
| with both families. This ambassadress
makes formal call upon the lady's parents,
| sips her tea with becoming elaboration.
| AMI when favorable moment occurs gent
| ~ discloses the real purpose of her visit.
| Nothing decisive ever Immediately follows
| the disclosure but the mother of the girl
| will convey some idea as to whether the
| proposed arrangement is distasteful or not.
| If she indicates that a formal proposal
| might be favorably considered the young
| mans friends choose a kind of small COM
| mittee from amongst themselves. They
/ hold little tea party at which they dis
cuss the contemplated marriage in all its
bearings and finally decide whether il is
| in the best interests of their young friend
that he should proceed further with the
| matter.
| A FORMAL PROPOSAL.
| Let us suppose that they all vote for a
wedding. They afterwards go in a body to
the home of Phyllis and wait upon her par
| ents They are received with every atten-
ton. and the Siamese equivalent for five
O'Clock tea" is dispensed. When sufficient
food has disappeared the spokesman of the
mission. in very formal tones says some
| thing like the following: THE parents OF
- having ascertaned that this is a pro-
| pitious day. have commissioned us to come
and confer with you concerning their son
| who at present has no wife. His parents
have asked him if he had any one in his
| IDlnu llldl lie NOllu like 10 ldhc lOI Ills
| wife. and to whom he could trust his life in
sickness and his obsequies after death
| The young replied that the only per-
son he had in his mind was your daughter
of the name of -. Therefore. at the re-
quest of the parents of this young man, we
are here to visit you, the highly respected
| parents Of this young lady, that we may
confer with you in reference to this matter
| What do the parents say?"
The parents with similar stilted. and
| formal language give answer after this
fashion: Our daughter stands high in
our affections and the young man is also
much beloved by his parents. We have ar
ancient proverb which says Move slowly
and you will gain your object; prolonged
effort is usually attended with favorable
results. We will consult with our relatives