The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-04
OLD MAIDS ARE SCARCE.
x7 The Virginia Mountains All The
Girls Marry.
Mex York Sun.

Mex York Sun.
Unmarried women are scarce IN the
V;rc7nia mountains. In a summer
eo3o71n in a mountain country OF
old Virginia a tourist made the &C
<1ua5nrance OF fully seven hundred
-ae-snns. and found but one "olo
maid" and she was talking. 10
,~4z4s in mountain vernacular, mean
go ray court or to accept 1t.
E3;-1s begin TO talk at thlrteen-
ever twelve. in localities 1ar removed
5ron? the railroads. The little maid
5ea,es off her red calico sleeve
zor7->' the head band, that has
as15 back her lose hair, puts her
aa:- j., big knob on the back OF her
mead and lets her dress dowl1-aIl
advertisements Of readiness for mar
sIsge-
The young mans choice OF sweet
nea-t is more than likely to be his
cousin. Kinship makes no difference
10 him, for he is not usually sutfl-
c;entlv enlightened to think Of the
effects of such marriages
very APPARENT in the great number OF
oeoo1e ir the mountains, roll-eyed,
c7oss-eved. big headed, physically
delicate, weak OF mind-the offspring
NJ cousins. often Of ''double first
cousins.
When young man selects girl
20 whom TO pay court he will brook
no other youths talking" to her.
He NAV talk TO several girls, II
ne likes. in several neighborhoods,
5ut he gives himself the right to
quarrel with one if she talks" to an
other than himself.
II the Roll Pone Creek girls ad-
1r;re the Cranes Nest boys above
The youth OF their own neighborhood
or vice versa. there is fierce enm1ty
;between the neighborhoods. and woe
70 him who takes away the chosen
girl OF another,
The chief courting places are the
I 10 churches. where the elders SIT
on the rough benches inside and wor-
ship and the young ones SIT under
the shade Of the trees outside ana
-@talk.'' and the evening entertain
nents at the homes-7'play parties
and <:cake cuttings" which last, With
their dancing OF "Boston' and
-aSnap," from dusk until dawn.
The schoolnaster. usually gooo
hammered, is popular, especially II
he ISN'T stingy, but as it often hap
oens he is saving his money tor a
.ol)ese course. is not Immediately
-na77;aeeable and cannot do any ear
NEST talking.
II savmill sets up for several
,noontbs' stav in big stretch OF TIM
Der the girls OF the neighborhood re-
7o;ce over = new batch OF beaus and
she women OF the sawmilIs board
znr house are beseiged with feminine
visitors and teased with requests 10
nave frequent evening parties.
y-ourtship is conducted in the most
cr,r2 fashion. Public demonstrations
al affection are not censured. At
she o1av parties and cake cuttings the
lovers pay no attention to any one
lefs9 sit with arms about each otner
zna exchange kisses and honeyed
words.
The engaged girl is very open IN
exercising her ownership OF a young
man. She pins a ribbon on her hair
and a button picture on the ribbon
and lets :, hang over her forehead
she 'c!ain.s" her beau over any other
girl: and il al dance it IS his turn
10 swj-,e a girl she doesn't Ike she
mas been known to seize him bodily
and pull him out OF the dance.
The male mountaineer is much
given 10 drink. At the all night ell
tertalnments the young men seek
their liquor bottles in the yard at
frequent intervals. continuing until
4r.,- droo down TO the floor, dead