Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-10-18
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
HER STRANGE POSITION AMONG MANY
OF THE WORLDS PEOPLES.


ca 1t is unlawful for a young man
see the face of his mother-in-law.
they live In the same house n partitio
must be set up between them. If the
go in the same boat she has to step
first, so as to keep her back turned 0
him. Rochefort says: among the Ca
ribs all the women talk with whor
they will, but the husband dare no
converse with his wife's relatives ex
cept on extraordinary occasions"
In many parts of Australia a woman
will not look at her daughters husband
at all hazards. She hides whenever h,
comes near her, going out of her way
TO avoid him, and IL It is impossible shC
hides her face with her cloak. She
would not mention his name for any
thing in the world The Kaffir woman
hides behind bush and holds a shield
! to her face. She would far rather
speak to stranger than to her son-in.
law.
Franklin, who gave much time to the
studies of the North American Indian,
assures us 1t Is considered extremely
improper for a woman to speak to her
son-in-law, and when she has any i'm
pOrtant communication TO make IL is
considered proper for her to turn her
back on him and speak by means of q
third person. The same law holds good
among the Sioux and Dakotas, and If
violated the offender is punished by
having his garments torn from his
back and thrown away. With the Oma-
has neither the father nor mother has
anything to do with the son-in-law
nor he with them. They will not look
at one another or speak his name.
In his travels to Timbuctoo Caillies
naFrates that from the moment of be-
trOthal the lover is careful not to see
the father and mother Of the bride
They avoid each other all the time. He
says, II tried in vain to discover the
origin Of the whimsical custom, but
the only answer l could obtain was, 1T
is our way"
This custom extends beyond the re-
lations. If the lover is of a different
camp he avoids all the inhabitants Of
the womsn's camp, except few init
mate friends whom he Is permitted to
visit A little tent is generally set up
for the sOn-in-law, and when he is |
obliged to cross the camp he covers his
face. This custom exists among In
dian tribes and extends far beyond.
In the tribes Of New South Wales the
young man, when counting a girl,
avoids her mother as much as he can
and grows more distant after he is
With some Victorian tribes
the estrangement is even greater-the
mother and aunt as well may not look
1t the young man nor speak to him
rom betrothal to death. When they
peak before each other they have to
Use turn language. Under no con-
iition would the young man dare to
peak to his wife's mother.
Maclean, who studied this custom
Imong the Zulus Of Africa, says a
Iaughter-in-law must cut herself of
rom her husbands relatives. She is
lot allowed even to pronounce their
ames mentally. This statement shows
hat In some countries the girl must :
gnore her husbands relatives as much '
s he does her mother, but this is less
requent
In Asia among the MOngOls and the
woman dare not speak to
er father-in-law nor sit down in his '
resence, Uallas in an interesting
'ork on the Ostlaks Of Siberia declares
lat young married woman avoids
er father-in-law whenever she can,
specially during the early years Of her a
Iarried life. In the meanwhile the ?
lsband is not expected to see any '
ing Of his motherln-law. If he c
eets. ner by chance he hides. Il
In China, after the wedding day, L
an never sees the face of his daugh- s.
r-in-law. A similar custom exists in t
orneo and the Fiji islands. L
Some people consider it absolutely II
iminal for a young man even to give II
stray glance to his mOther-in-law, j.
wever good looking she is. They 81
y that they must not look on her al
IT they go mad 1t Is the fashion
th some tribes in central Africa to
with bent knees in their presence
ID not to put their feet out A Kongo u
overb states: my mother-in-law Is Is
CRY with me, but what do | care? nl
9 do not eat from the same dish" Of
me men will speak to their mothers ca
marriage, but will not call them SO
name. This Is true of the people I'd
the Torres strait. ce
dany more Instances might be men, ti(
ned, but these are enough to show
It the position of the mother-in-l law
ong many peoples Is strange. The
Use for 1t is not positively known. M.
John Lubbock feels that It's origin w;
, In capture where a man really no
zed bis wife This aroused the In thu
nation Of the girls parents, who re- lilS
tied bis doings by treating him with
at scorn. Gradually this capture
8 only make. believe, but the moth
n-law still shows her disapproval TIL
having nothing to do with her Jol
lghter's husband. Professor e. B. rat
ylor says 1t is an act Of cutting.
len a young. man comes into. fam Elo
he Is ignored; be is at least not con-
cred one Of them. Both explana-
Is may be true In part but they do "
tell the whole story. 1t Is more ''
'ly that a feeling Of rivalry and "
lousy is at the bottom Of It ALL &c
cagO Tribune. Gle
hc N, Inn, 90 l,n.. h ...... .....i-- .----- 4,