New-York tribune., 1906-06-17

side and the other. exactly opposite each
other. On sofa. very close together, sat the
young girl of the house and her fianca. and on
the other. very stiff and prim not even reaI-
ing. but with her eyes fixed the couple Op-
posite. sat the girls mother The room was not
AZ all large. and the two sofas were not more
pened to call. the three people would undoubt-
edly have kept the position in which we found
them for the entire evening
II girls fanca chances to call WI en- she Is
alone In the house she must instruct the servant
TO say that she is not at home. fOr she could not
possibly receive the without n chaperon II
a mystery To me how young peoDle ever got
engaged. asked Sofia. and she said it was
usually at a dance in tbs. midst OF such a crowd
that the two were practically alone
DO they never, meyer kiss each other. thenT'.
l inquired, sympatheticauy.
oh WE'LL said Sofia. her ewes cast down
Sometimes there is a way"
Two girls came TO spend an evening with US
Not alone Oh no! No, An aunt with
them. and a brother came after all three) one
of the girls was engaged. but the man with
her. did he call for her? BY no means There
certain nights in the week ON which no
might see her, and that not OS the
nights.
1t goes without saving that the preliminary
Courtships are carried on before the eyes of the
world: indeed. most Of the wooins. Up to the
time when the goes 10 the house and for
mally asks the father for the girls hand. is done
in the street Whenever the girl goes out 10
walk. with her mother or other chapercu. the
man walks a little distance behind. some
times the opposite siGe OF the street. II the
Senorita is favOrably inclined toward her FOl-
lower. she let's him know 1t by a glance now and
then. the slightest possible turn OF the head
II his direction. When she IL IN The house. her
s;Iltor walks up and down under her balcony. for
hours at q time. while she peeps or ct him
through q Chink or a shutter
The lover always has friend (caIled hts can
delero'-liter2ily. carGlestICk}. who accompanies
him. and helps him With his courtsht?. Thus.
when the principal * forced by duties el=ewhere
10 leave mis- post under the girls halcOnv. the
oandelcro remains IN his place. and should the
girl come out OF her door IN the time Of her
lovers absence che cGC6elcrO hastily seeks hls
friend and inforIcs him OF the direction that tho
girl and her cGapero1 have taken; then 10th
hurry after as fas- they go. This sort
Of wooirg Is kept up for weeks, during which
time not word is spoken between the couple.
until at last the adu4jrer dndS some way OF being
introduced iH.O the girls home.
When the youns people become engaged. a b.
trOthsl dinner is given. On the afternoon OF the
day Of the dinner, the sends girl an
engagement rjug. one that I saw was sent with
some rare and beautiful flowers made into a
fan, the sticks Of which We're tied with ruby
coicred ribbon, and iD the knot of the ribbon
was the ring-a barge ruby. surrounded ~ dia-
UOnds. The whole thing was carried a tray
by a servant to the girls house Fancy an
American man giving engagement ring IN
that manner. Al the dinner the couple ex-
changed plain gold rings but no ring Is Used
with the marriage ceremony.