The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1906-01-13
NO COURTSHIPS THERE.
BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM NEVER
MEET UNTIL MARRIED.
Wedding in Moorish Town-E!ope-
ments in China-Woong by Proxy
Among the cling alese-Maiay Mar
rage FestivaI-How Zulu Bride Is
Hidden Away.

Among the inSaIese-MaIay MAJ
rage FestivaI-How a Zulu Bride
Hidden Away.
There are countries where courtshi1
is unknown, and lovers never see eacl
other until they are married This i
true with the MOors. although Wooins.
and weddings play an important e.
with them, says the Cleveland nlarr;,s
In Moorish cities brides are
to the homes of their n nr,da Iaa,as
night. But long before me re- as e ~,
home the street is cro"'e' = s4o
people We're expecting oo'ne i,i'po' ''''''
hannen;ro II the girls father is
uaaitb,, r., me slaves and servants
push their way among the crowd. scat
terino sberbets, sweetmeats and coins
-bero there, everywhere.
~ the hill, like speck in the day
LIGHT, appears a fantastically clad ne
gress. Her clothes are bright, and her
accessories are brighter. She has bells
in her ears and on her feet, and is
leading snow white mule.
box on the mule-the box that looks
SO delicate, strange and impressive
that the stranger cannot imagine what
It is. There is nothing in the box;
but there will be before long. The
bride will be in the box-in that box
which to Moorish eyes looks like sill
yer temple of idealized love, but to
a cynical American like a badly put
together cage
AS the woman of the Sudan appears
the crowd makes way for her. They
greet her with acclamations and jest,
knowing that she is on an important
mission.
At the gate the negress takes the
bride cage on her own back and steals
into the house. The crowd feel GER
tain that something important is taxi
ing place, as they hear sobs coming
from the house And something i'm
portant is taking place. The bride is
being carried from her mothers room
carried from her room for the last
time. She has taken leave of her
again how much she loves her. She
has left her for the man she has never
seen.
1t is, therefore, not surprising that
the negress walked into the house
jauntily, and staggers out. Her heart
is heavy with doubt, and the box is
heavy with the bride inside.
Somehow the poor old woman gets
the box back on the mule, and then
the three-the old woman, the mule |
and the bride-jaunt off together
For hours the three tramp about the !
city, their coming noted by the music
that does not cease. From every door
friends press forth with congratula-
ions. When the groom's festooned
gate is reached the negress carries the
cox and all into the house. She
oreathes easier now, for a great part
If her task Is at an end She manages
% get the bride out Of the box, and
hen begins to smooth out her wedding
lress.
Then the nurse leaves the bride. the
7oung woman she has cared for ever
since she was a child What are her
asst words? Probably, Have courage.
lie cannot help but love you, you are
% dear and kind" The bride needs all
his encouragement. No sooner has
he nurse left than the mother-in-law
,ppears. to offer her food and to de-
ide whether she approves of her new
laughter She forgets all about the
ad mother who has just saiu good
we to this girl SO that her son might
ave her for his wife.
The mother leaves the room. and
DON the groom appears, and the bride,
'ell instructed in the words of the
aw, throws herself at his feet and
alls him Master" There she stays
ntil he lifts her from the ground and
cans her sharply; but his sharp
lances turnx0 looks of approval when
e sees how pretty she is. He is GER
ain he likes her better than his favor
e sword-almost as much as the new
rabian steed given him for a wedding
Morocco girls are not the only wom-
n who are wooed and won without be-
lg courted and told that they are the ,
My ones a man ever loved. The ETH ,
lette of the Malays is all but Chinese
| its endless intricacies. 1t follows ,
lat their nuptial celebrations are elab- |
ate. The groom is supposed not to {
'e his wife, and does not until the l
edding day. There is no courtship, ,
II the families decide all the import
It details. The young people, who |
light to be deeply concerned, are not t
at all |
But if there is one important task s
la ~ arouse a married Malay wo-
al n 5 matchmaking; and if there
an,--Ip that will arn,,co q nIa1az