The Delta independent., 1907-07-19
OLD MAIDS SCARCE
ONLY ONE FOUND IN VIRGINIA
MOUNTAINS.
Course Of True Love Among the Moon
sinners Runs Constant II Not A.
ways Smooth-Pecuiiar Customs.

Unmarried women are scarce In the
Virginia mountains. In a summers
,soJourn In mountain country of old
Virginia tourist made the acquaint
ance Of fully 700 persons. and found
but one "old maid" and she was
"talkin'." To talk" In the mountain
vernacular. means ito pay court or to
accept It,"
Girls begin to talk" at 13-even ~,
In localities far removed from the
railroads. The little maid leaves OF
her red calico Sleeve apron" the
head band" that has held back her
loose hair. puts her hair In big knob
on the back Of her head and lets her
dress down-all advertisements OF
readiness for marriage.
When young man selects a girl to
whom to pay court he will brook no
other youths 'talkin'" to her. He
may talk" to several girls IL he likes,
in several neighborhoods, but he gives
himself the right to quarrel with one
IL she talks" to another than him.
self.
The chief courting places are the
log churches. where the elders sit on
the rough benches inside and worship
and the young ones sit under the
shade Of the trees outside and talk, :"
and the evening entertainments at the
homes-''play parties" and cake cut
tings." which last, with their dancing
Of Boston" and Snap" from dusk
until dawn.
Courtship is conducted in the most
open fashion. Public demonstrations
OF affection are not censured. At the
play parties and cake cuttings the
lovers pay no attention to any one
else, sit with arms about each other
and exchange kisses and honeyed
words
The engaged girl is very open in ex-
pressing her ownership OF a young
man. She pins a ribbon on her hair
and n button picture on the ribbon.
and let's 1t hang over her forehead
She claims" her beau over any other
girl: and II at n dance II is his turn to
swing n girl she doesn't like she has
been known to seize him bodily and
pull him out OF the dance.
When the wedding day comes.
usually after a very short courtship.
the young couple slip on at night. and
call It running away" even though
they have their parents consent
Real runaways are but few.
The usual obstacle In the course OF
true love IL the enmity OF the mother
OF the other girl" One mother be-
comes 80 angered because young
man quits .talkin'" to her daughter
10 talk to a more attractive girl that
She threatens to reveal the moon
shine" business Of the youths family
to the "revenuers." a proceeding she
knows would ruin the family.
The mountain folk seldom remain
single after widowing. As long as n
man is not confined to his chair by old
age he considers himself plenty young
enough to marry" Nor does he wait
very long after the death of his wife
to find another. II Marthy dies In
April Dick is "talkin'" by July and
married by September. and when
Marthy's funeral Is preached in Oc-
tober LOUSY. her successor. prepares
the big dinner for the funeral guests.
Love marriages are the rule In the
mountains. but the marriage OF con.
venience Is not unknown. particularly
in the second marriage.
An aged widower wife.seeker hires
woman to keep house and do his
cooking for a few months. I'll try
her. and ef she is Of any account to
work I'll marry her." he announces
to his friends. 'and ef she hain't. I
won't. 't.'-Rehoboth Sunday Herald.