The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-07-04
OLD MAIDS SCARCE
cnlY ONE FOUND IN VIRGINIA
MOUNTAINS.
Course Of True love Among the MOOT
sinners Runs Constant " NOS ~
.ays Smooth Peculiar Customs

Unmarried women are scarce In tAe
virginia mountains In summer
sojourn In mountain country oil oin
Virginia a tourist made the acqnaihl.
ance Of fully 100 persons. and iounu
but one "oid maid" and she "as
"talkin'." 10 talk" in the mountain
yernacular, means TO pay court OF 10
accept H."
Girls begin to talk" at 13--even u,
I'm localities far removed from the
railroads. The little maid leaves on
her red calico sleeve apron, the
head band" that has held back her
loose hair. puts her hair in a big KNOB
on the back OF her head and lets her
dress down--al advertisements Oh
readiness for marriage.
When young man selects a girl TO
whom to pay court he will brook no
other youths talkin" to her. lie
may talk" to several girls II he iikes'
Ia several neighEorhoods, but he gives
himself the right to quarrel with one
| IL she talks" 10 another than MIN
| self
| nt ttiltl tOA4A HAN"~N
| 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 Ii 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 youns
man. She pins ribbon on her hail
and button picture on the ribbon
ard lets It hang over her forehead
She claims" her beau over any othe
girl. and II at a dance II Is his turn u
swing u girl she doesn't like she ma
been known to seize him bodily AM
pull him out OF the dance.
When the wedding day comes
usually after a very short courtshiE
, the young couple slip off at night, an
call II running away" even thong
they have their parents consen
Real runaways are but few.
The usual obstacle In the course {
true love liz the enmity OF the mothe
Of 1.-THE other girl" One mother b.
comes so angered because a youn
man quits "talkin' to her daughts
to talk to a more attractive girl thu
she threatens to reveal the moo
shine" business of the youths fami
TO the .'revenuers," proceeding 81
knows would ruin the family.
The mountain folk seldom rema
single after widowing AS long as
man is not confined to his chair by o
age he considers himself plenty your
| enough to marry" Nor does he wa
very long after the death of his wi
to find another. II Marthy dies
l April Dick Is "talkin'" by July al
married by September, and VIII
Marthys funeral is preached In {
tober LOUSY. her successor, prepar
1 the big dinner for the funeral guests
l Love marriages are the rule In t
/ mountains, but the marriage OF CT
venience is not unknown, particular
/ In the second marriage.
/ An aged widower wifeseeker hi
i a woman to keep house and do
I cooking for few months. TN
1 her. and eft she Is of any account
/ work I'll marry her." he announ'
to his friends, 'and ef she hain't
won't. "-Rehohoth Sunday Herald
II
tNnn NOT TLE gill TY ONE