Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-05-06
ODD MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
In Comparison the American Cere-
mony at its Worst is simplicity.
5(Goston Globe !

(Goston Globe.)
Contrasted with the crude fuuc-
tions of barbaric society, the wedding
ceremonies of our highly civilized
land are as an American Beauty rose,
to a bunch of chfckweed No won
der brides and grooms are eager TO
rehearse It carefully so as not to
mar its enchanting loveii ess.
The Parsee groom must go with
band to the brides house, first hay
ing sent ahead presents of consider
able value, varying according to his
financial condition. At the threshold
his future nother-in-law meets him
with a smile and a dish Of fruits,
which she scatters at his feet.
Then the bride comes forth and
she and the groom are led into
room whore their hands are tied to-
gether with silken cord. AS the
ceremony proceeds the cords are
passed around their bodies until they
are literally spliced. When at length
they are released they are. permitted
to throw rice at each other. The
victor in the rice-throwing contest is
supposed to be the one who shall
boss the home nest. Then both are
pelted with rice and showered with
rose water.
In Java bride and groom are rub
bed with the ashes of the red dogs
bones, while in Transylvania gypsy
bridal couples are rubbed with wea-
sci skin. In Thibet the brides par
ents put homemade butter on the
head of their future son-in-law, while
in certain parts of Wales the father
rides away on horseback with his
daughter, pursued by the groom, but
like true parent he allows himself
to be overtaken. In Syria the bride
and her parents ride to the home Of
the groom. The latter comes out to
greet his wife-to-be. The parents,
no doubt, wishing to conceal their
eagerness to get rid Of their daugh-
ter, make a show of resistance. Fire,
arms are discharged, but the cart
ridges are blank and consequently
no one is hurt and the pretending-to-
be-reluctant bride finally yields to
her lovers entreaties, as the eigh-
teenth century novelist would say.
In Bengal 1t was once the rule to
marry bride and groom first to trees,
and, indeed, the custom Is not yet
wholly extinct. The bride was led
~ - n ,oh f,an TN
she held some red lead with which
she smeared the bark and then clasp
ed the trunk II, fond embrace. This
done, the attendants lashed her as
tightly to the tree as ever Farragut
was to the mast at Hartford. 1t was
the bridegroom's turn next. But in
stead of splicing him to the mahwa,
they spliced him to the mango tree,
appropriately enough If one consid-
ers the spelling of the names of these
arboreal spouses. How long they
were kept in that position the histo-
rian does not say. but goes on to tell
how In ancient Mexico the farments
of bride and groom were tied to-
gether in huge knot. Then the
couple were marched ten times
around fire, into which they threw
incense. After the ceremony was
concluded they fastod four days!
Among certain Siberians the BRIDE
groom is not permitted to have
wife until he can catch her. But
they do not give him fair race in
the open. The bride; surrounded by
her female friends, awaits him In a
big tent. AS soon as she sees him
she starts to run He follows like
Hippomenes after Atalanta. But in
stead of obstacles being thrown in
the way Of the bride they are thrown
across the path of the bridegroom.
Usually the spectacle is like that of
an elephant running an obstacle race
against an automobile on clear
track. The pursuing groom falls
over old women, chairs, tables, stones
and fishing rods, or is tripped up by
ropes or vines. Only when 1t is fear
ed he might give up and sulk and go
away without the 'fieeting lady is he
permitted to oyertake her. Then as
she falls into his outstretched arms,
1t may be imagined she utters some
equivalent of "This Is so sudden"
AS o. show, this Siberian wedding
ceremony must be as entertaining as.
vaudeville to the spectators, but to
carry 1t out we'll, more than one re-
hearsal might be necessary. 1t also
entails much premature smashing of