The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1908-11-17

sent and aid of their parents hut in France to-day
among the haut monde the parents of the Young
man must be counsclcd. and unless he Is - years
old he cannot mnrry the girl without their con
sent far wiser way for him TO do Is lo talk
II over with the parents If the girl is attractive
and the family is congcnial the parents of the
young man make oyerturcs to the girls parents.
They are soon friendly footing and the ques.
tion Of marriage is readily settled. The settlement
AS to what the girls dot shall be is important
point at issue.
Tho Chinese. along with the Turks believe thpt
a girl is far better on dead than unmarried Though
they are exceedingly anxious to have their daugh.
tcrs married they believe IL is beneath thcir dig
nifty TO carry ON these negotiations themselves but
leave this work To a professional matchmaker. The
go-botwcen visits the different homes alone whore
she takes note OF the age, education. social post
tiun and wealth of the different girls She then
gives a long ana accurate account of the girls fam.
ily one is selected from this number. and II both
parties are satisfied the arar is handed over to
the necromanccr. IT the stars say the young peo.
pie are selected wisely the betrothal is announced.
But the matchmaker has still part to play
shortly before the marriage she hrinrs tHc Young
girl the gifts the groom would SO d her These
usually include Il leg OF pork, a bag OF money. two
bottles of wine and two candles, But the girl Is
expected to return part of these offerings. The
Chinese parents do not believe Il is necessary for
young persons to love each other so long as the
augur is satisfied The young man rarely secs the
girl until after they are married. When the bride
arrives at the homo OF the bridegroom ne is there
60 meet her but when she steps out she is so
vciled that her features are hidden, lie leads her
into the room where the ceremony will take place.
Then he seats himself on high chair 10 show
his superiority aud she prostrates herself before
him until he ltts the veil ana sees for the first
time his future Witcs face.
The Russians another people who believe
that marriage is the only natural and rational des
tiny for a woman Confident that Cupid is a fool
ish and erratic boy whose judgment Is not always
the wisest, they make use of matchmaker, called
a svacha She is a most important parsonage. and
when her judgment. which is excellent. fails her
she call the stars diamonds hearts and clubs
60 her aid
But the marriage ceremonies are even more com.
pcated. On tae day before the wedding the bride
IS conducted 90 her bath There her friends spend
long hours yombng her nair and while away the
time singing aud talking OF what her daily life will
be after she s married The ceremony is performed
with the rites of the eastern church and takes
place eight days before the marriage The service
is dlvid I'd into three parts. The first is where the
gold rings are exchanged. Then tie bride and
bridegroom are crowned with crowns Of silver fli-
gree and lastly comes the dissolution Of the crowns
Though matchmakers are not employed In Japan
love matches are exceedingly rare and 1t is not un.