The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-11-05

ARAslAN sRlOEJ Observation-Disclosures Wy
6EZR07hiAL COSTUME ko(3l9ly WIN |)Nl 'k|,,|
|" HE American MSl1F 4a,IHEIlKl t>!(
girl is &C. 1871 N1llIrA Nj
customed to n /VNS3HNI NJ
short roman no IL OIIN NJ
- tic courtship w dNN(VW
which reaches its eli " nm ANN
In large we'd II MC.( Al Y
ding with double ring 4 N NO T\%/
service, she imagines girls 1 n UINN y
wooed and won in the l/|II VA Y
same way everywhere. II VI \
Though men courted ~ II II
and girls are won the M
world over, there many "
strange and unusual customs as Il
ISOLATED with the winning.
kyen in Europe marriages
made much
tionally than in this country,
and 1t is only in most recent times that young men
have been allowed to court girls without the con-
sent and aid of their parents. But in France to-day
among the haut monde the parents of the young
must be counseed and unless he is % years
Old he cannot marry the girl without their con-
sent A far wiser way for him to do is to talk
it with the parents If the girl is attractive
and the family is congenial the parents of the
Young man make overtures to the girls parents.
They are soon on a friendly footing and the ques-
tinn of marriage is readily settled. The settlement
to what the girls dot shall be is important
point at issue.
The Chinese, along with the Turks, believe that
girl is far better off dead than unmarried Though
they exceedingly anxious to have their daugh-
tiers married they believe it is beneath their dig
nifty carry these negotiations themselves, but
leave this work to professional matchmaker. The
go-between visits the different homes alone where
she takes note of the age education, social posi-
: ton and wealth of the different girls. She then
Rges long and accurate account of the girls fam
~. One is selected from this number, and if both
parties are satisfied the affair is handed to
the necromancer. If the stars say the young peo-
pie are selected wisely the betrothal is announced.
But the matchmaker has still a part to play.
Shortly before the marriage she brings the young
girl the gifts the groom would send her. These
usually include leg of pork, 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 it is necessary for
young persons to love each other long the
augur is satisfied. The young man rarely sees the
girl until after they married. When the bride
arrives at the home of the bridegroom he is there
to meet her, but when she steps out she is so
yelled that her features hidden. He leads her
into the room where the ceremony will take place
Then he seats himself high chair to show
his superiority and she prostrates herself before
him until he lifts the veil and for the first
time his future wife's face.
The Russians another people who believe
that marriage is the only natural and rational des
tiny for woman Confident that Cupid is fool
ish and erratic boy whose judgment is not always
the wsest, they make of a matchmaker, called
a syacha. She is most important parsonage and
when her judgment which is excellent, fails her
she can call the stars diamonds, hearts and clubs
to her aid
But the marriage ceremonies even more COM
plicated. On the day before the wedding the bride
is conducted to her bath. There her friends spend
long hours combng her hair and while away the
time singing and talking of what her daily life will
he after she is married The ceremony is performed
with the rites of the eastern church and takes
place eight Us before the marriage. The service
~ divided into three parts. The first Is where the
sC.j rings exchanged. Then the bride and
bridegroom are crowned with crowns of silver fill
gree and lastly the dissolution of the crowns.
Though matchmakers are not employed in Japan
love matches exceedingly rare. and 1t Is not