Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-10-22

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
man must be counseled, 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 over with the parents. If the girl is attractive
and the family is c%ongenial the parents of the
young man make o%vertures to the girls parents.
They are soon on a friendly footing and the ques-
ton of marriage is readily settled. The settlement
as to what the girls dot shall be is an important
point at issue.
The Chinese, along with the Turks, believe that
"a girl is far better off dead than unmarried. Though
they are exceedingly anxious TO have their daugh-
,ters married they believe it is beneath their dig
nifty to carry on these negotiations themselves, but
leave this work to a 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
gives a long and accurate account of the girls fam
lily. One is selected from this number, and if both
parties are satisfied the affair Is handed over 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 a leg of pork, a bag of money, two
bottles of wine, and two candles. But the girl is
expected to return a part of these offerings. The
Chinese parents do not believe it is necessary for
young persons to love each other so long as the
augur is satisfied. The young man rarely sees the
girl until after they are 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 are hidden. He leads her
into the room where the ceremony will take place.
Then he seats himself on a high chair to show
his superiority and she prostrates herself before
him until he lifts the veil and sees for the first
time his future wifes face.
The Russians are 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 a matchmaker, called
a svacha. She is O most important parsonage, and
when her judgment, which is excellent, fails her
she can call the stars, diamonds, hearts and clubs
20 her aid.
But the marriage ceremonies are even more COM
pIicated. On the day before the wedding the bride
is conducted to her bath. There her friends spend
long hours combing her hair and while away the
time singing and talking of what her daily life will
be after she is married. The ceremony Is performed
with the rites of the eastern church and takes
place eight days before the marriage. The service
is divided into three parts. The first Is where the
gold rings are exchanged. Then the bride and
bridegroom are crowned with crowns Of silver fill
gree, and lastly comes the dissolution of the crowns.
Though matchmakers are not employed in Japan
love matches are exceedingly rare, and it is not I'M