Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-01-10
Guardians Are Matchmakers.

Guardians Are Matchmakers.
AS rule no young man is consid-
cred fitted for business or entitled to
the confidence of the community I'M
til he is engaged or married. Not in
frequently quite young children are
engaged by their parents or guard
ians, and it is seldom that these early
obligations fail of fulfillment in more
mature years. A young man may
marry at the age of Is and a girl
at IL.
These prearranged marriages are
very common and it is seldom that
the husband looks at the unveiled
face of his bride until after the mar
rfdge. Still, the law allows him to
see the face and hands of his intend
ed once before marriage.
The personal statutes of the Mo-
hammedan set forth in minute detail
the rules pertaining to marriage and
divorce and prescribe the duties and
obligations of both parties during the
marital relations
Widows Wait One Year.
The first article provides that all
women free of conjugal ties and wild
ows or Divorces after the legal re-
treat may be demanded in marriage,
but candidate for the fair hand can
only express a desire of marriage to
a divorce or widow after the expira-
ton of one year
As in most European countries the
question of dowry forms an essential
part of the marriage contract In
Mohammedan lands the husband
only is obliged to provide dowry
for his bride, which varies in amount
according to their respective pecun-
larry situations.
In the absence of a fixed sum this
is regulated by the custom of the
province in which the marriage takes
place. This dowry is paid directly
to the bride, in whole or in part, and
in case of non-payment she may
maintain an action against her hus-
band for its recovery.
The Brides Trousseau.
The trousseau of the bride, which
may include the furniture for the
house, is her inviolate property The
husband may not oblige her to place
it at his disposal or at the disposal Of
his guests, and should he use or take
possession of any part of the trous-
seau the wife may exact restitution or
payment of the value in case of loss
or damage
There are some prohibitions of
marriage between near relatives. Mo-
hammedans may marry Christians or
Jews, but no one may marry a wom-
an who has not a celestial religion"
Idolators, sun worshippers, all whose
religious belief is not based on some
sacred book are forbidden.
Four wives are permitted and that
number cannot be exceeded except to
replace a divorced or deceased wife.
No man may have plurality of
wives unless he is able to maintain
them as BELTS their rank and social
position.
If they require it each wife must
be provided with separate resi-
dence. and is not required to main
Tafv1 afna oIat xxyst
make the acquaintance of the others.
Should her husband fail to furnish
wardrobe, support and servants suit
ed to her estate, or should he neglect
her personally, she may cite him be-
fore the Cadi, who will require him
to manifest perfect impartiality.
Was Son of Slave.
The father of the present Khedive
Tewfik PaSha. was the son of a slave:
his father, Ismail Pasha, only mar
ried her after he had obtained from
the Sultan a firman fixing the inher-
itance to the Khediviat in his oldest
son. several of the princes of the
Khedivs4i household are likewise sons
of other than the four wives of Is
mail, and their prineely rank or So
cial status is never questioned.
Polygamy is rapidly decreasing in
Egypt The Khedive Tewfik, father
of the present Khedive, had only one
wife, a beautiful and accomplished
woman, still living. The present khe-
dive has onl,7 one wife. 1t is the
fashion now for all high personages
to follow the European plan, and one
rarely hears of the existence of polyg-
amy among the higher classes
Among the fellaheen or peasantry
this institution still prevails to a linn
tied extent usually as a matter of do
nestle economy, where all must work |
S.at, ~sx~fa
statute prescribes With care that the
marriage shall be assorted to persons
of the same social grade