The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1908-10-23

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6E7R07hiAL COSTUME Nu3'1LLY MI VIII Inl ~
TVHE American WSoFraL PGIIIN( E>e|
girl Is NNI n \tifHl \
customed to \ /VI|@1NN| N
short, roman IN 9 ~ OIIN v
tic courtShp O'VW IONlV N
which reaches its eli " T~1 (9\&N
In a large we'd II H. ( N W
ding with double ring 1 n III % TN~/
service, she imagines girls II VI~N
are wOoed and won in the II W III IVA \
way everywhere. u " I II N
IhouEh men are Courted ~I II
and girls the I NJ
world over, there are many 4 W
strange and unusual customs |
sociaed with the winning.
Even in Europe marriages
made much conven- ~
tionally than in this country,
and it is only in most recent times that young
have been allowed to court girls without the con
sent and aid of their parents. But in France today
among the haut monde the parents of the young
man must be counseled, and unless he is 25 years
old he cannot marry the cir! without their con
sent. far wiser way for him to do is talk
1t over With the parents. If the girl is attractive
and the family is congenal the parents of the
young make overtures to the girls parents
They are soon friendly footing and the qucs
tion 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
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 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
Y ives long and accurate account of the girls fam
; lily. One is selected from this number and if both
parties satisfied the affair is handed over to
the necromancer. If the stars say the young peo
pie are selected wisely the betrotha is announced
But the matchmaker has still 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 parent do not believe 1t is necessary for
young persons to love each other so long as the
augur is satisfied The young rarely 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
veed that her features are hidden He leads her
into the room where the ceremony will take place
Then he himself high chair to show
his superiority and she prosrates herself before
him until he lifts the veil and for the first
time his future wfe's face.
The Russians another people who believe
that marriage is the only natural and rational des
tiny for a woman. Confident that Cupid is fool
ish and errac boy whose Judgment is not always
the wsest, they make use of a matchmaker called
a svacha. 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 more COM
plfcated. 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
rs divided into three parts. The first is where the
: gold rings exchanged. Then the bride and
bridegroom crowned with crowns of silver fill
gree and lastly the dissolution Of the crowns.
Though machmakers are not employed in Japan
love matches exceedingly rare. and 1t is not