The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-08
THERE ARE MANY
WAYS OF WOO|NG
CourtShipS and Weddings In
Many Lands
EUROPE GROWS LIBERAL
Chinese and Turks Believe Girl Is
Better Dead Than Unmarried.
Professional Matchmakers
Are Negotiators.

From the Chicago Tribune.
The American girl is so accustomed to
a short, romantic courtship, which reaches
it's climax in a large wedding, with a
double ring service, she imagines girls are
wooed and won in the same way every
where. Though men are courted and girls
are won the world over, there are many
strange and unusual customs associated
with the winning and uniting of man and
woman.
Even in Europe marriages are made
much more eonventionalIy than in this
country and it is only in most recent
times that young men have been allowed
to court girls without the consent and aid
of their parents. But in France today.
among the haut monde, the parents of
the young man must be consulted, and
unless he is 25 years old he cannot marry
the girl without their consent. 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 congenial the parents
of the young man make overtureS to the
girls parents. They are soon on friend
ly footing and the question of marriage
is readily settled. The settlement as to
what the girls dot shall be is an import
ant point at issue.
Better Dead Than Unmarried.
lieve that a girl is far better off dead
than unmarried. Though they are exceed
ingly anxious to have their daughters
married they believe it is beneath their
dignity to carry on these negotiations
themselves, but leave the work to pro-
fessonal matchmaker. The go-between
visits the different homes alone, where
she takes note of the age, education, So
cial position and wealth of the different
~rfxt Iona
rate account to the boys family. One Is
selected from this number, and If both
parties are satisfied, the affair is handed
over to the necromaneer.
If the stars say the young people are
selected wisely the betrothal is an
nounced. But the matchmakerahas still
a part to play.
Shortly before the marriage she brings
the young girl the gifts the bridegroom
would send her. These usually include a
leg of pork, bag of money, two bottles
of wine and two candles. But the girl is
expected to return a part of these offer
ings. The Chinese parents do not believe
it is necessary for younger persons to love
each other so long as the necromancer 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 q
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 wife's face
The Russians.
The Russians are another people who
believe that marriage is the only natural
and rational destiny for woman. Conf
dent that Cupid is a foolish and cratic
boy whose Judgment Is not always the
wisest, they make use of a matchmaker,
called q svacha. She is a most import
ant 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 ceremonials are even
more complicated. 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 fligree,
and lastly comes the dissolution of the
crowns