Gunnison news-champion., 1908-10-23

tionaliy Than In this
and it 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 today
among the haut monde the parents of the young
man must be counseed. and unless he is 25 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 coneenial the parents of the
Young man make overtures the girls parents
They are soon on friendly footing and the ques-
tion of marriage is readily settled The settlement
as to what the girls dot snail be is important
point at issue
The Chinese, along with the Turks, believe that
a girl is far better on dead than unmarried Though
they are exceedingly anxious to have their daugh
tiers married they believe it is beneath their dig
nifty to carry on these negotiations themselves. but
leave this work to a professional matchmaker. The
gobetween visits the different homes alone, where
she takes note of the age. education social posi-
tioa and wealth of the different girls. She then
gives q long and accurate account of the girls fam
ily One is selected from this number. and if both
parties satisfied the affair is handed over to
the necromancer. II the stars say the young peo-
pie selected wisely the berothal 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 parents do not believe il 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 the home of the bridegroom he is there
TO meet her but when she steps out she is
veiled that her features hidden. lie 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 are another people who believe
that marriage is the only natural and rational des
tiny for a woman. Confident that Cupid is fool
isl and erratic boy whose Judgment is not always
the wisest they make of 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.
pbicated On the day before the wedding the bride
is conducted to her bath. There her friends spend
long hours combinE her hair and while away the
time singing and talking of what her daily life will
lie after she is married The ceremony is performed
Vfh the rites of the eastern church and takes
place eight days before the marriage. The service
is divided into three paris The first is where the
gold rings are EXCHANGED Then the bride and
bridegroom crowned with crowns of silver fill
and lastly comes the dissolution of the crowns
Though matchmakers are not employed in Japan
love matches exceedingly rare. and it is