Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-20
a}listellaneoas Reading.
STRANGEST coURTSHIP.
Eskimo Declares His Love BY Mad
Foot Race.


suggest about love being an evanescent
thing which is liable to pass away
along with much else that is disap-
pearing from sight in this progressive
age is true, how will it affect the Es-
kimo courtship and marriage? Will
the advance of the nations, in this par
ticular feature, if in none other, pass
these people by?
These questions are agitating the
minds of all those who believe we are
on the eve of a mighty upheaval, to a
considerable degree, those who see un-
avoidable signs, so they believe, of a
loveless future, the whole trend of our
social, industrial and educational mod
ern life seeming to point to just such a
state of existence.
And who is there that will under
take to solve the problem for them?
Cupid, so it seems, is not the same
roguish little sprite when journeying
through this far away country as he
reveals himself to be elsewhere.
Up in the frozen north he simply al
lows his office to go by theft.
For courage and strength, and not
Cupid's dart, win out in this icy region.
The Eskimo marriage is unlike any
other on the face of the earth. 1t Is
not entered into for the caprice of a
moment: nor for a freak or fancy.
Nor Is it ever entered into in a spirit
of idle festivity Nor for the gratifica-
ton of pride and ambition. 1t is a
display of manly courage and strength,
and nothing else. The bride surren-
ders only after she falls down from
sheer exhaustion.
Owing to this the Eskimo marriage
has given rise to great wonder and no
end of curiosity on the part Of those
who have witnessed the amazing spec
tacle. Is the wooing, if such 1t may be
termed, real or simulated? they ask.
When the bridegroom sets out in
pursuit of the bride is it all surprise
to her or is she prepared for his COM
ing, and so OF. the lookout and all ready
to act her part in this strangest Of all
strange marriage ceremonies, and
which has been in vogue ever since the
Eskimo first thought of contracting a
marriage?
Whichever way it may be, and there
is pretty good ground for believing
that the whole affair is strictly literal
and in no way different from what 1t
appears, marriage without wooing Is
the way the most sacred tie of life is
formed among these people.
And whether the future holds more
tender courtship for the Eskimo time
alone can tell.
The parents of the couple make the
match. But only after the suitor has
shown that he possesses manly courage
and strength.
AS an evidence of these talents he
must go out and capture polar bear.
Then he is told that he may take to
himself a bride.
But no bachelor can marry until he
has shown that he is possessed Of these
qualifications.
AS soon, however, as he has thus
distinguished himself, he is urged to
marry.
But no Eskimo lover ever conde-
scends to say the pleasant and consid-
crate things to the woman he seeks to
WOO, and which lovers in all ages OF
the world, and in every station of life,
have found it so easy to say, notwith-
standing their mode of expression may
vary in almost every instance.
Although matrimony is what he is
bent upon accomplishing, there is no
wooing about it.
Will the home be cherries and des-
olate, or does happiness wait for the
coming of the happy pair? Is question
that never enters his mind. Their life
long, friendship may turn out to be
something far beyond his fondest hope,
or it may dwindle down to an indiffer-
ent sort of comradeship. What mat
ters it to the Eskimo bridegroom? He
has shown that he possesses pride and
ambition, which all along his people
have been calling the finest expression
of perfect manhood.
1t would seem that these denizens of
the frozen north have no wish what
ever, nor do they consider it wise, to
yield to the captivation Of external
charms in selecting a partner for life.
Having captured his polar bear, the
largest and most terrifying he can
hunt down, the Eskimo lover sets out
upon his matrimonial capture, animat-
ed by the same spirit of victory that
spurred him on to the chase.
Very cautiously he approaches the
home of the object of his choice.
Having arrived there he conceals him.
self behind the one door with which
the dwelling is supplied. And here he
patiently waits until the Eskimo maid
en- comes out.
1t often happens that his first at
tempt at capturing his bride goes un-
rewarded In the event of which he
steals away as guardedly as he came.
But the Eskimo bridegroom knows no
defeat. Having qualified himself with
honors he is bound to succeed, though
days in hiding are the price he must
pay for his bravery. The maiden will
sooner or later come out of her home.
The moment she does emerge there
from he pounces upon her with as great
show Of skill and deXterity as the cat
falls on the mouse it is determined to
seize.
Then he undertakes to carry her to
his dog sledge, for the bridal equipage
is sure to be in waiting.
The maiden, however, resists his ap-
proaches. Screaming, biting and kick
ing, she at last breaks away from him.
And then it is that the most exciting
part of the marriage ceremony takes
place.
The bridegroom then goes after her
| in hot haste. And as the chase con-
tinues all the old women of the settle
| mont in which the bride lives run out