Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-12-15
BY Miss Frances
Davidson
AN AFRICAN BRIDEGROOM Z

ments are made for the wedding.
i Thus far the bride-elect has not been
consulted. She is then seized and
informed that certain person is to
be her husband. She is expected to
scream and object, but that does not
count.
The day Is set for the wedding.
The groom prepares the pay. This
consists Of hoes-perhaps twenty in
number. calico. beads and other orna-
ments, money, and sheep or two
for the feast. The mother and some
other women go first and carry these
presents to the home of the bride.
The groom and best man follow. For
several days the relatives Of the bride
to the number of thirty or forty
come to the wedding and each ex-
poets present from the groom. These
the best man distributes. All the
while a continuous storm of abuse
is heaped upon the head of the BRIDE
groom. Day and night 1t continues.
Every thing detrimental to his char
acter or Objectionable in his actions
is brought forth. The result is not
unlike political campaign in Ameri-
ca, except that here the abuse is
poured upon the head of the candi-
date by word of mouth instead Of
through the newspapers and stump
speeches. If the husband is not able
to endure 1t all, he takes refuge in
the veldt until the storm has blown
over or nearly so. The climax Isl
reached when his clothing is finally
taken from him.
Illuminating as this has been for
the bridegroom, he has probably a.
still harder task, and that is to gain
the consent of the bride. Up to this
time she has had no part in the ex-
ercises except that she has been de-
MED food for several days by her rela-
tives. He is, according to native mar
riage, the husband of this girl, but
he may have to try month or even
year to induce her to come and live
with him; at last he may be obliged
to send some men to carry her to
his home by force. 1t often happens
that she never goes to his home, in
which case he may go to live in her
home, at least part of the time.
! If a man has two or three wives, it
is not unusual for him to have two
homes. Living at the home of the
bride is not very pleasant, even If
the wife treats him well. He Is ex-
pected to treat the mother-in-law
with very great respect. He is not
supposed to sit down near her. II he
does, he must not look up in her
presence but keep his eyes modestly
fixed on the ground. This mother
in-law gave birth to his wife, hence
he must reverence her.
Thus while the wife has not choice
in the matter, she has yet great
deal of liberty, nor does her opposi-
ton always imply a dislike to her
husband. 1t is customary for the
bride to oppose and she would be
subject to great deal of ridicule
and perhaps persecution, If she did
not do So There is case of this
kind here at present. A fine young
man has lately been married, but
he found out before marriage that
Ibis suit was acceptable to the girl,
This was done through friend of
both. Since the marriage it has been
very difficult for him to get the bride
to even talk with him. She seems
Ito be one of the best girls in the
neighborhood, but their customs seem
to be embedded into their very life
that 1t takes time and courage TO
shake them off. In this case the
husband is slowly winning the bride
and we trust that ere long she may
be willing to come with her husband
and have Christian services in con-
nection with their union.