New-York tribune., 1910-11-13
IN TALMUDIC DAYS.

In Talmudic times opportunities for
courtship were plentiful and popular. On
the fifteenth day OF Alb and the Day 6f
Atonement the maidens of Jerusalem would
array themselves in white fiDeTy and dance
and sing in the vineyards to bewitch the
youths OF Israel. The uncomeiy ones sang
as they danced:
Young man life up thine eyes and see
whom thou art about to choose. Fix not
thine eyes on beauty. but rather look to
the pietv of the brides family. Graceful
ness is deceit and beauty is . vain thing,
but the woman who fears the Lord is
worthy OF praise
The more beautiful Semitic maidens did
not have to say so much They only chant
ed. See how fair We are" and admonished
the young men. Choose your bride for
Jeauty.''
in this age it was hardly respectable to
he married without having the prelirni-
naries arranged by a schatchen. The lover
who welded without these usual negoti-
ations received corporal punishment
The schatchen was an important person.
age then and could boast:
into me men gave ear and waited
and kept silence for my counsel
After my words they spoke not agaln,
And my speech dropped upon them
In medieval times the romantic rural
surroundings gave way TO the fairs as the
great courting places He who had a son
or daughter to be married journeyed to the
fair. ana there the match was made The
schatchen was then also the IavOrite
means of arranging . marriage The we'd
ding ceremony was known as the bless
lng," and it generally proved 10 be such.
DIVoRCE WAS SIMPLE.
However, If the marriage was not satis-
factory TO the husband he could divorce
ljs wife by placing in her hand in the
presence u witnesses. written get" or
bIl Of divorce At Grst the form of this
document was not strictly fixed, il hay-
ing required. besides the names and ages
or the parties, only the words: Thou
art now free for any man" This get re
quIrod only Two witnesses Later it had
10 be signed by ten witnesses and au-
1h0rized by q rabbi or a man We'll versed
IN the law. The following is the accepted
form cr the letter OF freedom, or document
Of dismissal.
on the -- day of the week. the -
Gsv of the month (Ahb. in the year --
or the creation Of the world, l, -, son
Of - VINO stand this day III --, the city
situated on the river. and containing wells
VII. without force, free and unreStralned,
10 grant a bill Of divorce 10 thee my
wife - daughter of - who hast been
nv vic from time past. and with this
free release and divorce thee. that thou
ltayesr have power ana control over thy
self from now and hereafter. TO be mar
rfa,5 - any man whom thou mayest choose.
and no man shall hinder thee from this
dav forever more. and thus thou art free
fnr every man And this shall be from
me q bill OF divorce
The woman had no voice in the matter;
she was simply told in writing TO get
out"
Now both parties must consent 70 the
divorce Tor II to be valid, unless one Of
the Mosaic laws of prohibited degrees
has been violated In spite Of the insist
.,.ce OF the more enlightened Hebrews that
Il is against the laws Of the United States
.ud therefore no longer practised II is sim
assorted by many that careful inVestiga-
ti5r would show this custom OF private or
domestic divorce to be still in vogue among
the poor. uneducated, ultra-orthoroN jews
Il vas the. old custom for the schatchen
TO compose and sing songs at the wedding.
HTter tie ceremony was OYER ms uHtts7
ceased lie worked haId 70 nave l-it mo-
. rIa-ye contract signed, - nave me Hul-Ia'
t-uot tied but cid uot assist I'D liie "'-,-
.ng 1f - u the bonds proved 10 be lril@3i-le-