El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-15

falls from the neck to the feet with
out the fulness Of the American mother
Hubbard. Over this is worn a sleeve
less sacque of white wool bordered
with black stripes. Many Of the girls
wear knit or felt caps of bright red
and some have gay-colored handker-
chiefs bound around their heads The
women are uniformly straight and
well formed They carry heavy bur-
dens, and that on their heads I am
told they are intelligent, Industrious
and thrifty. They are taught to sew
when quite small and are expected
to embroider the skirts to be used up
on their wedding days. This is often
done long before the marriage has
been arranged for or even proposed.
Such skirts are homespun linen, heav-
lily embroidered with silk 1 bought
one in Athens. which had a band OF
silk thread. worked in curious pat
terms running a foot deep along the
edge Of the skirt. The silk alone
weighs several pounds.
Dance at EIeusfs.
The Greek country girls have their
national dances. I saw one at Eleusis.
within sight Of the ruins where were
celebrated the mysteries, in the famous
temple where Demeter was wor-
SHIPPED. and where the art of agricul
ture had it's start. You may remem-
Der the story. Pluto the god of Hades,
had carried off the beautiful Perse-
phone the daughter of the goddess
Demeter. and Deme ter was hunting
her. She came to Eleusis disguised as
an old woman. and the king there
entertained her so well that she gave
seed corn TO his son and taught him
to farm She finally found Persephone
and arranged with Pluto that the lat
ter might stay with her outside Hades
for two-thirds Of the year, while dur
ing the other third she would remain
in darkness. like seed corn in the
ground. It was on account Of this
legend that the Greeks held their
farming festivities here. and here they
have them today.
Al this dance the girls were dressed
in costumes of silk embroidered with
gold. Their heads were covered with
wells Of fine silk. the ends of which
were striped with gold. They wore
the long gowns which I have described
and on their breasts were squares Of
gold coins so strung that they ex-
tended from one side Of the body to
the other. These breastplates were
their fortunes. each girl carrying on
her person the dowry which she brings
to her husband in marriage. The
Greeks nave no marriages without
dowries, and the bride is expected to
add her share to the fund which the
groom has laid up for starting house
keeping. In some parts Of the coun-
try I am told that the boys of the
family have to wait until the girls are
provided with husbands.
Weddings in Greece.
Weddings are usually held in
churches and the priests perform the
ceremony. According to the rules of
the church, a boy cannot be married
until he is IA and the girl bride must
be at least u. In many places the
girls are not married until 10. and in
some not until IS. The dowry is fixed
before the wedding, and if 1t has not
been paid the bridegroom may demand
the cash before the ceremony takes
place Many Of the marriages are
matter of business and divorces are
not uncommon.
The farmers daughter is supposed to
have a trousseau consisting of at least
three costumes. One is for everyday
wear, one for Sundays and the other
for festivals. In going to the church
the wedding party is usually mounted