The searchlight., 1911-11-24

served with wine and fruits. and then
the bride. hidden under a voluminous
hooded mantle. is persuaded to ad.
vance to where her palfrey awaits
her.
She does SO with apparently reluc-
tance. affecting to be forced by the
matrons who support her under each
arm. Silk draperies are extended at
each side while she passes so as to
conceal her movements from the out
side crowd until she Is mounted.
The cortege then sets OF. the man at
the bride of the white steed stopping
at each notable landmark SO that the
bride may salute 1t for the last time
as a maid.
When the house OF the bridegroom
is reached her family bid the bride
farewell and withdraw. after leaving
her seated on pile Of cushions In
the best room. At the door. however.
they take care to impress on the men,
bers of her new family that terrible
reprisals will follow any Ill treatment
of her. any neglect of her legitimate
wants.
The veil is now lifted from her face.
and the bridegroom's relatives crowd
around to see her. singing at the same
time.
How beautiful is the bride. God bless
her!
Her eyebrows are arched as the rainbow
and her eyes are like cups. God
bless her!
Her mouth is a little golden box. and her
lips are cherries. God bless her!
Her skin Is like milk. and her shape
is graceful as the cypress tree. God
bless herl
The marriage rite Is performed In
the nuptial chamber. where the bride.
groom Is introduced by force. for 1t is
the proper thing on both sides to af-
feet reluctance as the crucial moment
draws near. When the bride Is asked
IL she consents to wed the man kneel
ing at her side no answer is returned
until the priest repeats his question
for the third time. when the matron
behind her lays her hand on the
brides head and inclines 1t downward
In token of acQuiescence.
Wooing That Follows Marriage.
When the religious ceremony Is I'm.
ished feasting begins. the men being
put to one table In one room. the
women In another. Dancing Is kept
up till midnight. the sexes indulging
In 1t apart. for any fusion Is consid.
cred unseemly and opposed to Gus
tom. The young pair take no part In
the festivities. being relegated to their
private apartment
During the first week of her wife
hood the new spouse is obliged to re-
ceive visitors: that Is. to be present
while they talk among themselves.
| for she stands erect In her wedding
clothes. taking no part in the conver-
sation. and replying only by an incli.
nation Of the head to those who sa.
lutte her. The husband is full OF gen.
| tie, unobtrusive attentions to his
wife, but 1t is not good form In Al.
bania for them to be seen much to.
gether. and II he wishes to exchange
a word with her throughout the day
he must have recourse to strategem. as
II he were a clandestine lover. This
state of things lasts for year. 90 tina,
the honeymoon Is generally more pro
longed than in other countries. where
the wooing precedes rather than fol
lows marriage.
Fifteen days after the wedding day
an Albanian bride is conducted to her
j former home. where she remains an
entire week. At the expiration of tha,
time her husband CONS again to fetch
her. 1t Is the proper thing for hel
to show regret and reluctance as be
fore and to betray sorrow at the fresh
separation from her parents.
Arrived once more at her new
home. she puts Oh the yellow shoes
which are the distinctive mark of thu
bride. moves heneeforth uncontrolled
and attends mass regularly. Divore<
ID, Of course. unknown to the Alban
ian. but the Mohammedan has some
times recourse to L.