The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

theip haren1s as the first wives grow older. ln-such cases the groom pays money to the father Of the bride. This is the re-
 verse of the Jewish marriages, where the money goes to the groom. The price for a Mohammedan wife ranges according to
 the financial condition of the contract ing parties. The contracts are made by the elder people of the family. If there is father he decides upon the marriage.
 If the father is dead the eldest brother
 may act, or in some cases the mother.
 The customs as to the right of the fam fly to dictate the marriage are rigid The other day peasant living near Jeru-
 salem had q sister who ran away with
 her lover and married him. This was
 after the family had objected to any
 union of the two. The peasant took a
 revolver and went after the bridal couple. He met his brother-in-law in Jerusalem
 and shot him dead on the street. When arrested he justified the crime and he is now imprisoned awaiting trial. I am told he will get off with slight punishment, | as he has acted within his rights accord l ing to the Koran.
 Brides of the Cities
 | Among the city Mohammedans the | bridegroom makes a present of a dowry sufficient to enable his bride to purchase her trousseau and household furniture. | He may give her $600 or $500, and the greater part of this will go to her near est male relative, being paid before the wedding takes place. On the other hand he and that relative may buy the outfit together, making items of the various 1 things and their cost. Often the whole dowry is not paid, 25 or 30 per cent being 1 left until after the wedding. This is not demanded, except in case of divorce, and | it is considered a premium that wal in- | sure good treatment on the part of the l husband
 The bride seldom sees the groom before the wedding, and the groom never meets
 her before that time. The investigations of both families are carried on by the | fathers and mothers, independent of the l real parties to the marriage.
 How They Marry in syria | I asked a Molammedan friend of mine last night to tell me how marriages were
 arranged. Said he:
 When a boy is old enough to have a | wife, jet us say at +, his parents begin
 to look about for a suitable girl. The
 mother goes to the harems of her &C., | quaintances and asks as to the daughters. | She also visits the girls schools, and
 when she has found a maiden whom she | thinks may suit she invites the mother
 of the girl to meet her at the bath. This
 is one of the chief places of gossip and | pleasure, and it is not uncommon for
 ladies to meet there. To the bath the girl comes with her mother. and she
 there has her first interview with her prospective mother-in>law. The two talk
 and gossip together, and very likely go
 into the hotroom and plunges, clad in the light attire of two Turkish towels, the | fashionable garb for the occasion. After
 the bath is over they have something
 to eat.
 There is more talking and the girl Is
 sized up mentally and physically. Upon | the return home the mother of the groom tells her husband the result of her in- vestigations, and if he is pleased negotia-
 tons are begun with the parents of the
 bride. If agreeable the dowry is fixed i and the betrothal is made. Neither the marriage nor the betrothal can be con- summated without the consent of the girl. This consent is gotten in connection
 with the man. or Mohammedan priest, who appears at the door of the harem of the brides mother. The girl is behind the door, and she Is asked if she will consent tq. the match Sine has to answer
 1T will" three separate times, after Whicu