The Washington herald., 1913-07-04

tCer1nsht, IslA b. A. d. JacohsonD
Human hearts do not vary. and when
Cupid calls he must be obeyed. The
only thing that varies 10 the way In
which the call Ia answered. Each coun-
try has its own customs In the matter
OF wooing and wedding.
In Germany there are many Jews and
among them II II the custom for a mar
rage broker (''Shadchen'D to propose
marriage on behalf Of a young man who
has found girl sufficiently well en-
dowed with this worlds goods. Even
when the brokers' services are not re-
quired 1t IL quite unusual for the match
to be arranged by the relatives of both
parties.
With other Germans love is supposed
to be the motive Of marriage, but could
We look into the heart we should nnd
that the modern German also is inclined
to act on the precept Of Tennysof,'s
Northern Farmer. TO love where money
is" Certain II IL that In Germany the
girl who has the most money has the
best chance Of being married, and many
charming girls remain spinsters because
they are dowerless. The form OF pro-
posal In the Fatherland has undergone
great changes during the last few years.
At one time any young man who pro-
posed marriage attired himself in his
dress suit and carried a bouquet as an
Offering to his chosen one. II the dis
consulate lover left the house carrying
his bouquet with him. IL was a sure
sign that he had been given the nit
tens"
Nowadays proposals are less formal,
but engagements are no less binding In
England or America a betrothaI often is
lightly entered upon. but not SO In Ger
many. where 50 much publicity is given
an engagement that 1t il regarded almost
as solemn and binding as the wedding
itself
As soon as the sutton has declared
himself and been accepted by the girl
each gives to the other a plain gold
ring. which Is worn on the fourth finger
OF the left hand until the marriage takes
place; then the same ring Is changed
over to the corresponding finger of the
right hand. The engagement is an
nounced in the local paper. and to each
friend OF the pair there is a dainty an
nouncement sent by mail. On the first
page the parents of the bride-elect an
nounce that their daughter Is engaged
to Mr.. So-and-so. while on the opposite
page the bridegroom-eiect makes a SIM
liar announcement. Every one who has
received an announcement is supposed
to call on the girl and to offer congrat-
ulations Each call must be returned
by the bride-elect. and II her betrothed
to be with her when she makes the re-
turn calls.
An engagement makes a good excuse
for the offering of flowers, and until the
wedding the bride-elect can depend upon
her rooms being perfect bowers. The
pair have plenty Of chances of seeing
each other but most of the love-making,
IL any. has to be done in the presence
Of others, for II Is not considered
proper for an engaged couple to be
left much alone. Still, the German lover
Is not bashful, and sometimes the love-
making is so sweet and delightful that
II would seem a pity to reserve II for
the edincation of one person only. On
every occasion German pairs appear
arm in arm. and the custom is not con-
fined to one class alone. Peasants walk
thus. and the recently published snap
shots Of the kaiser's only daughter
show that princes and princesses follow
the popular custom.
Any spare time that the bride-elect has
is devoted to the preparation of the trous-
seau (aussteuer), and perhaps no bride in
any country goes to her husband with
such weh-filled chests of linen. Six dozen
Of everything Is quite an ordinary allow
ance. and generally last a lifetime. Most
Of the articles are of good plain linen.
and they are all marked with monograms.
The brides friends always are very lib
eral in their contributions. and various
things for the adornment of the new
home are showered on the bride-to-be.
In Germany 1t is not considered bad
luck for a bridal pair to be photographed
and no engagement seems COM
plete without a photograph. In every
case IL will be found that the man is
sitting. while the girl stands behind her
Before the wedding the girl
gives an afternoon party to all her girl
friends. This is known as a bean par
ty." The chief cake at this gathering
one bean. and each guest is
anxious to secure the slice containing it. |
for 1t is supposed to predict her own |
marriage within year. On the night |
before the wedding the brides parents |
give an entertainment, generally a dinner |
party, and the "Brautpaar'' sit together |
under canopy with garlands spread be- |
hind them. At one time 1t was usual to |
break crockery against the door to insure |
good luck to the new life.
There are two weddings in Germany.
The first is a civil function Of a formal |
character according to law. which takes |
place on the eve or early in the morning |
of the religious wedding. For this part |
of the ceremony the bride wears a cos |
tune Of black silk OF dark costume, |
while for the religious ceremony she dons
one OF white silk or satin. with a veil |