The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-08

e. BE- b. H e - H
the purpose. If he comes only whom the
sun shines he is considered fair
weather lover and Is apt to find the
blinds closed after the first heavy
rain Ett
1 have heard of cases where sucn
courtship, has gone on for years. tho
bear frollickings about Tor months be-
fore the tickle maid would eXchang.
single word with him. In orc In
stance here. L young man has kept
1t up for three years. and he has not
yet gotten to the. telephone act. The
other day this beau was asked why
he continued to play the bear when
his sweetheart gave him SO little en-
couraGement. lie replied: oh. | love
her so dearly. and she is so .ich.'
Counting the Whole Family.
During this bear act the family of
the girl knows what is going on. They
keep the girl in until they have in.
vestigated the antecedents, character
and financial condition OF the would be
factory she is forbidden to go to the
window. II the man proves all right
the family still keeps track Of the
courtship, and after they conclude that
he has served long enough he Is in.
vited into the house. This means that
the FAMILY is favorable to the match.
and is practically an engagement The
man is then allowed to court openly,
but when he comes to call he finds
number of other members OF the fam
lily present and he cannot see his
sweetheart alone. She may perha ps
| come with him to the door. and thereby
give him an opportunity to steal
good might kiss, but as rule all OF his
billing and cooling is done in the pres
ence Of papa and mamma. grandma
and grandpa. and of little devils in the
shape of the younger brothers and
sisters whose suucer-like ewes never
close during his stay.
II he thinks to escape by taking his
girl to concert or theatre. he learns
that i, is the custom for him TO ask
the mother and others OF the family
to go with them. and he is also ex-
pected to make presents to the parents
brothers and sisters during the court
ship. This makes his counting very
expensive and he is anxious to hurry
( the wedding day. when he may have
his love to himself
How Que American Courted Mexican.
Speaking OF wooing the whole fam
ily. l heard yesterday of how an Amer
lean railroad conductor who married
Mexican lady fought this custom TO
a flnish After he had become engaged
he Went for the first time TO see his
betrothed, and the whole family came
in to make things agreeable. He sat
and sat- hoping that they would leave.
out tii'H SAT NM out 10 tne enO. IL was
so for the second visit and at the third
also he found every one present He
then crooked his finger at the old man
and when the two had gone outside
into the hall the American said that
II was the custom in the United States
for engaged lovers 10 he allowed to be
by themselves He thought that il he
was TO be trusted with the girl after
marriage he ought to be trusted with
her before marriage and said that IL
he could not see her alone he would
stay away for good. The old gentle
man was surprised. but he consulted
with the rest of the family, ana then
II WAS concluded to allow the court
ing TO go on in the American way.
After that. when the man came. the
rest of the family got up and marched
out in single file, and when he got
ready TO leave the old gentleman and
the rest OF them came in and bade him
good might.
The Groom Buys the Bridal Outat.
In a Mexican marriage the groom
has many expenses which in the
United States are paid by the bride.
He is expected TO furnish the trous-
seau. but he sometimes fixes the price.
informing the mother how much she
may spend. This being done. his
mother in law to be does the shopping.
picking out for the bride the gowns
and lingerie needed, including even the
shoes, stockings and small toilet ar
ticles She then sends the bill to the
groom. The groom also gives the bride
Jewclry and other presents. and among
them an ivory-covered prayer book He
supplies the home and the furniture
and often pays the civil and religious
marriage expenses.
II is not uncommon among the rich
FOR the bride TO have a marriage set
Element, and there are stories told of