Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-01

In Lapland the groom must cudSe LIS
| bride in foot race. In Russia, which
| has a very large area, with many diff
ferent peoples, one and all having their
own peculiar methods, there are num-
Der Of varied customs. One of these is
| that a girl may go into the house OF
any man whom she wishes to marry
and remain there till he marries her.
| If he refuses he is considered to have
insulted her and her family, and they
| take revenge on him If they can.
Another Russian custom among a
certain people is this: They have lot
terry. girl is put up as the prize. Suf-
fcient tickets are sold to give her a
dowry. The holder of the winning tick
ct Is compelled to marry the prize he
has drawn, but she may decline him.
If she does they may divide between
them the money paid for the tickets.
If married man is the winner he may
give the prize to any bachelor he may
select. In N, village in the northern
part of Russia near the Siberian Dor
der, there were four of these lotteries
held each year, thus providing for four
girls who had reached marriageable
age ana ndu not tue neCeSSdEN uO"E ltS-
The simple people of this village,
buried in the heart of what might al
most be called a wilderness, naturally
resorted to simple amusements. They
were an athletic people, especially
adapted to the management of animals.
One of the chief recreations of the peo-
pie of n. was a sort of circus in which
the young men performed in gymnas-
tics and trained animals and feats Of
Craftsmanship were exhibited.
At one of these performances slen-
der young man named Ivan Ivano6-
with a figure fit for a statue, led the
rest in riding. He would ride several
barebacked horses at one time, step
ping from one horse to another.
Among those who looked at the feats
of this young man was Nina Dimitrf-
eff, girl barely sixteen years old. To
her Ivan, standing erect with a foot
on each of two horses, guiding them
wherever he wished, was the most
beautiful sight she had ever beheld.
When he had finished his performance
and stood bowling before the plaudits
of his audience Nina Dimitriefr took
from her girdle a bunch of hardy flow
ers that grew wild in the woods of
that region and threw them at his feet.
He picked them up, meeting at the
same time her admiring gaze.
In that glance which passed be-
tween these two simple creatures was
an instantaneous flash of love. No
courtship was needed. The mingling
of two spirits was complete. Long as
sociations might strengthen it, as con-
slant use will develop a muscle, but it
was from that moment q perfect love. |
These two children-they were not |
much more than children-did not stop |
TO follow out the consequences of this |
newborn passion, the nature of which |
in their innocence they did not under
stand. Among these people parents |
marriages, and no marriage is ,
permitted except where the bride has |
a dowry. Nina's parents could give her |
no dowry, and Ivan could not afford to |
marry her without one.
Not that they would, if left to them |
selves, consider this as barrier. They |
would consider nothing but their love
and mate like pair of doves. 1t was
the older heads of their parents, fore
seeing the wretchedness of poverty
for them and their children, that would
Keep them apart. 1t was some time
before their attachment was discover
I'd, but as soon as it was known TO
exist Nina was forbidden to have any
hing to do with her young lover.
For some time there were clandes-
line meetings, usual in such forbidden
fairs. Then, the two being caught to-
,ether by Nina's father, he took meas
Tres to marry her of. One of the mar
1age lotteries was about TO come off,
Ind he arranged that his daughter
should be offered as the prize.
1t was n terrible blow to the lovers.
rubles chance. If they were all dis
'osed of the bride would have a tiowry
4 1000 rubles. or $1,000 of our money,
very large sum in that region for a
-oung couple with which to set up
II the chances were not
III sold the deficiency would be made
p by the Weather citizens of the vii
age. In this case, where Nina was the
rize offered, the chances would have
oubtless all been sold had it not been
hat her love for Ivan was generally
,nown. AS it was, but quarter of the
hdHceS ndu Deeu taken up. so great
Tas the deficiency that it was doubted
Thether those who usually made up
uch sums would do so in this case.
Almost directly north of y. is Kara,
4 Siberia, where political offenders are
ent to work in the mines. N is the
earest town of any importance on the
Testern side of the border between
'nssia and Siberia. Not long before
he drawing of the marriage lottery
Tas TO take place Ivan and Nina. by
preconcerted arrangement. met in
rood TO the northward of the village |
he meeting was not to devise plan.
ut to lament together over their APP
roaching separation. They We're in |
lie heart of the forest under snow lad S
n branches when. hearing stirring In
thicket near by. they turned and. saw
face that caused Nina to shrek. /,