The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-05-22
A Matrimonial
Lottery
In Which One Man Owned ,
Most of the Tickets
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

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There are in various countries curl
Gus customs with regard to matrimony.
In Lapland the groom must chase his
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 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 Oh him if they can.
Another Russian custom among a
certain people is this: They have a lot
terry. A girl is put up rs the prize. Suf-
ficient 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 a 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 bor-
der, there were four of these lotteries
held each year. thus providing for four
girls who had reached Il marriageable
age and had not the necessary dowries.
The simple people of this village,
buried in the heart of what might al
most be called Il 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 y. was sort of circus in which
the young men performed in gymnas-
tics and trained animals and feats of
hOrsemanship were exhibited.
At one of these performances slen-
der young man named Ivan Ivanof.
with figure tit for statue. led the
rest ir riding. He would ride several
barebacked horses ut one time. step
ping from one horse to another.
Among those who looked at the feats
Of this young man was Nina Dimitri-
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 Dimitrieff took
from her girdle 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 fash 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 muscle, but it
was from that moment perfect love.
These two children-they were not
much more than children-did not stop
to follow ont the consequences of this
newborn passion. the nature of which
in their innocence they did not under
stand. Among these people parents
regulate 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 Indebtedness of poverty
for them and their children, that would
keep them apart. 1t was some time
before their attachment was discover
ed, but as soon as it was known to
exist Nina was forbidden to have any
thing to do with her young lover.
For some time there were clandes-
tine meetings. usual in such forbidden
affairs. Then. the two being caught to-
gether by Nina's father, he took meas
ures to marry her off. One Of the mar
rage lotteries was about to come off,
and he arranged that his daughter
should be offered as the prize.
1t was terrible blow to the lovers.
A thousand chances were to be sold at
4 rubles chance. If they were all dis
posed of the bride would have dowry
of 1000 rubles, or 50 900 of our money,
a very large sum in that region for a
young couple with which to set up
If the chances were not
all sold the deficiency would be made
up by the weather. citizens of the vii
lage. In this case. where Nina was the
prize offered. the chances would have
doubtless all been sold had it not been
that her love for Ivan was generally
known. AS It was. but quarter of the
chances had been taken up. So great
was the deficiency that 1t was doubted
whether those who usually made up
such sums would do so In this case.
Almost directly north Of N. Is Kara,
In Siberia, where political offenders are
sent to work In the mines. N. is the
nearest town Of any Importance on the
western side of the border between
Russia and Siberia. Not long before
the drawing Of the marriage lottery
was to take place Ivan and Nina. by
q preconcerted arrangement. met in
II A.. Ill.