The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1915-01-26

In dlfferent countries. And each race
attaches certain features to the cere-
mOny that give II many peculiar Az
poets Some receut Investigations re-
veal these facts among the Turks:
Marriage Is highly hOnored among
the Moslems. Mohammedan said !:
When the servant Of Allah marries
he perfects half OF his religion"
The bachelor Is looked upon as the
brother OF the devil. A widow almost
always marries again, An old maid
Is taboo-she ls considered as living
In perpetual transgression. Hence
the Turks marry early. Among them
there is only one excuse for mar
riage late IN llfe--a second marvfaX
According to law, a man may haW
four wives, but each wife must be
maintained In separate quarters, and
the matter OF expense governs the
prevailing sentiment favoring one
wife.
The Turkish woman IL free agent
under the law, The wife has absO-
lutte control of her property, A man
mHy divorce his wife by uttering In
her Presence aud In that of two wit.
neSses certain fern Of words three
tinesN And the wife has no remedy
This Is Gus 'om which has the force
Of law. But divorce ~ unpopular
When the family council concludes
that the time has arrived for the son
TO marry, the mother, II she has not
already done 80, chooses wife for
him. She gets Into communication
with the old women matrimonial brok
ers who are familiar with the fam
llies having marriagable daughters
Accompanied by these go-betweens
and near relatives, the mother vists
such families.
What SnI ty."
No matter what they be the private
opinion OF the match-maksrs, eti
quette requires them to eIclaim
what a beauty your daughter isr
The chief caller now tells Of the good
qualities Of the prospective bride
groom and the amount Of settlement
TO be made. Several houses are ~
visited, and then the mother soet
home to report to her husband ant
son.
+ The choice determined on the go
betweens arrange prelimina1es. This
, youth may not see the maiden unyell
: cd. Wells In the east are attributed
not 40 much to the jealousy Of th'
, husband an to the modsSty OF IN,
! women Turks regard talking freely
Of women as an evidence Of III
breeding.
The maiden, however, ls generally
given a chance to nee her future hus
band. The mother ounningly arrang
Ing that by taking the daughter on
: for walk or drive to some ap
" pointed place where she may see him
Engaged Eight Days
The bethrothal gifts are usual!
toilet requisites. After this the bride
!. HrOOm's mother visits the bride, TAX
" ing with her b0nbons and seyera
yards OF red silk, which Is laid o.
! the floor ln front Of the divan. Stand
]" ing In the silk, the hetrOthed klsse
!, the hand of her mother-in.law, VIII
" gives her bonbous with her BLESSING
VI Half a bonbOn, bitten In two by tn
y " girl, the mother carries hack to tn
- bridegroom M a first love token.
" A few days later the bridegroom
: sends contribution to the bride
" father toward the expenses OF IN
" wedding festivities, Eight days al
ter the engagement Ia made the knc
u IN tied, a civil contract made valid b
" two witnesses
~ The ceremony takes place In N
~ brides home, When the settlemeI
y has been agreed upon the brid,
NJ groom proclAims three times his d.
sire TO we'd the daughter, whereupo
the priest, accompanied by the fati
er, goes to the glri's apartment
- where she and her friends are wal
ing, and after stating the financl
-. agreement, she II asked her wlllinI
ness 10 marry this man, II sha Al
" swers affirmativsiy the father ar
~ the priest return t. the man
Il