The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-03-09
EVERY YEAR A LEAP YEAR
Women Have Privilege of Picking the
Men They Will Marry

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"Once again will 1920 women have a
chance to take the initial step toward
providing themselves with an introduc-
ton to the heavenly kingdom, boon
which marriage brings to them, accord
ing to Mormon philosophy. The return
of a-year which leaps forward a day,
bringing to them a privilege monopo-
lized by men three years out of four.
has no significance for women of many
lands since they enjoy that liberty all
! the time" says bulletin from the
National Geographic society
1.-THE women of no race possess more
freedom in this matter than the Hopi
Indians of Arizona" the bulletin con-
tinues, "A maiden does not WOO the
man of her choice, but simply and for
chilly states her proposition to his moth
er without any encouragement on his
part. Her only preliminary proceeding
is TO do her hair in gigantic whorls,
one over each ear. This is her an
nouncement that she is going a court
ing. These peculiar knots are intended
to represent the blossom OF a squash
vine, symbol of virginity, but TO those
untutored in their meaning they re-
semble huge door knobs set at rather
violent angle When some debutantes
thus announce that they are out on the
carpet, it is said that as many as six
or eight of the eligible young men OF
the tribe literally take to the woods.
After this aggressive young lady
has selected her victim and his mother
has agreed he shall be sacrificed, she
serves in the house of her future
mother-in-law for 80 days grinding meal
very much after the fashion that JAG
oh of old served Ia days for Rachel.
The poor youth in the meanwhile does
not sit idly by, but weaves her wedd-
ing garments
Among the Batus of the Uganda
Protectorate of Africa, if a girl is not
fortunate enough to be asked in mar
riage in her home town, she goes to
another village and offers herself to
some man there. Though not honored
in her own country, she at least re-
ceives consideration in that of her
neighbor. for woman is an exec lent
agricultural laborer, and man is not
likely to refuse such a business asset.
1.-The Gala woman of the eastern
coast of Africa has the rare privilege
among savage and half-civilized people
of refusing to marry man who is UNI
desirable TO her.
Little is known Of the marriage GUS
toms Of the ancient Egyptians, but we
can easily believe that the women had
at least the privilege of expressing a
preference, If they did not actually do
the proposing, for. If we trust the his
torian Diodorus, a man promised his
wife to grant her complete control over
him and to offer no objection to her
commands.
Some survival of this liberty of
Egyptian women must have permeated
other portions of Africa, for princesses
on the west coast of that continent
whose children may become future
rulers choose their own husbands.
Nor is a princess limited in her choice
to unmarried men. She may just as
easily decide upon one who has al
ready entered the marriage state, and
tn poor fellow has TO put away his
other wives and become her slave.
Moreover, She has the power OF life
and death over him. He sometimes
has only one consolation-he inherits
all her property if he is fortunate
enough to be spared until her death.
In the Tyrol a girl may express ,
her preference for man by present
ing to him bottle of spirits. If she !
is afraid that her procedure has not I
the endorsement OF her parents, she !
may contrive to lower the previous I
fluid at night from her chamber
window
In north Pennsylvania, a young
peasant woman may give particular
swain a tip that he is the apple OF her
eye by going with him in his cart at
he time of the harvesting of the oats
o help carry in his crop. 1t is said
hat at this season one sometimes
ices procession of gaily decorated
,arts going afeld, a willing maid
seated in each.
lone of the obligations of father
n Rumania and Bosnia is to provide
10 well for his manageable daughter
hat when she receives a list inform
ng her of the means and qualiflca
ions of the eligible young men in the
'icinity she will not be hampered by
lack of worldly goods ON herr own
'art in making her choice.
In bygone days in India women
we're sometimes allowed to choose
heir own husbands. One of their old
airy tales tells of fair princess who
fter tournament placed a garland
round the neck Of knight who had
gon her heart,
Among the Eskimos of the east
cast of Greenland man captures
he girl he wants, but from that time