El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-03-05

~ IA SD IN ALfNs ID. c.. March D.
w once aFan, with 1890. wome1
have cnance 70 take the in.
ftial step toward providing them
selves with an Introduction 10 tht
heavenly kingdom, a boon which
marriage brings to them. accordins
10 Mormon philosophy. The return
ri year which leaps forward a day
bringing to them a privilege mo-
uopolized by men three years out OF
four. has no significance for Womer
of many lands, since they enjoy thai
liberty all the time" SAYS a bulletin
from the National Geographic society
issued today from its Washington
Headquarters
The women Of no race possess
more freedom in this matter than the
Hopi Indians Of Arizona" the bulle-
tin continues "a maiden does not
WOO the ran OF her choice. but simply
and l0Irinlv states her proposition
10 his mother without any encourage
ment on his part Her only prelim-
mary proceeding is 70 do her hair Ia
two gigantic whorls. one over each
ear This IS her announcement that
she Is going counting. These pc
culiar knots are intended 10 represent
the blossom Of a squash vine svm-
Dol OF virginity. but to those untu-
1ored in their meaning they resemble
huge door knobs set at a rather
violent angle When some debutantes
thus announce that they are out on
as six OF eight Of the eligible young
men OF the tribe literally take 70
the woods.
After this aggressive young wo-
man has selected her victim and his
mother has agreed that he shall be
sacrificed. she serves IN the house
Of her future motherinlaW for 80
days. grinding meal, very much after
the fashion that Jacob Of old served
IA years for Rachel The poor youth
r a#
~, but weaves her wedding gar
Can 60 All Around.
Among the Batus OF the Uganda
prOtectorate Of Afriea, II a girl is not
fortunate TO be asked IN marriage in
he- home town, she goes TO another
village and offers herself 10 some
man there Though not honored in
her own country she at least re-
ceives consideration in that OF her
neighbor. for a women is an excel
lent agricultural laborer and man
is not likely 70 refuse such q bust
ness asset
The Gala woman Of the eastern
coast of Africa has the rare priTi-
lege among savage and half civilized
people Of refusing TO marry q man
who is undesirable 70 her.
Little Is known OF the marriage
customs Of the ancient Egyptians,
but we can easily believe that =o-
expressing a preference II they did
not actually do the proposing, for,
Il We trust the historian. Diodorus,
a man promised his wife 70 grant her
complete control over him and 70
offer no objection 70 her commands
Choose own Husbands
some survival OF this liberty OF
Egyptian women must have per-
meated other portions Of Africa, for
princesses on the west coast Of thar
future rulers may choose their own
husbands. Nor is a princess limited
In her choice 10 unmarried men, She
may just as easily decide upon one
rage state. and the poor fellow has
TO put away his other wives and be-
come her slave Moreover. she has
the power Of life and death over him.
He sometimes has only one cousola-
rton-he inheEts all her property II
ne Is fortunate enough to be spared
untl her death
In the Tyrol a girl may express
her preference for a man by pre-
senting him with a bottle OF spirits.
II she is afraid that her procedure
has not the endorsement Of her par
ents she may c0ntrive to lower the
precious fluid at night from her
chamber window
Helping the Lad Along.
-In north Pennsylvania, a young
peasant woman may give a particu-
lar swain tiD that he Is the apple
OF her eye by going with him In hfs
cart at the time q tks harvesting
Of the oats 70 help him carry In his
crop II Is said that az this season
one sometimes sees a procession Of
gaily decorated carts going afield,
a wiling maid seated IA each.
'Oue Of the obligations OF e father
in Rumania and Bosnia e. to provide
so vel for his marriaEsable daughter
tlat when she Is presented with
list informing her Of the means and
Qualifications Of the eligible young
men In the vicinity she VIII not be
hampered by e lack OF worldly goods
on her own part in making ner
enolce.
I'm bygons days In India women
were sometimes allowed TO choose
their own husbands. one OF their