The Connecticut labor press., 1920-01-03

of marriage, of social etiquette will be absorbed by the Tanks.
 For example, if an American soldier goes to call on girl he may find her father present, and may be offered cup of coffee, while the girl waits for the empty cup. The American soldier must drink coffee, return the cup and say:
 God reward you, beautiful child"
 If the American receives a ring the next day. it means that the girl likes him and that the wedding ceremony is to be held eight days later.
 The wedding, according to the cus- tom of the people, always begins on Friday. This means that the bride and her friends go to the public bath and spend the day bathing and feast ing. The invited guests, in their best clothes, go to the house on Saturday night. where they sit on the floor or in chairs, according to their station in life. A wedding repast with rare oriental dishes Is had from low tables and it is by custom not dry supper. So far apparently the bride and the bridegroom celebrate each with their own friends and in their own way. The ceremony continues on into the next day, which is featured by the bridegroom having his head shaved before the guests in very shoWy manner and with great ceremony. Later. in case the bridegroom is an American soldier, for example, the priest arrives to bless the Tanks wearing apparel before he puts it on. By ten o'clock all start out, priest. bridegroom and friends. for the home of the bride. The men carry torches and are accompanied by musicians. Arriving on the scene the American soldier would be welcomed by having rose water sprinkled over him and would otherwise be accorded magnif- icent reception. He begins then to go the rounds, kissing the hands of all the guests, but beginning with the father-in-law and the mother-in-laW. The bride, meanwhile, appearing very bashful, remains modestly off in corner, covered from head to foot in scarlet silk. She must not respond when the priest first calls: "Bring forth the bride" Upon the second call Sno must dlSO SLdHu pat, Dul Ol Hl1S third call she comes forth.
 The American and his bride would then go to the altar, where after cer- emony lasting about an hour. their heads come in contact. The heads are tied together with a string, and the ceremony is finished for the time be ing. The actual ceremonial function continues until the following Saturday, when the Yank and his bride would be called upon to go to the home of the father-in-law and mother-in-law and kiss their hands again.
 If a Tank is a guest he must not forget to take off his boots before en- tering the parlor. He will see shoes arranged in pairs at the door. serving as a "Nho's Who" for guests preceding him. In some cases slippers put over the boots for the special occasion will serve the same purpose as taking or the shoes, the idea being that the guest must not enter with the shoes carrying the dirt of the streets.
 It will be essential in some respects, in case the mandatory plan goes through, for the American troops not to shave either their mustaches or their boards. To do so would signify punishment, for the people there never shave their boards excepting when forced to, just as Americans seldom shave their heads unless they are re- spending to prison regulations.
 Some of the gestures will be per picking to the American at first, but he would have little trouble in learn ing them. For example, he must not shake his head to say "No," but must throw his head backward. If he means Come here," he must wave his hands away from him.