Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-05-05
Cost of Brides Has Risen.

Prices of brides in Palestine have
risen as have those of most other things
through the ages. In the DAYS of Moses
a bride could be purchased among the
ordinary people for fifty shekels of
silver" roughly equivalent to $50. Now
the range of prices in most cases is
from 500 TO $500. When the purchase
money is paid over to the father of the
oride-to-be he give her $50 to $40 to
Dc used in obtaining certain coins with
which she makes her first married wo-
mans headdreSs, and with which sho
purchases metal bracelets. rings and a
neck chain, indispensable possessions
OF an eastern married woman. The
father also gives her certain homel,
necessities for her rousseau. includ.
ing an everyday dress, VEIL mat.
-tress, pillow and quilt The re-
mainder of the purchase price the faith.
er pockets.
The actual wedding ceremonies.
winch are very simple, are preceded
by festivities which usually last for a
week, and sometimes even for ten DAYS
or fortnight. The details of the fes-
tivities vary in different localities The
men and women of the village celebrate
separately, the men in the guest cham
Der" of the village, ana the women at
the brides home. If the father of the
bridegroom is wealthy he will Keep
open house, often extending his hospi-
tality TO paSSersbv and strangers.
On the final day of the festivities the
wedding formalities are gone through
with. The bride appoints her father or
her nearest male relative her repre-
sentative. This representative then
meets the groom in the presence of a
few of the male relatives of both par
ties, and an exact formula is repeated
three times, the young bridegroom &C
cepting the bride, and she-through
her esentative-agreeing to become
his wife. Following this oral cere-
mony, sans bride, formal marriage
contract, which sets out the price paid
for the bride, is signed.-Natonal Geo
graphic Magazine
1t is almost impossible to find an I'M
married woman in the Holy Land past
the age of twenty, or even past the age
of fifteen years. Marriage is girls
openly recognized aim in life, and her
family goes about in businesslike way
seeing that the aim is accomplished
The very strangers in the by ways would
be invited to furnish a bridegroom il
no other opportunity of obtaining a
husband for daughter presented it.
self. And since the obligation to be
married rests heavily on the young
men, Palestine is spared the problem
of bachelors and spinsters.
When young man reaches the mar
riageable age-he would still be consid-
cred a callow youth in the west-his
parents consider the matter Of suit
able bride.
Usually the son is not consulted at
all. Now and then he may call to his
parents attention a maiden whose
fame has reached his ears, but if he
has CHANGED to see her il will have
been merely as yelled, mysterious
figure, at distance. The mother and
other female relatives of the Young
man visit the family of the girl who is
decided upon as probably being most
eligible. The young woman appears
before them and they carefully size
her up. II this scouting expedition
OF the would-be bridegroom fem
mime relatives is favorably impress
ed, the business side OF the matter is
then taken UP by the father ard other
masculine relatives