Courtship Customs

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 9

Courtship Customs

It is said- that marriage in Russia, as an institution is now looked upon officially, if not actually, with . discomagementi .-Some quaint and pretty old customs will, thereby go. out I of existence, especially among the peasantry (states an exchange). In some parts of rural Ituasia a man ivho wanted to pay court to a girl •would bo asked to licr father's house,! where ho1, would find half a dozen | maidens or nioro sitting with shawls over their heads, so that their faces were not seen. He would then bo told that he. would have to marry (he girl whose shawl he removed. Strange to say, this always turned out to bo the maiden he- loved 1 • . The Japaneso proposal is • literally •'said with flowers." The suitor makes his choice known by casting, a bunch of plum blossom into the girl's litter as she is carried by. If she throws it out again he is rejected, and had better look out for another girl. If she fastens the flowers in her obi, or sash, the answer is "Yes." Or the Japaneso lover will, tie a branch of some pretty flowering plant to the girl's door. She rejects bis proposal by letting the blossoms wither flnd die. The contrary answer is made by taking in the flowers and tending them. Then it only ■ remains for the terms of the marriago contract to be discussed. ORIENTALS NOT SENTIMENTAL. This pretty mode of wooing is not ■typically Eastern, for most Oriental pjoplc arc the least sentimental of

mortals over their courtships—if they can bo called by that name. . The bride of Morocco, for instance, is never courted at all, and does not sco her husband until after tho ceremony. In China there is also no courtship. Matches aro arranged by a professional go-between. The father of a young man tells tho matchmaker that he desires a bride to be found for his son, and the go-between does tho rest. No.sentiment there! The same system obtains among tho Malaya and the Cingalese. In fact, it is only in Kuropo that young men regularly woo the girls of their heart; and both enjoy tho thrills and tremors of courtship; often the sweetest period of life. The English-speaking races have the' most pre-marriage freedom of choice, and very seldom do parents interfere with their children's courtships. , In Brittany a very quaint custom prevails. The Breton is more Celtic than French, and does not emulate tho typically French "arranged" marriage. If a young Breton fancies a girl, he sends a deputy to propose to her. Not until he is assured that he is acceptable does he take up his wooing; iv person. The deputy is of ten a village tradesman, who makes_ a specialty of the work, and he carries a staff of office —a long whito wand decorated with flowers. The old Spanish custom of playing ft guitar and singing under the desired maiden's lattice is too well known to be more than alluded to. If the girl likes her wooer, she shyly drops v rose or other fragrant blossom at his feet.