WOMEN OF OTHER LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15769, 18 November 1914, Page 11

WOMEN OF OTHER LANDS.

DUTIES OF SERVIAN WOMEN

Servian woman (says the Daily Mirror) is regarded as an inferior creature, who has duties, but no rights. Her principal duty consists of working hard for the man. whether husband or father, and of being respectful to him. The maxims which she and all her sisters have to learn by heart, are — Be first- to rise and last to go to bed. Do all the work in connection with the house and farm.

Prepare goods for market, but hand over all the money to the man.

Never speak to a husband without first obtaining his permission. Never argue against a man. Never cross the road when a man is passing. Always rise and kiss the hands of all male guests who enter the house. Always be the first to salute the men of the household, irrespective of their age. In Servia brides are kidnapped. When the lover has made up his. mind that the girl is ready to marry him he and his friends arm themselves with rifles, go up to the girl's house, seize and carry her off to church, and get married on the spot. Otherwise the courtship is almost entirely conducted by the men of the family. The father of the prospective bridegroom and two or three male friends call on the girl's father and bring with them a large cake of wheat and poppyseeds. The men of both families have supper and haggle over terms of marriage. When these terms are arranged the son's father puts some flowers and money on the cake and hands it to the girl's father. This act constitutes the betrothal contract.