COURTING IN RUSSIA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 328, 12 May 1877, Page 4

COURTING IN RUSSIA.

(from Caph -'n Luma: y's " A Ride to Kfcira.) Russian girls frequently am use themselves at this t:me of the year (O.ii-istmas) by attempting to discover what sort of a husband will eventually lead llicin to the altar. A favourite manner of doing this so caileu divination. The amorous female who is tired of a celibate life sits. in the mystic hours of the night, between two laae mirrors. On each side she places .-. candle, and then eagerly watches until six ;c n see twelvj i\Uec:ed lighis. Jf tlO i.tes are propitious she oiigiit also to disc ni the husband she desires pourtray. d n the g'i-Si before her. Another method tiiV.i a ion is io liave s q.p r laid for twn. I L t ie young-lady is suil in luck, the appar.Lion of the ititure l.u band will cm,' an i sit do-.vn b.-si ie h r ; but. i i order t / .«i c U'u suoc.ss, tils j_irl must ;.ot divulge t > any oiu Her mkntioii of attempting to L.i/e into futurity. There is a story (old in Ihissia to the tff C that the daughter of a rich fanner was iti love with .1 young .Lieutenant, and he, s is.)ect;ng t .at she would i.avo- supper laiu f ii- iiVu, chmood the wall of the garde) , and. sutiiig do-.vu by her side, partooic of the prepared banquet, the girl being under the impression that it was his app--.riti«m, and not ihs it a,', simon-imre. Un Laving ihe room, the o'iiccr forgot Ins swo-d, which he had unbuckled before lie sat down to supper. The girl finding the w ;apon after ijis departure, hid it in the cupboard as a memento of t :e visit. Later on, she married another suitor, and. he, fancying that there was some rival w,,0 supplanted him in his wife's aii'ec.i >;i, and oue day discovering t .e swi r !, was confirmed in ins suspicious, an.l killed her in a lit of passion. SouK-unies the inquisitive bus-wind-.-e.-ker will take a cradle, an"", melting the wax. pour it on the snow, a-cr .vine i s it; S I'iVts to d.sjejii 111 the harden"d suLsianca t.je likeius.* of him she seeks.