Hawaii Holomua, Volume I, Number 53, 18 November 1893 — COURTSHIP IN RUSSIA. [ARTICLE]

COURTSHIP IN RUSSIA.

Parents never (tteinl the We»ltlin!; Fea»t. Love is the samethe worhl over. but courtship is mauagecl clitferently in ditferent countries. Conrting among the middle classes in Russia is peculiar. The first Whitsnnday after the young girl is ackno\vledged by her mother to be of a marriageable age she is taken to the St. Petersburg Summer Gardens to join tho ‘bridal promenade,’ as it is called. This consists of the daughters of the Rassian tradesmen walking iu procession, followed by their parents. Up and dowu they walk pretending to chat with eaeh other and take no notice of the young men— tho sons of the tradesraen. dressed' in their best —who walk in unother procession oa the otber side. Huwever, even - now and theu some youug fellow slips out of bis proper rank and adds himself to the liue of girls on the other side, speuking to one particularly. The parents of the girl join in conversation. and i soon they leave the promenade 1 and are joined by the parents of the yonng man. Generally the i old folks have talked it over 1hjfore, but on this oeeaaion everyone pretends to be surprised. Next day a female confidante calls on the girl’s parents and rerjuests her band. This grant- • ed. all the relations on both sides meet and argue about the portion j to be given to the gir!. If this is not satisfacton>' all is at au end; if it is what was expected the betrothal takes plaee. The prospective bride and bridegroom knoel down on a great

fnr m.it ar.J 'he t < a ring frora ber finger aml give7t it to her internlexl. who retarn> the cift l»y aaother. The girl' mother meanwhile craruble> a t pieee of breadoverberilaaghter’s ■ head, an<I her f;»ther holds the image of hi> danghter s j\atrun scrint over his fat.ire > )ii-in-law‘s well l»rusheil lcH'ks. As they arise, the yoang friends selected for bridesmaids sing wedding song. The g«ests eaeh bring forward a present of some > >rt. wine is handed abont aml >ome one ><ivs it is bitter and needs >weetening. T’uen the prospective bridegroom kisst-s his f:iture wife—tiie sweetne» being sopposed to be provided by the kiss— s;ilnt. s the compaay and takes his leave, on whieh the bridesmaids sing a song. with chonis something l:ke thi>: Farewt!l, happy bri.!e^īoom, Bat retun> to be iuore h»ppy. Courting is now beguu. tv< ry evening the lover comes to his lady’s home with a present, whie'h is always somethmg good to eat general!y cakes or sngar plams. He makes love under very awkwnnl circura«tances. for the bridesmaid-elect sit about the betrotbed ]>air in a circle, singing songs d< scriptive of their happiuess. The last eveningtbe conrtship is enliveued by tbe preseritation of the gifts of the bridegrootu, whieh mnst meluelo soap. perfumfry, broshes an.l combs. On receiving these the bridesmaids iustantly carry the haide away to wash her, <lrtss her hair aud perfnine her pockethamlkerchief. Tlins touched up she returns to tbe company, and the bride’s fatber gives hisfnture son-in-law tha marriage }>ortion. whieh he takes home in a neat little bag. The next morning tbe young man retnrns for the lady herself. She receives him with ber hair unbraided and flowing down her back. They are raarried by tbe ceremonies of the Greek Charcb, and the old folks uever go to the wedding-dinner. Those eternal bridesmai<ls, whom tliey mnst bate by this time, are, bowever, still on dutv, aml the evening closes by the bride kneeling down and pnlling otl her hasband’s boots as a proof of her iuteution to be an obedient and snbmissive wife. Good-natured bridegrooms genen\1ly hide jewellerv in their lKX>ts, whīeh the bride may take- posse>sion as a ba!ra for her pride. After tbe weddiog-day the parents give feasts and keep it up for a whole week, aud it is not until all this is over that the young eonple see tbese blessed bridesmaids take their departure. They are coiu[ielled to kiss tbem, thank them. aml give eaeh a present. A. Paule.