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Show FATHER COURTS FOR HIS SON Odd Way of Mating Couple In See-via See-via Bridegroom Sees Wlfs on Wedding Day. Dosnla, Servla. A humorous plaint often goes up on behalf of the bridegroom, bride-groom, whose presence at a modern wedding seems merely to be tolerated. tolerat-ed. Hut tlu bridegroom's ess Is sometimes even worse, for In certain parts of the glob he may not be present pres-ent even at his own betrothal. The) following passage Is from Chedo Mlja-tovlch's Mlja-tovlch's Interesting account of the customs cus-toms of his countrymen, In "Servla of the Servians." It Is the duty and privilege of every ev-ery Servian to choose a w Ife for his son. As soon as the boy has reached, his eighteenth year, the Servian pens-ant pens-ant asks his friends, confidentially, to help him find a proper wife. He himself him-self visits assiduously all the fairs In his own and neighboring districts dressing better than usual and watches the girls dancing. He makes careful Inquiries about the families that have marriageable daughters. In some parts of Servla the young unmarried women carry a special mark In tholr headgear generally a red feather to Indicate that they are open to proposals. When the father has chosen a promising girl, he ascertains, through a friend, whether the pnrents would consent to give her to his son. If he receives an encouraging answer, he Invites In-vites relatives or friends to go with him on the "requesting errand." They start out, dressed as well as can be. The father carries a flat wheat cake and a bunch of flowers. One of the company must carry a pistol, for It Is customary In Servla to announce every ev-ery Joyous event by firing rifles or pistols. They arrive at the girl's house before supper. After eating and drinking In which the men alone of the two houses participate par-ticipate and some preliminary conversation, con-versation, the father of the prospective prospec-tive bridegroom draws from his bag the wheaten cake, puts the flowers upon It, and places the whole upon the table. He then takes from his money-bag some gold or sliver coins and places those, too, upon the cake. "Brother, let us not precipitate the matter," the girl's father will then say. "I-t me first And out what my daughter says." He then goes out to consult his wife. This is only for appearance, as the matter was practically settled whpn the father was encouraged to come to "beg" the girl. After more or less suspense, the door opens and a male relative brings On Road Near Belgrade. the girl In. He leads her to the father of her prospective husband, before whom she bends deeply and kisses bis right hand. The ring Is finally brought to the engaged girl on the appointed day by a company of the bridegroom's male friends and female relatives. It Is chief!) a pretext for the bridegroom' relatives to make the girl's acquaintance. acquaint-ance. The bridegroom Is not present even on that occasion. Youth'a Companion, |
