Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1894 — Curious Arab Wedding Custom. [ARTICLE]

Curious Arab Wedding Custom.

Among the Arabs a curious custom prevails at all weddings. After various ceremonies the bridegroom is led in the evening into a large, dimlylighted room. Here, huddled on the floor on one side, he finds the female relatives and friends of the bride, all of the samo height and size, all wearing precisely similar clothing and closely veiled. One of those is the (bride, and it falls upon him to find out which it is. If he has been wise ho has bribed some of the spectators to give him a sign to guide him, but if not he attempts to seize the veiled figure whom lie suspects to be his bride. If possible she slips from his grasp and runs away, with him in hot pursuit. An exciting chase follows, until he succeeds in catching her, when he tears the veil from her face. ( If it turns out that he has chosen correctly and that she is the bride, the game is ended, but if not ho must try again, after the captured girl has had time to arrange her disordered dress and take her place once more among her companions. Again he makes’ a selection, and, after an-r other long chase, succeeds ,in unveiling a second maiden, possibly only to find he has caught the same girl again. Many hours are consumed in this way, and it isoften daylight before the unlucky bridegroom secures his bride.—[Chicago Herald. , ... \ ■ - -kii