Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1901 — A Race For a Wife. [ARTICLE]

A Race For a Wife.

In Laplaad the crime which is punJshed most severely next to murder Is tEemarrylng of a girl against the express wishes of her parents. When a suitor makes his appearancehe eays nothing to the girl, nor does she often know who he Is, but her parents inform her that her hand lias been applied for. Then on a day appointed the girl, her parents and friends meet together and sit opposite to one another, so that they can view each other’s face and converse freely. When the feast is over, the company repairto an open space, where “the race for n wife” Is to be run. The usual distance Is about a quarter of a mile, and the girl Is placed a third of the distance in advance of the starting point. If she be fleet of foot and does not care for her suitor, she can easily reach the goal first, and If she accomplishes this he may uover trouble her again. If, on the oth -r b ml, she wishes to have him for a husband, she has only to lag In her flight hdu so allow bim to overtake her. If she be particularly struck with him nnd would signify to him that his love Is returned, she can run a short distance, then stop and turn and invite him with open arms.