Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1904 — The Spanish Novio. [ARTICLE]

The Spanish Novio.

A Spanish maiden who Is In the least attractive is always attended by a young man. He Is called her novio, and it is his privilege to accompany her on her walks, though of course always with either her mother or a maid to play propriety. His courtship seldom ends In his becoming engaged to the young lady, but while it lasts she has to be obedient arid loyal to him. If he should transfer his affections to another fair damsel, the slighted one has no redress, for he is quite at liberty to do so, their friendship never being regarded in the light of a formal engagement. Marriages are settled by the heads of the two families chiefly concerned, and until such an arrangement is made the young Spaniard may be novio to as many girls as he likes, one after another. This custom has certainly more advantages for the men than it has for the maidens, but yet few Spanish girls wduld care to be without a novio, however fickle he might be.