The Gretna Green Register (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX. The first institution of marriage, or a union between man and woman for life, with certain ceremonies of a binding and solemn nature, is generally ascribed by the best authorities to Cecrops, King of Athens, 1554, B.C. The prevailing ceremony in most countries was a man leading home his bride with much rejoicing, after a solemn contract with her parents, the event being followed by feasts, protracted according to the wealth of the two families. The pages of history record many curious customs, prevalent among the nations of antiquity, in the disposal of their females in marriage. Among the Babylonians, at a certain time every year the marriageable females were assembled, and disposed of by public auction to the highest bidder, the town crier officiating as auctioneer. The richest citizens purchased such as pleased them at a high price; and the money thus obtained was used to portion off those females too deficient in personal charms to procure a purchaser at any price: when the beauties were disposed of, the auctioneer put up the more ordinary lots, beginning with the most ill-favoured among those that remained, announcing a premium to the purchaser of Eusebius, Pref. to Chron. each: the bidders were to name a sum below the given premium, at which they would be willing to take the maid; and he who bid lowest was declared the purchaser. This custom was confined to the lowest orders only, it is said to have originated with Atossa, daughter of Belochus, about 1433, B.C. Among a people which allowed such a custom, none of the finer human feelings, which regulate the passions are to be looked for, we are the less suprised therefore when we learn, that it was the common practice with the higher classes of this nation, as well as those of the two famo...