158 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



The primitive Moravians seem to have adhered to 

 the ancient Jewish custom in some degree, though mak- 

 ing the selection of a wife a matter of chance. The old 

 people did all the courting there was done, which was 

 not much. When a young man desired a wife, a help- 

 meet was selected for him by casting lots among the 

 marriageable young ladies of the community, and the 

 young man was obliged to abide by the decision, it 

 being supposed that Providence controlled the selec- 

 tion. We are not prepared to say that the young man 

 ran any greater risk of getting an uncongenial or um- 

 desirable life companion by this mode of selection 

 than by the more modern modes in vogue among us. 



As before remarked, we do not present these cus- 

 toms as illustrations of what might be considered a 

 proper mode of conducting the preliminary steps of 

 matrimonial alliances. On the contrary, we unhesi- 

 tatingly pronounce them decidedly objectionable, on 

 moral grounds, if not on others, and we can readily 

 see that such unions must have been in many cases 

 exceedingly unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, the loose 

 customs which prevail in this country can scarcely be 

 considered as an improvement. 



Long Courtships.— Chiefly for the reasons pre- 

 sented in the preceding paragraphs, we are opposed to 

 long courtships and long engagements. They are pro- 

 ductive of no good, and are not infrequently the occa- 

 sion of much evil. There may be circumstances which 

 render a prolonged engagement necessary and advis- 

 able ; but, in general, they are to be avoided. 



On the other hand, hasty marriages are still more 

 to be deprecated, especially when, as is too commonly 

 the case, the probability is so great that passion is the 

 actuating motive far more than true love. Marriage is 



