70 SEX-LORE 



a man she did not know at all; and she remained in 

 a state of nonage throughout life. She was either 

 under the authority of the father or guardian, or, if 

 she married, under that of her husband. She also, 

 like the Roman wife, had to give up worshipping 

 her family's household gods and had to worship 

 the gods of her husband, as soon as she entered his 

 home. 



Although among many races the father's authority 

 has declined a good deal, there is still left to him the 

 power of betrothing or marrying his children whenever 

 and to whomsoever he chooses. Thus we find that 

 in Japan and many other places the marriage is 

 nearly always arranged by the father. Nay, more, 

 children are betrothed and married at a very early 

 age as, for instance, in India. There even exists 

 in many countries the custom of betrothing children 

 before or immediately after birth, as in Australia, 

 New Guinea, New Zealand, etc. Amongst the 

 Eskimos, as soon as a girl is born the young lad who 

 wishes her for his wife goes to her father and proffers 

 himself. 



An example of man's authority and woman's meek 

 submission exists, or has existed until lately, in 

 Russia. A Russian peasant woman thinks her hus- 

 band does not love her until he has shown it by 

 giving her a beating; otherwise she thinks he shows 

 lack of interest in her. On her wedding day a 

 Russian bride gives (or, at least, gave until quite 

 recently) her husband an elaborately decorated whip, 

 which he lays about her shoulders gently, of course ! 

 Whilst doing so he says: " I love thee as my soul, 

 and I beat thee as my serf. I am thy master; thou 



