Wives on Trial.

Manawatu Herald, 25 February 1899, Page 3

Wives on Trial.

According to a tradition an annual lair wai held at a spot where the Black and White Esk meet, which was remarkable for its peculiar marriage associations. At this fair all the unmarried of either sex assembled, and each chose a companion with whom they had to live until the next fair. This ceremony j waa known as « hand-fasting " or " hand.in.fist." The man took his j chosen companion home, and each enjoyed the privileges of the marriage state all the year ; and they attended the next season's fair, and if they were mutually pleased with their ! choice they were properly joined i together in matrimony for life. Bar, if either of these two who had lived together during the time of proba tion was dissatisfied, they separated and were free to provide themselveswith another partner. From th. * neighbouring monasteries priens were sent to look after these couple.* who had been " hand-fasted," and joined together those who wm pleased with their bargain. Thi* ■ingular custom waa known to have been taken advantage* of by many persons of rank. We may quote Lindsay, the Scottish historian, t prove ihia. In his account of ih reign of Jam*" 11. he pays th* •• Jame?, sixth Eul of Murray had a son by Isabel Inne?, daugb er of the Laird of lanas, Alexander Dum ' bar, a man of singular wit and courage. This Isafr 1 was bur hand lasted to him, and deceased bpfor* the marriage." All children born during this year of trial, in the even of separation were taken care of by the faJifctand ranked with big law ful ebUrren. next to his heirs. Thi apprenticeship in matrimony refl-otfd /no disgrace of the lady concerned, and if her character was otherwise good she was entitled to an pqual match as J&jpßffh nothing had occurred. "Hm-fasting" wa* deemed a great irregularity by the Reformer.-, and they used every means in their power to abolish it. In the year 1562 the Eirk Session of Aberdeen decreed that all " hand-fasted " . parsons should marry at once, so tbc custom must have ~heen general . throughout Scotland ; but it ceased to exist shortly after the' Reforma-