Of love, as an element In marriage, the Greek maiden knejty nothing ; the choice of a husband was" no concern of hers, and the custom would have precluded her making his acquaintance before the wedding day. She was won, but not wooed. The strange, subtle growth of passion, attaining both consummation and sanction in a union blessed by family and State, did not enter into her experience. She was the instrument of an arrangement, which on one side was a mere family bargain, but on the other side was of national importance. For on the insignificant thread of j. girl’s destiny 'depended the purity of the race. No marriage,' except with an Athenian citizen, was considered valid. When the substantial nart of the business, the dowry, and the agreements had been settledjjy the higher powers, came the preliminary sacrifice to the tutelar gods of marriage, the lock of hair dedicated to Artemis, and the offerings to Hera and the Fates. The sacrifice was performed by the father, and might be a few days before the marriage. When the great day arrived, the young bride had various mystic rites to go through, among the most important and solemn of which was the ceremonial bathing in water brought from the spring Callirrhoe. Both bride and bridegroom must bathe in this sacred water, which was fetched for the purpose by a relative of youthful age. Of such profound significance was this rite, that over the tombs of those who died unmarried was frequently re presented the figure of a girl carrying water—perhaps to show that the rite having been omitted on earth, would have to be performed In Hades. At nightfall the bride, often scarcely more than a frightened child, must leave, for the first time and for ever, her father’s house, and, seated in a chariot drawn by mules or oxen, on a sort of couch placed thereon for the purpose, on one side of her the unknown com panion of all hgr future life, and on the other one of his intimate friends, arrayed In festive attire, with a long veil, and a crown on her head ; her bridegroom also crowned and adorned, she was conveyed to her new home. 