Would you like to choose a good woman for a partner? We have discovered some time-tested tips how to choose a good Russian wife from 1916, as composed by the author Baltazar Mufij and reinvigorated by the online portal Rebenok.by.

At the time of publication, women were banned from buying this book! So profound were the secrets it revealed.

The book was published in Moscow.

Blast from the past: Tips on choosing a good Russian wife from a century ago

So, what tips were given to men in pre-revolution Moscow? What kind of Russian brides were seen by local guys as good candidates to the position of a spouse a hundred years ago?

Let’s delve into the secretive tips for the male kind that were too insightful to allow females in Russia to see them.

1. One should choose a woman not younger than 25, since very young girls nearly always are flippant, inconsistent, and capricious.
2. Seek blue eyes in a bride — such eye colour means quiet obedience to the husband.

The text explains further that black eyes mean a hot-tempered and insidious character, grey — a penchant for panache and overspending, while brown eyes are the sign of a gossiper.

3. One should only marry a woman who owns her house if she agrees to reassign it into the husband’s name. Otherwise the wife will constantly scold the husband that he lives in her home, and in case of a big argument, she could kick him out for good.

4. If the dowry includes a feather bed, it should be only one and not made of swan down, since such a bed would be too canoodling and make a man unable to work.
5. To find out whether the future wife loves entertaining, the man should offer her to go out to balls, theatres, and other events. If the bride declines the invitation, then it shows she is not into vanity and hassle.
6. Blondes nearly always possess a good character, which means they are quiet, modest, loving, affectionate, and well-behaved.
7. Brunettes are fervent, passionate, capricious, but despite that, they really love their husbands.
8. Red-heads are cunning, sneaky, deceitful, malicious like a fox, devious, dishonest, and cowardly.

(Obviously, not a good candidate to the position of a spouse by any means, according to the Russian author.)

9. When choosing a wife, it’s important to find out diligently, whether the woman suffers from the vice of stubbornness. To check it, one should propose various things that go against the bride’s wishes, and if she calmly submits to the man’s desires, then it means she has no such vice.
10. One should pay his utmost attention to ensure that the bride is not into fashion and flirting, for this is a vice and a substantial one. A flirtatious wife has the penchant to gather admirers and will try to get young dandies to chase her.

“Let’s say, the husband comes home from work and wants to talk about his business, but the wife is entertaining guests, mostly young guys with dark moustaches. The husband frowns but doesn’t wish to look rude, so he sits down next to the wife, while some Victor Ivanovich, a young scapegrace, is talking all types of nonsense, and the flirtatious wife is laughing out loudly,” the book depicts the future problems that would follow if a man is not embracing this tip.

11. 11. One should wish for a bride who is:

• Obedient and quiet;
• Not capricious and hardworking;
• Loves her husband;
• Good at handiwork;
• Smart and skilful at housekeeping;
• Would be able to bring up kids well.

What do you think? Do any of these rules still ring true today in choosing a good wife? What kind of criteria do you consider when looking for a long-term partner?

Comment below!

Read also:

• What is a Russian Bride?
• I am not sure I want a Russian wife, but I am curios. Is it still OK to chat to women and what should I say?
• Can you order a Russian bride online?
• Is it possible for me to meet a good Russian woman for marriage?