Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-18

cred and as safe that Of herald. The purport OF
the bddingAwas not only TO request tho attendance
Of Tho friends and well wsAers OF the young couple;
but q the same un:o, tosoclt their reasonable pre-.
sents and contributions, in order form little stuck
for the newly maw40d puir Those free will Offer
ings consisted accordingly of some article Of wcdr-
ing apparel OF Of fbsnturc live stock, provision,
money! according TO the and disposition of the
donor; and The donation was always considered as
loan, TO be repaid at any future wedding ofthc con-
tributcrs or their friends childrea. The duty Of
the bidder. f well performed. conferred muchhon-
or upon himself, it produced profit to HE chent
and as few persons could exhibit tho requisite
complisDaens for tho successful performance of the
character, it was considered Office of trifing
distinction.
There was good deal of ceremony attached to it,
also. On entering dwelling. Which he was careful
to do at time when all the members of the family
were assembled. he struck the floor with his staff to
command attention; and then with graceful obei
sance tn the master ani mistress of the family, lac
began his address. This was sometimes in pre-
scrihed form, bot more frequently eNtemporary, and
left to the Judgment ofthe speaker who always rcn-
dered It as complimentary as possible, for the pur-
pose ofinducing his auditors to accept his alton;
and having succeeded, wh another blow he left the
apartment, having previously drank the happiness
and prosperity of the company.
On the day ofthc ceremony, the nuptual offerings
having beeu previously made, and the names of the
donors registered IN a book, with the amount Of the
donations, the marriage celebrated at an early
hour; the bride and brdegroom ating afterwards
and returning to their respective families; when tho
signal for the comm; 'cement of the sport given
BY the piper who was invariably present these
casons, mounted on horse trained for the purpose.
The first achievement to be performed was the scs
ure OF the bride, and the carrying her off from her
friends. In order tn effect this, the companions OF
the bridegroom, mounted on horseback, aud the pi-
eriplaying merrily in the midst of them set oft at
full speed for the house which ained the object
Of their pursuit; but they always encountered many
obs ac'cs in their progress; such ropes of straw
drawn across the road blocks of wood and large
stones planted ia the middle Of it and artificial p,t
falls.
But the principle obstruction vas the GLrynkyn.
(Angice, Qantdin, consisting of an uprgh, pole on
the top OF which, aud placed horizontally, was long
beam fixed TO the pole by iron pin. which permit.
ted it TO turn freely round when pushed. AT one
end OF this beam hung bag OF aud, at the other
Hat aud narrow plank, VIII ch the rider, as he pass.
ed struck with his spear staff and IF he was not
extremely dcxtcrous and expeditions i'm his move
mcns. he was liable TO he dismonnted with stroke
of the sand bag, to the great amuse ncnt and egh,
ofhis companions. The Gwyntyn was guarded by
the chosen champions of the bride, who, if IL was
passed successfully, challenged the advehturor to
trial OF skill al some athletic game challenge which
could not be declined. and consequently, to guard
the Gwyntyn was accounted service at once ardu-
Gus and honorable. Having suruIounted these diff
cues they ha,tencd to the door of the bride and il
the door was shut against them. assailcd l. aud those
in the house, not with batterng rams and petards
bat with music and poetry, particularly the latter
till they had compelled their opponents to ADM, thcm
when they seized tue bride and carried her off i'm tri
umph Her friends aud partisans at convenient
time, discovered their loss, and of pursued the
fugitivcs. When they overlook them a mock con
test ensued, in which the pursucrs always van
pushed, and acknowledging their infcrior,y yielded
up the bride to the undsputed posses ion Of thc
man of her choice. -Alf afterwards repaired to th,
brdegrooIns residence and the remainder of the da,
was spent in plrth and festivity Trials of skill il
various rustic games first took place, and after these
singing and dnncing to the harp; the eurro in thc
mean time circulating apace. aud nrolonoiuo rho