The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-04-14
a nnEEK rIARRIAaE.

arrival there, was momentarly expected.
The centre of the great saloon was covered
by a Turkey carpet, on which stood read
ing desk, overlayed by gold embroidered
handkerchief, supporting Bible and the two
marriage rings the whole bright with the
profusion Of silver money that had been scat
tered over them The lady of the house was
to oliciate as "godmother" to the bride, an
Office somewhat similar to that Of brides maid;
and she was even at that early hour sparkling
with jewels.
At length the sound Of music announced
the arrival Of the marriage train and we
fastened TO a window 10 watch for their APP
proach The procession was an interesting
one. The musicians were succeeded by the
bridegroom elect, walking between his own
father and the father Of his bride; one fair
girl followed, accompanied by a couple OF her
young companions; and the two mothers, at
tended by "troops Of friends" closed the
train.
They were met at the threshold by the
Archbishop of Nournaukeiiy, and party Of
priests, who Immediately commenced chant
ing the marriage service and, as they ascend
ed the stairs, showers of money were flung
over them from above.
In five minutes the spacious saloon was
filed to sufloca,ion; the young couple. were
placed upon the edge of the carpet, the nup-
tial crowns, formed of flowers, ribbons and
gold thread, were deposited on the reading
desk and the rector Of the parish, in robe
of brocaded yellow satin, fringed with silver,
began prayer, which was caught up at IN
tervals by The choral boys, and repeated in a
- A IL n. .r,l l..
which was of considerable length, the attend
ant priests flung over the Archbishop his
gorgeous vestmcnts of violet satin, embroider-
ed with gold, and girded with tissue and he
advanced to the reading desk, and took thence
the two brilliant diamond rings, with which
he made the cross three times on the fore
head, lips, and breast of the contracting par
ties and then placed them in the hand OF the
godmother," who, putting one upon the finger
Of each, continued to hold them there while
the prelate read a portion Of the gospel; after
which, she changed them three times, leaving
them ultimately in the possession Of their
proper owners This done, the Archbishop
put the hand OF the bride into that of the hus-
band, and went through the same ceremonies
with the nuptial crowns that he had previous
ly enacted with the rings they were then
placed upon the heads of the young couple;
and, a goblet of wine being presented to the
Archbishop, he blessed it, put it to his lips,
handed it to the bride and bridegroom, and
thence delivered it up to the "godmother."
The crowns were next changed three seve7
raj times from one head to the other; and
several wax candles being lighted, as have
described them to have been during the Easter
ceremonies ut the Fanar, the whole party
walked in procession round the carpet; and
then it was that the silver shower fell thick
and fast about them; the floor was literally
covered
When the chanting ceased, the bride raised
the hand of her new made husband to her
lips; after which, every relative and friend OF
either party approached and kissed them on
the forehead The Archbishop cast off his
robes; the children scrambled for the scatter
ed money--the band in the outer hall burst in
to an enlivening strain and such OF the com
pany as were Of sufficient rank to entite them
to do so, followed the bride and the lady OF
the house to an inner saloon, where train OF
servants were in attendance, bearing trays of
preserved fruits and delicate little biscuits,
which were given to each person to carry
away. Liquors were then offered and sub
sequentlv coffee, after which each married
lady made present to the bride of some ar
tcle of value, previously TO her departure from
her home, whittier we all accompanied her in
procession and took our leave at the portal
TO the house of her friends, and join in the
cheerful morning ball which was about to COM
mence. -:r."..
The effect ofthe golden thread that had as
e;stoJ IN ,yo,vn yas ynrv haouti(ul bindinp n :
it did, the rich dark hair of the bride upon her
fair young brow, and then falling to her feet
and her whole costume would have been em-
ncntly graceful, had she not been sinking un-
der the heat and weight Of the eternal cache
mere. The nuptal crowns which have men
toned are about foot in height, and shaped
the heads of the young couple, they were
carefully enyeloped in handkerchief OF CO.
lored gauze, and borne away to he hung up in
the chapel ithe bridegroom's house, where
they will remain until the death Of either par
ty, when the deceased is crowned for the Sc
cond and last time, in the open coffin in which
he is borne to the grave.
The Greeks make almost as much toilet for
q funeral as for a marriage. Where the de.
ceased is young and pretty, she is decked out
in her gayestapparel, and not unirequenty has
her eyebrows stained, and a quantity of rouge
over her cheeks, to cheat death fora few hours
OF his lividness; her gloved hands are careful
" displayed; she is trcked out in jewels, and
this iright(ul mockery is rendered still more
revolving by the fact that she is paraded
through the streets, followed by her female re-
latves, who weep, and shrek, and bewail
themselves with a transient violence truly ma
tonal. At the grave side, all the fnery is