Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-05-30
A Welsh wedding;

| Inc ancient festivities connected with mar.
rage are still retained in the rural part of Wales
when the day for that ceremony has been fix.
ed, bidding papers" are despatched to all friends
within possible distance. The squire generally
hnds one laid on his table, and USUALLY responds
10 the pecuniary part of the invitation. The fol-
lowing Is specimen of one of those papers
CARMARTHENsHIRE, Nov. 9Th, 1850.
AS we intend to enter the matrimonial state
wednesday, the 4th of December next, we are
encouraged by our friends to make bidding on
the occasion, the same day at the young wo-
mans brothers. house, at which time and place
the favor of your very good and most agreeable
company Is respectfully solicited and whatever
donation you may be pleased to bestow on us
then, will be thankfully received, warmly &C.
knowledged, and cheerfuly repaid, whenever
called for on similar occasion, by your most
ooedicnt servants. DAVID PRICE,
ELIZABETH JONES.
The young man with his brother and sister.
| Orchard and Mary Price,) desire that all gifts
OF The above nature due TO them be returned to
! me young woman on the above day, and will be
thankful, together with his uncle, and his bro
thers-ln-law and sisters and their wives, for all
additional favors.
! The young woman and her sister Ann Jones)
| desire that all gifts of the above nature due to
them be returned to the young woman on the
above day, and will be thankful together with
her brothers and sisters n-law and her uncles
and aunts, for all favors granted.
AS soon as the heroine of the day makes her
| appearance in bridal array among the assembled
guests at her fathers house, her friends proceed
10 hide her in the most unattainable place posi-
bic. Should the dwelling no: afford such ac-
commodaton, the COW house and stable are in
vaded, or even neighbor's domcil When hid
den, notice Is given to the bridcgroom's chosen
! representatives, who are four or five in number
they advance 10 the door and demand the fair
| prize from her father. The brides chosen
| spokesman reply to those outside. All the stock
OF wit possessed by either party, is exchanged
anlds general hlarity, until the claimants are
admitted TO seek the lost one. Sometimes she
! IS SO hopelessly concealed, that the time creeps
alarmlng y near twelve. When matters assume
TINS serious aspect, some kind friend is found to
act as guide, and she is found amidst universal
accIamatlons. The brides perils are by no
| means Over--for, instead of quietly going TO
church, where the bridegroom has been waiting,
lbs delegates make an attack upon her appoint
ed body guard. The poor girl often gets pretty
roughly handled between the combatants; and
should the opposing one be victorious, she is car
ricd to some place of concealment until again
rescued. When, at last the lady reaches the
church gate, her bethrothed comes forward, at
tended by two girls, determined apparently to
make the most of his last untettered moments
He then, having shaken hands with his future
father-ln-aw, receives and conducts his bride to
the altar.
The instant the ceremony is over and the nsmes
registered, furious scene OF racing commences
very dangerous at a "horse wedding" The
fleetest courier wins the pint of ale awarded TO
tI,n hon tpa Eycf III,
To those at home.
On the arrival ofthe new couple they are sea-
ted at table, each holding plate for the recep-
ton of bidding money!" and beside them q
friend with little book in which are entered the
names of the lenders and the amounts--for the
promise to retlrn in kind is taken al pied de la
leitra The debt is strictly one of honor, and if
not repaid on the marriage of the creditor, is sure
to be demanded. This ceremony over, the bride
retires to change her dress--or make some al
terations in it--and, on her return, attends upon
her guests. A table is laid out with very sim
pie cold collation--bread, cheese, and butter
of which oil partake who choose. This may
seem but poor hospitality, especially when we
add that the beer and ale are sold to the guests
but any reader who knows the poverty of the
Welsh peasantry, and their simple habits will
find excuse sufficient. The beer is supplied by
the young woman's father, and the profits form
part of her dowry.
Drinking is kept up until late hour, amid
singing and music WeIch rocal melodies are
generally rather dismal. Few get beyond psalms
which are pretty enough, set to Ar-hyd-y-nos
&c, but national psaImody partake very much
of the cow-killing tune of general notorety--
Dancing is often INDUCED in. When the bride
retircs to rest, if wary woman, she investigates
the arrangements of her bedroom, for her friends
consider it their duty to conclude the amusement
witha practical Joke.
A melancholy catastrophe is said to have been
the result of one of these practical jokes On
the afternoon of wedding day, what was sup
posed to have been dead viper, was put into
the brides bed. Her husband on Joining her,
found her corpse! The viper lay in her bosom.
with it's head elevated to her mouth. She had
not been stung, but had died, it was thought from
icar-UouSch0I Words.
STEAM RocK-DRlLLING MACHINE.-In this
age of mining quarrying, and tunnclhng, any
inventions which are calculated to render these
operations economical and rapid are sought for
with eaperpess and avidity. The hitherto tardy
and EXPENSIVE modes OF drilling and cutting
stone in tunnel excavations of Railroads, have
prevented capitalists from investing in corpora
lions where these operations are required, lest
the income may not return a fair interest upon
the expenditures necessary for their compile
ton.
a drilling machine has been invented by Mr..
III. G. Knight of this city, which promises TO
overcome the difficulties attending the prosecu-
tion of such works This drilling machine has