Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-05-14
I'll nlistellaneon II g.
A SWEDISH WEDDING,


had been told, would take take place at si1
O'Clock, and at six had come; but an hour
or two in Swedish time makes not quite SC
much dlfteiance as a minute or two does il
English. l spent such extra hour or two in
as stupid and comfortless a manner as posi-
bic. The few persons whe were in the room
seemed to he awe-struck; the bridegroom
behaved very properly, and showed less impa
tlenco than the priest, whose looks would have
threatened premature matrimonial repri-
mand II he had been the chosen spouse Of
the dilatory bride; the restlesss eyes and ner-
vous movements of the snuff box were indi-
cative of impatence. At length, a crowd Of
guests came troopng in the women all in
large white shawls, and nearly all in black
silk dresses. Then, soon after there was a
low mnrmur, and the priest started up, took
a large pinch of snuff, used a coloured hand
kerchief and, returning it to his pocket, drew
out very large clean white one, and rolled
one corner round bis fore6nger, allowing the
rest to hang down to his feet. The oflicia-
ting clergy of Sweden always carry a white
handkerchief thus but as it is not, | suppose
a prescribed part of the Lutheran clerical
habit, its purpose is quite puzzling to me.
slight movement on the part of The bride
groom turned my eys to the door; it opened !;
large party entered; the leader was young
slight, rather delicate looking girl, dressed in
black. with long sash of white ribbon round
Ter waist and a crown of the natural mar
70 w-leaved myrtle on her head Next to her
came three young girls in white and coloured
dresses; and then the relatives Of the bride.
The young man came forward, took the hand
ofthe girl in black with the myrtle crown,
and silently led her up to the ottoman. The
priest was already behind it, with open book
and pendant handkerchief: few minutes,
and all was over. The most solemn silence
prevailed. The matrons appeared to me
universally to lock upon their young sister
with compassion, and the unbalanced girls to
behold her with something like envy: the
former at least began to weep, but Swedish
tears flow readily. As soon as the ceremony
was over the bride had to bestow about one
hundred and fifty kisses, which was the num-
Der OF persons present And then-just
when, as children say, she might seem 10
have given all her kisses away, she sudden
ly turned round, and with look of recolec
tion, murmured: 'Ack! my Alfredo and
threw herself into the brdegroom's arms.
The embrace was momcntary; and as I had
Just been presented to her, she looked at me
saying by way, | suppose, of apology: 4
have not seen him for three months-never
since we were betrothed.'
The company adjourned to the inner room,
where a general feeling of solemnity seemed
to prevail. At last, the usual libation of bad
white German wine appeared, to drink the
health OF the young couple, and at the same
time entered the clergyman, whose Office was
net yet over; he carried glass of wine in one
hand, and the insignia of office, the white
handkerchief hanging from his finger He
made long speech, eXtolling the state of
matrimony in general, and its peculiar blessed
aess in this particular instance, ending with
advice and religious exhortation, which drew
forth renewal of tears from the married la
dies. When this was ended, | began to
think Swedish wedding was about as dull
thing as an English one, and, a little dis
contented, strolled back again to the salong
A lady was at the piano, aud asked her if
there would be any dancing; saying l La!
understood it was to be such wedding as |
wanted to sea real old-fashioned Swedish
one. 'Ah' she replied, there is no one dis
posed for dancing: they think too seriously
for that. Yes, it is a serious thing to be
married; and the priests talk was SO good
No. they will not dance to night All the
time her fingers were moving the keys. The
bride and her husband appeared at the open
folding door; his arm was round her waist
her hand rested on his shoulder. Under the
such an attitude did not strike
me as remarkable; but they flew from their
post in waltz; and in a moment almost eve
ry one but myself was whirilng round the
room. To understand the real labour of
dancing, one should dance as the Swedes do
The English, beside them, would seem to
dance in their sleep. AS for the polka and
galopade, the men almost lifted their part
ners from the ground; and l should have
thought it impossible that such slight, weak.
looking creatures could sustain movements
SO VIOLENT, especially in airless rooms, and
throughout long winter, when dancing is
almost all the amusement and life ofall class
es. One poor young man was a singular evil
dence of the excitement Of the dancing man.
Ia. He came from the borders of Daecarlia;
his long light hair was worn as the men there
wear it, hanging straight down the sides of
bis face, not two features Of which seemed to
have the least connection with each other;
bis legs were little akin, one being some
inches shorter than the other. The BRIDE
groom good -naturedly tried to get him to
dance, but for some time Intellectually Fin
ally, be yielded and when once set in mo-
ton, there seemed no probability that he
would ever stop of himself the long hair
flew wildly up and down, the heterogeneous
features breathed the strongest excitement,
the shortest leg pounced on the floor; one
would have thought he had got Terpsichore
herself for his partner AS soon as an enor-
nous supper was hastily despatched. the
salong was again cleared; grave judge sat
down to the piano, and struck up the widest
most random sounding music; all the unmar-
ried people caught hands; all the married
ones fastened to the furtherest of the three
rooms, which, in Swedish, are always en- suite
Before knew what was to be done, found
myself drawn along in line, singing and and
nOVpinU IN this wild n,usin throu0h the oman