Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-21
EVENING STAR,
WEDDINGS AMONG THE EARLY PIo.
gEERs.

red young. There was 40 distinction Of rank,
and yery little of fortune. On these accounts
the first impression # love resulted in MAJ
rage; and family establishment cost hut 3
little .sbor, and nothing else. description
of q wedding, from the beginning to the end
will serve TO show tie manners Of our forefi
theirs. and mark the grade ci civilization whi.
has succeeded to their rude stste OF society j
the course of few years. At an early 'rioo
the practice Of celebrating the manlage
the house of the bride began. and. i sh"rl"
seem, with great propriety. She also had ih'
choice of the priest C., perform the ceremony
A wedding engaged the attention Of a wholr
neighb0rhood and the frOlic was anticipated
by old and young with eager expectation
This is not to be wondered al. when II is told
that wedding was almost the only gathering
which was not accompanied by the labor Of
reaping. log g-rolliag, building a cabin, or plan
ming some scout or campaign.
In the morning Of the wedding-day the
GROOM and his attendants assembled at th'
house of his father for the purpo'e of reach
ing the man sion of mis- bride by noon, which
was the usual time for celebrating the nup-
tials, which for certain must take place before
dinner.
Let the reader imagine an ssseubiage OF
people, without store, tailor, or mantaa
maker, within hun5rsd miles; and sn as
semblage Of horses, withoGt . blacksmith or
saddler within an equal distance The ger :
tlemen dressed in shoe packs, moocssins. lea
ther breeehes, leggins, linsey hunting shirts,
and all homemade. The ladies dressed IN
linsey petticoats, and linsey or linen bed
gowns, coarse shoes, stockings, handkerchiefs,
and buekslin gloves, If any. Ii there were
any buckles, rings, buttons, or Tuftes, they
were the relics Of old 'ime. family pieces,
from parents or grGnd-parents. The horses
with oil
or halters, and paek-saddles, with a bag or
blanket thrown over them; q rope or string
as often constituted the girtn as piece OF lea
ther.
The march, in double file, was often inter
rupted by the nSrrowncss and obstructiOns Of
our hoIse-patbs, as they we're called, for we
had no roads; and these difficulties were often
Increased, sometimes by the good, and some
times by the iIl-will Of neighbOrs, by falling
trees, and tying grape-vines across the way.
Sometimes IN ambuscade was formed by the
way-side, and IN unexpected discharge Of sew
eTai guns took place. 81 IS to cover the we'd
ding-party with smoke. Let the reader i'm
sine the scene which followed this discharge,
the sudden spring OF the horses the sarieks Of
the girls, and the chivairi; hustle of tGeir
partners to save them from falling. Some
times, in spite of ell that could be done TO
prevent it, some were thrown to the ground.
IL al
spr1ined, il was tied with handkerchief, and
little more was thought or said about it.
Another ceremony took place before the
party reached the house of the bride, after the
practice of making whisky. began. which was
an early period; when the party was about
mile from the place of their destination. Two
young men would single out ID Tun ,Vr the bot
tie; the worse The path, tie more logs, brush,
and deep hollOWs, the better. As these obsta-
al 1p1 an - Nv ff-
display of intrepidity anu hors, assship, The
LHglish 1ox chass, Ia point Of danger 10 ths
riders and their horses, is nothing to this race
for the bottle. The start was announced by
an Indian yell logs, brush, muddy hoIlows,
hill and glen, were speedily passed by the
rival ponies. The bottle was always SLED for
the occasion, so that there was no use for
judges; for the first who reached the door was
presented with the prize, with which he re-
turned in triumph to the company. On ap
preaching them, he announced his victory over
his rival by shrill who0p. At the head of
the troop he gave the bottle first 10 the groom
and his attendants, and then TO each pair in
succession to the rear Of the line, giving each
dram; and then putting the bottle in the
bosom of his hunting shirt, took his station in
the company.
The ceremony of the marriage preceded the
dinner, which was substantial backw aOds
feast, of beef, pork, fowls, and sometimes
ven1sOn and bear meat, roasted and boiled,
with plenty of potatoes, cabbage and other
vegetables. During the dinner the greatest
hilarity always prevailed. although the table
might be large slab OF timber. hewed cut
with broad'xe, supported 10y tour sticks set
In auger-bOles; and the furniture, some cid
pewter dishes and plates; the rest, wooden
bowls and tfencherS; n few pewter sp Ons,
much battered about the edges, were to be
seen at sUme tables The rcss we're made Of
horns. Ii knives were scarce, the deficiency
was made up by the see ping-knives which
were carried in sheaths suspe nded to the belt
OF the hunting-shiTt ..
After dinner the dancing commenced, and
generally lasted till the next morning The
figures Of the dances were three and four
handed reels, or square setts and ji.s. The
commencement Was always u square four,
which was followed By what was called liz
giDg it off; that is, two Of the four would sun
gle out tor jig. and were followed by the re-
naming couple. The jigs we're often accom-
panied by what was called cutting out; that
Is, when either of the parties become tired OF
the dance, on intimatIon the place was sup.
piled by some one Of the company without any
interruption of the dance. In this way a dance
was often continued until the musician was
heartily tired of his situation. Towards the
latter part OF the night, If any one of the COM
pany, through WEAKNESS, attempted to con-
ceal themselves, for the purpose of sleeping,
they were hunted up, paraded on the door,
and the fiddler ordered to play, Hang out
tall tomorrow morning"
About nine or ten O'clock a deputation of
the young ladies stole off the bride, and nut
her to bed. In doing this it frequently hap
pened that they had to ascend a ladder in
stead Of pair Of stairs, leading from the
dining and ballroom to the loft the door of
which was made of cIapboards, lying loose, |
and without nails. As the foot of the ladder |
was commonly behind the door, which was |
purposely opened for the occasion, and its |
rounds ut the inner ends we're well huBs with |
hunting shirts, pettieoats, and other articles |
of clothing, the candles being on the opposite |
side of the house, the exit Of the bride was |
noticed but by few. This done, deputation
of young men in like manner stole of the |
groom, and placed him snugly by the side OF |
his bride. The dance still continued; and ii |
seats happened 70 be scarce, which was often |
the case, every young man, when not engaged |
in the dance, was obliged to offer his lap as a |
seat for one of the girls; and the offer was |
sure TO be accepted. In the midst of this hill |
arity the bride and groom was not forgotten. |
Pretty late in the night some one would re
mind the company that the new couple must |