The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-11-29
How the Ancient Romans Married.

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more or less interested
In these days Of rapid strides" and
still more rapid marriages, there is but
ono way Of getting married, and that is,
get married as soon as you can. Bnt the
Romans seem to have had three different
methods of marrying. lst The Usus
marriage, marriage by usage or prcScrlp-
tion, which was when a woman by con-
sent of her parents or guardians, lived
with man an entire year-thus she be-
came his lawful wife by prescription. If
she abSented herself from the house three
nights during the year, it failed 10 be a
union. The 2nd was tGe con frrreatiO
| This was the most solemn form Of mar
%Rers ~ ), oman was said to COVE
into possession or power Of her husband
by the sacred laws. BY this law they
were joined in wedlock by the Pon.ifex
MaXimus, the High Priest. in tn presence
Of no less than ten Witnesses. A part of
the ceremony was for the bride and groom
to taste cake made Of salt, water and
flour, called Far. and hence the name
con feireatio. The Sd was cormptio, which
was kind Of mutual purchase. The man
"'''i "'i'hth SHfO ChNI bbhSt u IiCNC WI
money, repeating certain words. The
man asked the woman if she were willing
to becNmS the mistress of his family, the
answer being in the affirmative. In like
manner the woman intcrrogated the man,
receiving similar answer
Thus we have the different methods of
marrying among the Romans. No young
man or woman could marry against the
consent Of the parents or guardians. At
! ter the parti's wishing to be nari icd'eX
pressed their desires, the friends Of the
same held meeting, usually at the house
Of the woman'S father, or nearest relation,
to settle the articles OF marriage contract.
! which were writtcn on tablet and sealed.
| The name Of this contract was SpOnSaia,
cSpOusals; the man aIfianced was called
SponSuS, the woman Sponsa. Also
dowry was promised, to he paid down on
the wedding day, or afterwards, usually
at three separate payments. On this oc-
caSion, likewise, there was feast and
the Sponsus gave SponSa ring, by way
Of pledge. The ring vas worn on the
finger next the least Oh the left hand,
since they believed that nerve extended
theEcc to the heart. At this time, also,
the day was fixed for the marriage, and in
doing this, care was taken to select one
considered lucky or fortunate. The most
fortunate time was the middle Of the
month Of June. Finally, the appointed
day arrives, aud the bride is adorned with
n long white robe, bo"dercl with purple
fringe, or embroidered ribbons, which was
bound around the waist with girdlc
made OF wool and tied ia knot. This
i knot none but the groom dare opcn. The
brides face was also covered with Il red
veil to denote her modcsty her hair di-
viled into six locks, aud crowned with
ilOWcrS-hcr shoes of the same colpr as
erycil. The ceremony always took place
in the evening and at the house of the
brides father or nearest relation.
Before the marriage was celebrated the
auspices were consulted, and sacrifices
offered to the gods, especially Juno, the
! goddess Of wedlock. The sacrifice offered
was sheep of two years of age, and the
gall was taken out and thrown away, to
indicate the exclusion Of everything bitter
from the proposed union. The bride was
then taken As il were, by force, from the
arms OF her mother or nearest relative
Indicative perhaps Of h.r sorrow to leave
her home, and conducted to the house of
her husband. Sac was attended BY three
boys, one bearing Aambran Of pine CT
thorn, in advance Of her Maid rvnnts
followed with diStatt, a spindle and wonI,
intimating that She was to labor at spin
ling. n fifth boy carried in n covered
vase the brides utensils, and plaything>
for children. \ great many relatives and
friends attended the nnptialS, and MS they
passed along, the boys repeated jrsts and
raillcrirS. The door ami door-postS OF
the b'ilegroom's house were decorated
with leaves and flowers, and the rooms
with tapestry. The bride was lifted over
the threshold, or gently stepped over it,.
1t waS thought ominouS t. touch it with
her feet, since it was held sacred to NYsta,
the goddess Of Virgins. A sheep skin
was spread out before her, on which she
stepped, when the bridegroom immediate,
y presented her with the keys Of the
house, thus showing that the manage
ment Of the family was in her hands -
Both now touched fire and water as n
symbol of purity and nuptial fidelity. On
this occasion the husband gave feast to
his relations and friends, and to those OF
the bride and her attendants MuSicirnS
also attended, who sang the bridal songs.
After supper the bride was conducted
to her bed chamber by matronS who had
been married only once, and laid on the
nuptial couch which was magnificcntly
adorned. Young women sung marriage