Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-06-01
fftlllollt Ggoufllal
pIARRIAGRs IN SCOTLAND.


There are several curious customs still
used in Scotland in regard to marriages,
especially in remote districts. The friends
of the bridegroom assemble at his resi-
dence and proceed to that of the bride,
where the clergyman meets them, and the
ceremony is performed. They then pro-
ceed in procession, preceded by fiddler,
to the future residence of the young couple.
All the young men present start off at full
speed on foot or horseback, as the case may
be, and the one who first reaches the fu-
ture home of the happy couple is
said to have won the broose, and is enti-
tied to salute the bride on her arrival; and
we believe originally was entitled to some
refreshment out of the ksilpot prepared for
the approaching party. On the arrival Of
the marriage party, fdrle OF oat cake Z.
e., the quarter of circle into which this is
generally cut) is broken over the brides
head. Then the person in charge of the
house presents her with pair of tongs as
the symbol of her future right to rule over
the household. The latter custom is not,
however, necessarily performed on the day
of marriage, if the maiden home of the
bride is at a distance from her future resi-
dence. but on her first arrival thereat In
some large towns, such as Edinburgh, the
custom Of throwing money to the crowd is
still continued, with this difference, that it
is not done by the bridegroom himself, but
after the happy couple have driven of
As soon as they have departed, generally
followed by volley of old slippers, and
satin dancing shoes thrown after them for
luck. the crowd raise the cry of Poor cot,
(Anglice, Pour out, which is responded
to by shower of coppers from the win
dows-a proceeding which leads to an
amusing scramble, in which we have seen
members of the police force most actively
assist, and carry off no small share of the
s1oot.n Another curious custom is that OF
washing the bridegroom's feet on the even
ing before the marriage day; but that'has
now become almost obsolete.
The following characteristic anecdote of
DR. Franklin is not SO ReO as tits good: :
During the long residence of DR.. Frank
lin in Paris he was once invited to par
ty of the nobility, by whom the Bible was
ridiculed and severely criticised. 1twas
remarked that the Bible was devoid of all
literary merit; and Franklin being silent,
they appealed to him for his opinion. He
replied that he was hardly prepared to give
them an answer, as his mind had been
running on the merits of new book of
rare excellence, which he had just happen
ed to fall in with at one of the book stores
and as they had pleased to make allusiOn
to the literary character of the Bible, per-
haps it might interest them to compare
with the old volume the merits of his new
prize. If so, he would read them short
section.
All were eager to hear the Doctor read
them a portion of his rare book. In a
very grave and sincere manner he took an
old book from his coat pocket and with
propriety Of utterance read to them a
poem.
The poem had its effect. The admir-
ing listeners pronounced it the best they
had ever heard or read.
'sThat is pretty" said one.
''That is sublimity," ;" said another.
at has not its superior in the world,
Nas the unanimous opinion. They all
wished to know the name of the work,
and whether that was speciman of its
contents.
Certainly, gentlemen" said the Doctor,
smiling at his triumph, "my book is full
of such passages 1t is no other than
your good-for-nothing Bible, and. l have
read you the prayer of the prophet Habak-
kuk."