The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-10-30
BRIDAL CUSTOMS.
swedes ana Algerlncs.

IeNehulS Deiorc Tue Weuulng, ana broad
bean dropped into It, which, like the ring
in the bride"cake with us, denotes that the
young man or woman to whom Il falls will
be the next married after the bride. The
universal Weddmg-dress Is black silk and
the bride Is frequently attired by the chief
ladies In the neighborhOod. II is not con-
siderod right for the bride to make her own
garments, every stitch she puts in standing
for tear; nor must she wear pearls, which
signify also weeping, but all other orna-
ments, and as many of them as may be,
are desirable. The s'bride's crown" "A
large silver-gilt crown with a tuft of feath-
ers, tall enough to sweep the ceiling, he
longs to the parish, and Is hired out for the
occasion ON the requirement of the bride
being an honest and virtuous woman
This crown is fixed on a sort of cushion.
land firmly placed on the head though 1t
must of necessity be danced off during the
evening. Female friends Of the bride are
stationed at all conceivable hooks and cor
ners to give noti7e of the bridegroom ap-
lproaeh; nor DO they mind how long they
may have to wait provided only they can
secure to her the first view, which is sup
posed to give her the mastery, especially If
she can see him through the ring. The
lguests assemble at the brides house In the
afternoon, aud partake OF coffee and rusks.
the contributions of some of the guests
weak tea is drank, later in the day, not be-
ed fashionable.
The clergyman arrives, and after he. too.
has been RECALLED with coffee. the marriage,
ceremony commences. the young couple
standing under an iuiprovised canopy, us,l-
ally formed of Il large shawl which Is held
over their heads by four unmarried people.
Superstition cautions the bridal pairagainst
allowing any ligh6 coming between them
during the ceremony, but they should in
cline their heads toward each other. Should
the wedding ring be too small, it bodies a
great misfortune. "A soon as the ceremony
is concluded the bride dances a polka with
the clergyman, and afterwards with all the
men--the bridegroom, on his side, dancing
with all the women. Dancing continues
the whole night through. with int I, lis for
lesser refreshments and the great sIbstan-
tial banquet.
| Between the courses of pork, beef pike
and mutton the heaths Of all are drunk
from the clergyman and the bridal couple
down to the woman who washes the dishes,
the guests having come provided with their
own tlagons. The brides father also in-
forms the company Of the various articles
of his daughters dowry. Amer the sub
stantial courses of meat aud fish comes the
pastry, this being the contribution of the
guests who have brought with them gigan-
tic pyramidal tarts composed of layers oi
pastry and preserves, each worth about fen
| anu lllN Ilit Is lllal everybody
must taste everybody else's, otherwise IL
would be slight People having already
eat N enough of the former dishes for a
week, the womens large white linen
pocket handkerchicts. hitherto kept coilcd
| up in their hands as M appendage to their
costume. now come into requisition, and ic
| they cannot eat the pieces of tart them
selves, as indeed it would be wonderful if
they could, they can carry them away IN
their handkerchieis. A large uocket, too
is requisite, az well as plenty of money!
for the fiddlers have to be paid by the
guests The tlddling is kept up while the
wedding-teast is eaten, when n plate goes
round for the musicians, Resides fiddling
indoors there Is no end of firing outside. a
supply of gunpowder being laid in for the
occasion. When the. great banquet is mt
length concluded, the dishes, with their
half devOured joints and other fragments.
are showed under presses and beds, the
table taken out, and again dancing COM
mences. and continues until the brides
crown is danced on In some cases, how
ever, all the girls dance around, the bride
in ring, and she being blinded takes off
her crown and places 10 on the head of one
the girls, the one, of course, who Is to be a
bride next after her. 7,eelpe Months ,sith
| Efedrikd BreBieF ia lStcedeR.
| Moorish ladies are usually married AT
thirteen; and | was informed, saws a tray
eler, of some curious particulars by am
| English lady, who was present at one of
| lthese marriages, the families on both sidas
being of the highest Moorish birth. The
young lady was very lovely. and under the
age have mentioned above. The company
of ladies (headed by her mother) amount
ing In all 10 upward of sixty, among whom
were my informant and few French In
dies, surrounded the bride, whose head as
usual, was wrapped in sack and led her
a few hours after dark. to her future home
where they were received by the mother
and female relations Of the bridegroom.
The poor child, weeping bitterly, was
then nndressed, carried by her attendants
into n bed, where she was commanded tn
sleep for an hour or two. while they ATE
their supper, The European ladies were
then served apart with coffee. cakes, and
confectionery; while the Moorish ladies.
(some ofthem very beautifully were closely
seated in circle on an immense low cush-
ion, and on their knees long napkin.
which extended round the whole party.
In the center was a low circular table which
moved on pivot, and on which the slnves
placed one dish at time, out of which each
lady took q monthfnl with her fingers, and
with slight touch made the dish reyolve
to her next neighbor. The dishes succeed
ed one another. 10 the number of more than
twenty, when the whole was carried OF,
aud at eleven a slight reireshment was ta-
ken to the bride. after which the ceremony
of dressing her commenced. Every lady
present was requested 60 take some slight
part in this operation. and my English
friends consisted In plating one of an i'm
mensc number Of little tresses into which
her long black hair was divided. with a
diamond trembling &C the end of each.
Her face was then enameled, and a star
Of gold-leaf fixed on each cheek, ms well as
on her chin and the tip OF her nose. Rows
of the finest pearls Were hung around her
meek, increasing in sse till tile lower row
reached to her waist,Nand which Were of the
size OF small nuts. Her dress was of cloth
ot-silVer, with the usual muslin trowsers,
and SORT OF crown OF diamonds on her
head. by two o'clock In the morning All
was ready aud the room prepared, when
the ilnishing stroke was put to the whole
by cumming dawn her ewes, which were
not 10 be opened until the following morn
ing, when she might see her husband and
not till then. At two o'clock the slaves in
troduced the bridegroom, a handsome
youth OF nineteen. dressed In pale gray
silk, proinseiy ornamented with silver
diamonds, lie took his place under a cam
\ opy' TO which the bride was also guided by
her mother, and placed by his side, His
4 urnf her then nUfffal a f,r,t.N .l,.,..s = -.