Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-15
sTLEcTEp MISCELLANY
ADVICE 40 YOUNG LADIES.
Fashionable weddings.
BY LUCIA GILBERT CALHOUN.
from the New York LedeeT.l

When ''the Butterfly married the
Bumble-bee, and all the world went
thither to see," as set forth in lyric
dear to the ears of infancy, she COM
mitted two follies which have been q
pestiIent example ever since. She mar
ried the wrong man. and sue married
him In the wrong way.
Every day OF this enlightened year of
oars her pretty and purposeless kind
red may, can, might, could, would and
will do the same thing. On the Fifth
avenue, IN the side streets, "below
Blocker" in the suburbs, all over the
land. up stairs, down stairs, and in the
lady's chamber, Miss Butterfly pre-
figures to herself tie conquest of MIR.
Bumble-bee. the bridal glories of Mrs.
Bumbie-bee, the sdmlring gaze of the
world come thither to see.
One bitter day last winter Serena
came to see me- Now Serena was not,
even In her maiden estate, of the But
terflY blood, or proclivities. She is
simple, truthful, good little woman. She
entertained me with the news of the
hour. ''Miss Rose was to be married in
the Church OF the Eleven Thousand Vir-
gins on Tuesday" But" said. "Miss
Rose does not worship in the Church
of the Eleven Thousand Virgins. -
'No," answered the fair Serena, calm
" settling her bracelets, "out great
many brides choose TO be married there,
because the broad aisle 0ices sUch splen-
did slreep TO their tram, you know
They do look so much more stylish
there than in a little, narrow, tucked
mp place, such as most of the churches
are. 1t brings us good many brides,
and it helps to uphold the church,
which it is oar duty to do" Now, this
good and tender little woman did not
know that she had uttered monstrous
aud abhorrent sentiment. Do you
know it, Rirls2
A bride comes hither to breathe her
VOWS, not because the groined roof
springs strong and beautiful and un.
changing above her, the symbol of the
over-srching presence and providence
of God; not because the nave is sweet
with the fragrance Of a million prayers;
not because the Lord Is in his holy
temple, with blessing for his little
child; not because marriage is the pro-
foundest experience of humanity, a
miracle more marvellous than birth, a
mystery more solemn than death, and
to be celebrated in coDsecrated places;
but because the church holds many
people, and the aisle displays volu-
minous train, and the rings on the
bridal fingers may glitter bravely, and
the bells on the bridal toes may ring
noisily, and the cost of the bridal dress
may strike dumb with amszement and
admiration any gaping idler of the
town, whom the open doors have at
sracted to free exhibition
And are the twain who compose the
pageant made one flesh by this stately
ceremonial? Not at ali. Miss Butter
fy is Miss Butterfly still, in purpose,
in plan, In essence. She has a little
larger liberty of actions house of her
own, perhaps; more clothes than she
has ever CHANGED to possess at any one
time; and an interest in the bank ac-
count of MIR. Bumble-bee. vice Butter
Hv, senior, declined. Mr.. BumbIe-bee
has a permanent housekeeper-a pos.
sible mother OF his children, radiant
lady IN very expensive toilets-to sit
beside him at church, at the opera, at
dinner parties. She has her gossips
still, and he his clubs; she has her
coupe, and he his drag; she reads Miss
Braddon, and he the sporting paper
She STAYS late at dancing parties. and
he fills the time with billiards: and they
call this condition of things marriages
Yet they are conscientious people.
They break no commandment save that
one which underlies all others; to love
each other as themselves. They do as
the world of fashion does. They never
guessed that Romeo and Julie had any
existence outside the story book. They
never heard of the great Epglishman,
Stuart Mill, who when his wife died,
felt that the strength of his life was
gone, and said that all the worth OF his
work had come from her Inspiration
and help. They could not comprehend
what Dicky Stcele mean, when he said
of Lady Hastings, "Po love her was a
liberal education"
Now, that last paragraph is not from
the purpose, as it may seem. mean
TO say that q marriage which is farce
will follow q wedding which is sham
Nor is it the solemnization in church
alone which is painful. It is almost as
bad at home For three brides who
can oford the display which fashion
demands, thirty will achieve it who
have not the means to pay. who must
bOEHOh ShC h1OncSs VI dCScpt ls Dc Il
gift, or meanly screw and pinch to save
tfrom some really necessary outlay
The first method of supply is lie; the
second is degradation; the third is
meanness; aud each is an extrava-
GAUGE
Self-respect is too dear a price to nav
for wedding silk and vevet cloak: and
ii the girl does not know that she is
paying in that @, silly coin, bat puts the
reckoning by, ten times the worse for
heIi know young women who had
elaborate trousseaus, and whose moth.
e1s went without fit under-clothes.
without thick Loots, in shabby gloves.
in battered and soiled hoops, whose
tables were meagre. whose charities
were none, whose little needful Jour
neys and visitings were stopped fol
years Of their shortening lives, in con
sequence. There was no harm in the
girls. They were sorry that they had
not money enough to make these sac
rifices unnecessary; they we're sorry 60
have their mothers pinched; but it new.
er occurred TO them that hey could 90
without brides allowed allotment.
What other girls bad, they must have.
Beside, Adolphus must not be ashamed
of his wife, they reasoned never see-