The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-10-21
Wed2i7Ig Presents.


season of marriages, there are consequent ankle
ties and frequent consultations among the freind-
ly circles of each happy pair upon the subject OF
wedding presents. The custom of offering gifts
TO the newly welded dates from the day when
men had SO far forsaken barbarism that they no
lcnger bought their wives like cattle but the two
contracting parties entered upon a mutual agree
ment to takes2ach- -sther .for better, for worse"
very much as those of modern nations do, and
whei tue finds OF both presented gifts as tokens
of their goodwill aud desire TO see the young
compile started in life with as few of its perplexing
cares as possible At least, this was probably
the original design, but we fear the fashion soon
degeuerated, as in our day, to mere occasion
for selfish display on the part o; the givers; tor
we read that among the customary wedding
presents of the Greeks were drinking vessels,
plates, vases, combs, and ontmeut-boxes of solid
gold, and elegantly ornamented robes and san
dals, besides more servceaole articles, such as
beds couches, and other uecessaries OF house
keeping. All of these gifts were carried in great
state to the new home OF the recipients by friends
appointed for the purpose, who doubtless COM
mened freely upon the costumes of the golden
bowl presented by the magnificent Agamemnon,
or the meagerness Of the beaker sent by the pru-
den; ULYSSES, and wondered that the rich Penthe-
US had sent nothing, while Sperchius, who
couldn't pay his honest debts, was mol ashamed
to offer such elegant and expensive pair OF
sandals.
in our day this custom has become OF the most
onerous OF our social taxes, so that one almost
breads % hear of the approaching marriage Of a
friend, ard examines with anxious glance the
showcase OF Tifauy in the raint hope of discov-
ering some silver article that may at once satisfy
the demands OF Mrs Grundy and come within
the limits Of ones funds We may know that
those for whom we intend the gift can much bet
ter afford its price than we, but we fear we shall
lose caste if we hesitate; SO, with social cow
ardice, which we trust exists in no other country,
we yield to custom, and deprive ourselves of
some much-desired comfort, or spend money
which actually belongs TO our creditors.
AS far as wedding presents are the spontaneous
offerings of real friendship, the custom is one
much to he commended but where is the neces-
sty for the gifts 10 be eternally Of silver or jewel
ry2 Nothing is so expensive, and scarcely any
thing can he of less household utility, while many
things are OF much more intrinsic beauty. Emer-
son says, Let each bring Of bis own the poet
his poem, the artist bis picture" ETC.. but both
the poem and the pictures are of their authors
proper substance, their "business capital and
mav he as dspropprtionstea gift ssifthe owner of
r. al estate brought deed OF his land, or a bank
er Offered his Certificates of stock" B,sides, as
some one has remarked, suppose one numbered
twenty poets among ones friends, and each
brought his tribute
But silver, at the rate OF eighteen pairs of salt
cellars and half dozen teaspoons, forty-eight
berry spoons and six forks twenty-four gravy
ladies and 10 knives, each article rendered un.
transferable by the carefully engraved name Of
the unfortunate recipient, has become an actual
nuisance. Why is it SO rare to find the staWp of
the giver's individuality upon any of the articles
thai Ioad the brides display-tables? | once at
tendel wedding where were displayed more
TIN a'. a-.rt.l s'lS-si,ver aftices but the
evidently most pleasing to the truehearted woman
to whom they were given was small cross made
Of the mingled hair of her pastor and his wife,
inclosed in a simple case.
''Ah l'' said she, ~ shall so love to look at it
it seems part of themselves ~
This bride was one to whom gifts were useless
save for the sake Of friendship or fashion, but
there are many to whom the untility OF present
greatly enhances its value. Therefore | venture
to offer few suggestions to those who may now
be revolving in their minds the question, "What
in the world shall we get for So-aud SOS we'd
ding?'
In the FIRST place, it would be we'll to consider
the circumstances of the groom and bride. viii
they proceed directly to housekeeping, or-de-
lestable thought will they board Will they
live in the city or country? Have they compe-
UeQte. Ut MuSl lucy SlluSRlC W hSSp lHCiI HSt-uo
out Of the sea of debt? Have they literary and
aesthetic tastes, or are they of the earth, earthly 2?
For those intending to keep house who have if
not ii superfuity, yet enough to insure comfort,
and are people Of taste and culture, there are
articles of beauty and utility, ranging in price
from the FIVE thousand dollar painting and two
thousand dollar piano, down to the i've dollar
chrome, embracing almost everything of com
bined beauty and use in the household for GER
tainly an elegant and serviceable piece OF furni-
ture is as appropriate and far more generally or
namenta and suggestive wedding-pr sent than
ANYTHING OF silver pretty book ease or cabinet,
a carved table, beautiful picture land thanks
to good engra wings, chromos, and photographs,
we need not now spend fortune to secure one
that if not an artists masterpiece, shall yet be
pleasing, a graceful bracket, an elegant vase,
volume Of prints a dainty edition of a fag0rite
author a sweet-voiced clock, graceful flower
stand of wire or rustic work, cage of singing or
gaily plumaged birds, well-stocked aquarium,
a small and interesting group-either OF simple
plaster or more costly marble, so that il is good
of it's kinda small but we'll chosen and fragrant
collection Of window plants deliciously lazy
sofa or a softly cushioned easy y-chair-any OF
these things may bring the donor pleasantly and
hourly to mind. So, too, would such more
homey but equally desirable ones as a sewing
machine, valuable work Of reference, or even
don't start, my DEAR ii is quite true-a washing
machine. wriuger, weighing scales, an array of
irst-class cooking utensils, or set Of tdys gar
dening tools. Neither are beds and ladding at
all despicable presents, and sheets, pIlow-slips
"tidies," bureau covers bed-spreads ETC., may
be made quite ornamental if one chooses.
But silver Oh don't, my friends, don't =
Let the immediate relatives, those who con-
suit about the matter, decide among themselves
about the necessary spoons and forks hut never,
never DO you, outsiders" old schoolmates,
society friends, or whatever you are, disgrace
your taste by having aught 10 do with it.-HedrM