Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-10-13

As with the bright Autumnal days comes the
season OF marriages. there sre consequent snx-
ietiess and frequent consultations amoug the
friendly 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 fJrsaken barbsr-
len that they no longer fought their wires like
cattle, but the two contracting parties entered
upon a mutual agreement to take egch other
for better for worse very much as those Of
modern nations do, and when the friends Of both
presented gifts as tokens Of their good viii and
desire TO see the young couple started in life
with as few Of its perpleIing cSres as possible
At least, this wss probably the originsl design,
but We fear the fashion soon degenerated, as H.
cur day, to a mere occasion for selfish display on
the part Of the giveTs for we read that smoug
the customary wedding presents Of the Greeks
we're drinking vessels, plates, vases, COMBS. anu
ointment boxes Of solid gold, aud elegantly orna
mented robes and sandals, besides more service
able articles, such as beds, c0uches and other
necesssries Of housekeeping. All these gifts
were carried in great state to the new home OF
the recipients by friends appointed for the pur-
pose, who doubtless commented freely upon the
Costumes Of the golden bowl presented by the
magnificent Agamemuon, or the mes- -erness Of
the besker sent by the prudent Ulysses, and
wondered that the rich Pentbeus had sent roth
ing, while Sperchius, who couldn't pay his hou-
est debts, was DO; ashamed to 0fCr such e,c-
rant and extensive n,ir Of sandals.
In our day. this custom has become one Of the
most onorous Of our social taxes. so that one a.
r,os- breads 10 hear of the apr-oscbinr mar
rage Of = friend. and examines with anxious
glance the show csses of Tiffany in the faint
hope Of discovering some silver article that may
A. once satisfy the demands Of Mrs. Grundv and
come within the limits of oue's funds. We may
know that those for whom We intend the glit
can much better afford its price than we, but we
fesr that we shall lose caste if we hesitate: so
with social cogarlice. which we trust exists III
10 other country, we Weld to custom, and de-
priye ourselves OF some much desired comfort.
" spend money which actually belongs to our
creditors.
As far as welding presents are the so5ntsne-
Gus offerings of real friendship, the custom IL
one much 10 be commended. but where is the
necessity for the gifts to be eterually Of silver or
jewelrv ? Nothing is 60 expensive. and scarcely
anything can be Of less household utility, while
many things are Of much more intrinsic beauty.
Emerson rays, Let each bring Of his owu the
poet his poem, the artlsi his picture etc but
both the poems and the pictures are Of their au-
tbor's proper substance, their business capital,
snd may be as disprop0l tionate gift rs If the
owner Of real estate brought deed Of his isnd,
or q banker offered his certificates Of stock
Besides. IS some one has remarked. suppose oue
numbered twenty poets among ones friends, aui
each brought his tribute
But silvar.at the rate Of eighteen pairs ofsal.-
cellars and half a dozsn teaspoons, forty-sirlt
berry spoons and s'x forks. tsenty-four eravv
ladies' snd no knives, each article rendered IN
transferable by the carefully engraved name of
the unfortunat rccipieut,e has become AZ Rctual
nuisance Why is it 70 rare 20 iui the stanu o.
the givers individuality upon sny OF the articles
thar load the brides display tsbesy | once al
tended welding where were DISPLAYED more
thsa four hundred costly silver articles, but the
one evidently most pleasing to the true-hearted
woman 10 whom they were given was asmau
cross made Of the mingled hair Of her pastor sud
hi wife, inslosed in g simple ease
" All - fsil she, II shall co love 70 Look at it
1t seems part Of Themselves - q
This bride WAS one % whom gifts we're Use,-ss
save for the sake OF friendship or fashion but
there are very many % whom the utility ola
present greatly enhances ITS value. Therefore 1
venture to oifsr lew suggestions 10 those who
may nov 0c revolving in their minds the ques-
ton, " has il the w0sli shall we gat for send
SOS Welding"
Ia the first place, il would be vel to consider
the circumstances Of the groom and bride. VIII
they proceed directly to hoJss keeping. or-de- .
tettable thought will they board? will they
live in the city or countryg Have they COM .
petence. or must they struggle 10 keep their
herds out ofthe sea VI debt. Have they literary
and ,gstbetic tsstes. or are they sof The earth.
earthvg"
For those intending to keep house vho have,
Il not a super fiuity, yet enough 10 insure com
fort, snd are people Of taste and culture, there
are articles Of beauty and utility, ranging in .
price from the 5000 painting and $4,000 pia-
10, down to the - chrome, embracing almost
every thing Of combined beauty aad use n the .
household for certainly an eleraut and sery.cea-
bic piece of furniture il as appropriate aud fir .
more generally ornamental an uggestive a wed r
than ANYTHING Of silver pretty
bookcase or cabinet. a carved table. beautiful .
picture (aad thanks to good encravings, chro- .
mos and photographs. We need not nov sDenl A