Smyrna times., 1872-07-31
MiSceIIU ~ e o. IL s.
Bridenaids.

least, the sight of bridemads at a wedding is a.
absolutely painful. 1t fills him with singular
satisfaction to that experienced by b
a sportsman when he sees cSvey of partridgeS
IN ripe distance for shot, judging their g
quality from the appearance of one lucklesS v
bird which had just been killed by brother b
sport Unheeding the fate of their companion (
the silly birds leisurely approach the scene of v
slaughter; and, unmindtul of the loss of . 7
sister, the giddy hridemadS flock in large num-
bers to a wedding-hock, alas as if they
courted death and sighed plamtively for the
sacrifice.
The ardor with which young ladies' strive for
secondary bridal honOrs is inexpcahle, save
on the theory of the association of ideas. To
the virginia. mind, a bridemaid suggests bride
as naturally as monkey suggests an organ
grinder There is science, TOO, in the associa-
tiOn-for, if Darwinism be true, monkey is as
likely to become an organ grinder as bride
maid to become bride. The scientific proba-
| bility is the same in both cases, and with that
alone are we accustomed to deal. Association
in fancy leads to association in fact and, al |
though the position per Sc is humble, as the |
| monkey by his antics amuSeS the bystanderS, |
the bridem&id, crushing for the time her pride, |
consents to lend animation to wedding.
Using the position as stepping stone to
higher things" the maiden give not thought
| to the time when that intel esting conSumma-
that she is bridenaid, to share in the illusion
and display of wedding as secondary and
not as yet primary cause.
AS bridemaids generally outnumber the bride
four to one-if the proportion be not larger
it is a question to us why bride will suffer
herself to be eclipsrd by her satellites in silk
For usually, so far as beauty is concerned,
she cannot be said to excel the galaxy of
maids who support her during the scene. She
; is timid and restrained they are bold and con-
fident. She is in tears at the thought of sepa
e ration from home they are jubiant, for their
{ horizon of happiness is still unclouded. She
E conceals her face beneath veil; they thrust
Il forward their countenances without the least
2 hesitation. She sighs they smile. She under
h goes the ceremony with the trepidation of "A
rs victim; they think it Is good fun, aud act ac'
% q cordingly. She has eyes for one alone, to whom
be she is bound for better, for worse ~; they
ss have eyes for Ill, and come only to see aud he
Of seen. These circumstances, however, do no
o. Interfere with the brides complacency-fo
he now she can look down upon them with ma
ns tronly air. and condemn their graces as girlisf
he and hlghty.
ne ns The mercuriSl temperature of society is fairl
q evidenced by the brIdemaid question. A
dse soon as Miss SiIlieton is annOuced to be en-
- | gagged, excitement sways the circle wherein
n. she moves All the young ladies' who hav
Of the pleasure of her acquaintance throng he
he house, smile upon her, and pour IN their con
&C. gratulations with fervur which threaten
,.a !. damage to the door bell, and to the temper
ne my lady's maid, who, forced to discharge tn
AZ. ha duties of nurse, waitress, and doorkrrper
? "a resents any increase In her duties without
su corresponding Increase in her wages. It
Sus5 bride. elect is IL danger of being overpowert
aid BY attention she never knew she had such
sss, sss host OF we'll wishers ooh you dear Mi
hs: .s: Sillieion" rapturou>ly excaims one. - Hu
he we'll you look y chimes in another. = new
s1, ,"r saw you prettier," asserts third. Do "
die spend your honeymoon in EurOpe?' asks
ssn fourth, when in fact she does not car" wheth
Ior y or the honeymoon be spent in Europe or in 9
'nu- moon. You ought TO be Congratulated
ira. giggIes fifth; Il never saw a handSOmer III
! his 10 in all my life-but you neednt be jealous
lca- As the last speaker is carroty- headed, NJ
p S'S of lieton assures her with much warmth tt
oaD, aD, she is not jealous.
ns. EIsE As compliments are cheap, the bride ell,
anes anSi meets her friends with much dignity; NJ
after they have gone, sets herelf compostdy
q or or work She is in a quandary. indeed. Afte
"uu spicy debate, in which all her family i"n
he the number of bridenaids had been finally
,sss s5,e duced to fve With tears in her eyes bad
y Of piteou,ly begged tor six, and family hin
on a1' at seven The family remained Obdurate,
%ss Ss"t: though Miss SllietOn vowed that IT she e
lain married again she would have eight. At [
e2eoi earTi defamation everybody but the bridegro
# ,,h.s .e appauded her wit. From the thirty yo'
iisits la les of her acquaintance are the i've to
male Sag s.lected and she Is Compelled TO canvass
ether claims Of each. IL she asks Miss Jones,
% %miS, a% negects Miss Smith, the latter will be
issue enemy for life if she snubs Miss Jones,
,sses.; will have to snub Miss Jones brother, VIII
es ,he rich broker and eligible pdrtt for her yo
III The sister, Just graduating from short dresses.
: pro- she sights Miss Smith there is no telling "
tsns ssIn might happen, for Smith, pere, wldower,
rights. retired coal merchant, and the bride 8 UNI
."b,. ried aunt would not hear of La Smith re
: MAJ, may ton. After delay of week, in which
their these matters are discussed, the bride se
mna both horns of the dilemma and accepts ~
OIy oi and Jones. Smith and Jones are accordi
herein happy: although the former cannot underSI
o. sns why Miss Sieton could select mink like
latter. and the latter cannot comprehend
on p b snI her dear friend could choose a child like
OF con. con. former. As Smith is twenty-six and >
snersl. twenty-eight, of course, relatively. Smith
osnds ssss child 10 Jones Miss Brown is chosen al
change third bridemaid she has seven brothers.
an se. AS the list narrows down, the brides
canal plexi,ies increases When il has become kr
H. are that all but two bridemaids have been sel"S
~ may young ladies' are reused to
Office; spirit of emulation. Recourse Is had to
ais se: tnre of vaIerian to quiet the nerves, ana
de. .bs ,ss Winsows soothing syrup is IN great dem
his set When the last two-Nlsses Jinks and WIN
VI '"'' have been chosen. and the bride, harasSe
grant - re- b.d a headache for a week. the
isR.%SS nerature falls to zero, and twenty five y
.i%iis1 sssis1 ladies' VOW never more to call La Sill
q thi: friend. Nay, they even wonder at wha
,oSor% unfortunate gentleman. who had no doubt
seuIred oeed into the match, could really see to ad
public in her, when they. her intimate comparn
sres ior saw everything to condemn In spite OF
mot be .saartions which were meant to 0VerWneiU
"s ,~ Oena. hr;de the bridemads have met in solemn
sr ss,st, caye The color Of the dresses the sy
provided the flaunces and ribbons have been du
= y iar, ss, ranged Society is in utter Of expects
and msy The caterer has been summoned. and ais
l'' - cook. Elaborate bouquets have been
ge chased and the stores ransacked for kid 81
hall be The bridemaids have determined to