Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-02
Publisher and Proprietor,
BRIDES AND BRIDAEs.
The Origin of Honeymoon Trips
and Cards.

The modern honeymoon trip had its
birth in the very last days OF George H.,
and became q recognized bridal institu-
| ton in the aristocratic world in the
earlier years OF George HIS reign. But
many years passed before modest gem
ltfefolks in the middle ranks Of life pre-
sumed to initiate their betters in respect
to this convenient custom. The change
Of usage was, however, so agreeable to
lovers of both sexes that the new fashion
became yearly more general; 80 that, by
the end of the last century, it was unu-
sual for bride, having the slightest
claim to gentility, to pass the evening OF
her wedding day under her father roof.
The trip became an indispensable part
of every nuptial celebration, even in
the grades of country town "respecta-
bility;" and, on arising from the bridal
banquet the bride went off, as q matter
of course, for tranquility and change of
scene, in the carriage, after which the
wedding guests sent yolley Of slippers.
On returning from her tour, she went
without parade to her home, instead of
being being sSsdrcted thither, in the ohsolete
fashion, by disarderly cavalcade or a
numerous band of pedestrians.
In the first two decades Of the present
century, the honeymoon trip OF a mar
ried couple, who, though of gentle quail.
lity. were too busy or thrifty to think of
spending much time or money on a ro.
mantle excursion, seldom exceeded ten
days or fortnight. The London mer-
chant or lawyer took his London bride
to Bath or Tlnbridge, Wells or Brighton,
for seven or eiget days, and, on return
inc to town, she entered her new home
in Finsbury Circus or Guildford street,
feeling herself to have seen much Of her
native land. The country clergyman
or provincial doctor took his spouse for
as short a time to London, to see the
marks and theaters, st. Pauls and the
Tower; and, on crossing the threshold
of her future abode, thp ypnpg wife felt
that she had seen as much Of the world,
outside her own proper neighborhood as
she ought to Yish to see for the next
twenty years.
Easily accessible from London and
the southern counties, before the rail
way and steamboat had brought Ryde
within two hours Of the Strand, the Isle
of Wright gained the renown for being
the fayorite haqnt Of newly married
couples, as soon as the honeymoon trip
had become q universal incident of we'd
lock in our gentle ranks. And, to af-
| ford suitable accommodation for spouses
desirous of passing the first days OF
their matrimony in retirement and
charming scenery, spectators built in
the choicest spots of the lovely island
those attractive honeymoon hotels, such
as the Sandrlck and Shanklin inns
ivy and myrtle covered tenements, par
titioned into little pigeon-hole sitting
rooms and bedrooms-in which proud
boys and happy girls still delight to bill
and coo in blissful unconcern OF every
thing but loye But, in these later years,
the increasing facilities for travel have
caused the majority of our spouses to
regard the trip to the nearest Of our
chanrel islands as too tame and unad-
venturous for the happy pair who have
time and money for run to the Eyre
nees, Switzerland, or the Italian lakes
Honeymoon trips having become the
fashion. il was soon found convenient to
announce TO the brides friends the time
when her tEik waHla terminate, and she
would be happy TO reeeiFe thelr eengsat-
ulations under her own roof To do this,
| in order that well-wishers of a newly
married lady should be spared the troHble
of journeying prematurely, to her door,
only to learn that she had not yet
entered her appointed home, social
reiormef intfogHcsd the practice of dis
tributing wedding cards, that, besides
declaring the fair sender's change Of
name stated the particular days in which
she would sat ip state, to receive her
callers and regale them vith vinp and
Eadding cake. In the days Of our grand
mothers a brides npptiEi card was always
an invitstion to . banquet of aWeetmeats,
as well as en snnouneement Of her mar
iriRge and future residence. In the
course of the last forty years fashion has
been notably caprieious and ebangeful
wiz respect to wedding cards aud bridal
receptions. She abolished successfully
the feast Of sweetmests and The ceremO-
nious call on one Of several stated days.
Then. for q while, she declared that a
brides cards skopld merely state
her abode, aud the time atteT
which she would be at home TO
callers Fortunate enough to hnd her
there. She next ordained that the bri-
dal placard should say nothing about
the sender's home should not even
give its address. II should be a single
undated card, sent in q plain envelopei
/ Il should be a contrivanee Of Two psrds
| Joined together with silver thread; Il
] should consist Of two ordinary calling
cards-one Of the sender's, and the other
her eroom's. Having invented half a