The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-25
ECCENTRIC WEDDINGS.
STRANGE MATRIMONIAL CUSTOMS IN ENG
LAND.

STRANGE MATRIMONIAL CUSTOMS IN ENG.
Some three or four weeks ago, the
blissiul serenity of the Yorkshire vii
lage of Horbury, was somewhat rudely
interrupted by certain grotesque pro-
ceedings in connection with "Nuts
Wedding Day." The individual popu-
| larly known as "Nut," is a Horbury
man, who follows the calling, of boatman,
and, about three weeks previous to his
marriage, he began courting one Of his
| female acquaintances, the 'askings," as
the banns are locally designated, being
| "put up'' on the same day that the court
ship began, and the wedding taking
place on the morning following the third
| time of asking. So far there was moth
| ing unusual in the proceedings, but a
boatman's wedding like those of more
exalted personages, is not an everyday
occurrence, anu Nuts friends determin-
ed that the traditional rights and cere-
monies connected with such occasions
should be faithfully observed.
Accordingly, at five O'clock on the
morning Of the wedding day, a number
of musicians, accompanied by large
crowd of villagers, proceeded to the res
|
they played sacred airs. After this there
was q substantial breakfast, at which
Nut, his intended ana large number of
friends were present, the etiquette GUS
tomary on such occasion being faithful
| ly observed. Breakfast over, a commO-
dious dray made its appearance in the
street, the vehicle being provided with
seats for the wedding party. Among the
occupants were twelve men wearing
cooked hats, and profusely adorned with
paper stars, roses and streamers. And
The end of the dray was large crimson
banner, the horses drawing the vehicle
being gayly caparisoned. In this style
the wedding party proceeded to public
house near the church where they de-
scended from the conveyance and walk
ed to the sacred editice. Hero the wear
ers OF the cooked hats, together with the
bearer of the crimson banner, were re-
fused admittance, and the wedding cer-
emony, despite several unseemly inter-
ruptions, was performed during their abb
sence. OF the saturnalia which sue
ceeded the return OF the wedding party
from the church, the less said the better;
it was not thing OF which the friends
of the English working man could feel
proud. ..
ever, of very usual occurrence. There
is scarcely clergyman in any part OF
the United Kingdom, especially IN the
manufacturing districts, who cannot re-
late sumo curious incidents or obser-
yances in connection with certain we'd
dings at which he oficiated. Some few
Years ago somewhat picturesque pro-
cession might have met in one OF the
most densely populated parts OF the
metropolis. 1t consisted of dozen
couples, headed by q newly-married
pair, who were returning from the
church in which the wedding ceremony
had been performed. The members ol
the procession were profusely adorned
with artificial flowers, the men wearing
| garlands round their hats, while in front
of the bride and bridegroom marched the
ing something Ikea small Maypole. Up
on inquiry, it appeared that the husband
and wife, as, we'll as their friends, were
artificial floWer-makers. On another
occasion the clergyman was astOnished
| at finding an old tin coffee pot forming 6
| prominent object in the wedding process
sion, which slowly marched down one
of the aisles toward the channel.
Still more astonished was the worthy
minister when, the wedding ceremony
ever, the whole of the party kneal
down. and, with the antiquated coffee
pot in their midst, sang hymn o
| thanksgiving. AT first he began TO en-
tertain grave doubts respecting thei
sanity, but a few words OF explanation
speedily set his mind at rest. 1t ap
pears that, after the death of the bride
groom's father, man of most eccentri,
habits, no traces could be discovered o
some money which he was known t.
have saved. Unwilling to marry hi
sweetheart until he was enabled to pro
Il vide home for her, the sc determined
| to proceed to America to seek his for
tune, and with that view began cleanin.
out the new articles of furniture left hin
by his father. Among these was an oil
coffee-pot, which be Kicked contemptu
ously from him. In so doing the lid fel
off, and a sovereign rolled out. This lei
to an examination of the contents OF thu
despised utensil, which were found Il
consist of bank notes and coin to th
amount of nearly 5000. or course ther,
was no more talk Of going to America
and as for the. cotfee-pot, it came TO b.
regarded as precious heirloom.
The butcher fraternity were formerl.
notorious for the noisy manner in whicl
they celebrated the wedding Of one o
their number, and there are many peo
pie who can yet remember the grotesqu'
spectacle of a butchers wedding process
sion, headed by a score of stalwar
butchers lads, creating most territi
din with the aid of cleayers and marrow
bones. These professions have becom
things of the past, but the marrow
bones and cleayer concerts are still per
formed in front of the residences of new
ly-married couples, to the frantic rage O
all who reside within hearing of the I'm
earthly noise.
The London dustmen were at one tim
a ralher numerous and power ful body
and The marriage Of one Of their bod
was celebrated in peculiar fashion, tn
now obsolete hand-bells used by them be
ing called into active requisition. O
one occasion a procession OF dust-carts
filed with women and children attire'
in holiday clothing, and preceded b,
half dozen instrumental performers
accompanied the bridal party on thei
way to church.
But the use of bells In connection wit
marriage celebrations was most frequen
in Lancashire, where campanology ha
long formed popular form Of amuse
ments, and 1t is related OF one newly
welded campanoiogist that he and hi
bride were nearly driven mad by inces
SAINT sound of the bells rung by hi
friends on his wedding day. Bells a
daybreak, bells at breakfast, bells