The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-28
A COPTTC WEDDING
whore One BRIDEGROOM might Easily have
been United TO Another'e Bride


been United TO Anothor's Bride
From me Mp YorA Epenin0 Post.
CArRo, Dec. Pit will imply, trust, no
dlsrespect to any American reader " venture
to recall tho fact that the name "Copt stanus
FOR the ancient Christian Church OF Egypt, and
tbat The Coptic CHRISTIANS Of to-day assert that
they are the lneal descendants OF the people
who first listened 70 ihe pfsagnins ,ha iins
St Mark himself.
when we entered the room in which the mar
riage ceremonies were TO take place, We found
that extensive preparations were already maxi
ing, and that there was To be n double we'd
ding; two young men, brothers, were about to
be married NJ the same time This accounted
for the number OF priests who were Iresent,
and to these. three In all, we were straightway
presented with much ceremony. Then we
were placed, with considerable Formally, upon
the divan on which the priests were seated.
and an attendant approached to offer us re-
freshments. These consisted, FIRST, OF a sort
Of rose water, served In colored glasses
with covers, richly plded. There was a slight
smell Of oil as the cup was raised to ones llps
hut the beverage Itself was very pleasant to the
taste, and the whole thing, including the sayer
OF the attendant who bore 1t, and the saluta-
tons with which II was rendered, consisting OF
the triple gesture toward the lips, head and
heart, which have described In a previous let
ter, was extremely fascinating. IL was not less
so when. after we had emptled our glasses. thes
we're taken from us by deacon who attended
upon the clergy, and who, upon receiving them.
took the extended hand with which we returned
them In both his own and kissed y gently on
both sides MY companion observed In whis-
per, with dry humor. that whatever might De
the heresies Of the Coptio Church, IT'S msnners
the next moment when he found that, having
been refreshed with rose water, he was ex-
pected to join his clerical companions IN CT
aarette. After tobacco came coffee, and then IN
the center OF the room was arranged a small
altar, ON which was a folio copy OF the gospels
in Coptic, enclosed In silver case, richly
decorated.
At this moment there was a noise In the street
without, and we were Informed that II was In
tended to announce the approach OF the two
bridegrooms. We went TO the windows, and
leaning out saw sight not easily forgotten. The
narrow street was crowded with men. women
and boys. and winding up the court which led TO
the house from which we looked down upon IL
was procession, composed OF band OF music
preceded by cawasses Tor policemen and follow
ed 10y the brdegrooms and their friends. The
band was playing with the utmost vigor, ana rs
u was composed OF several reeds which gave
only two or three notes OF an intensely shril
| Ting. rdsping sound, the effect was simply deaf
| ening. Add to this the glare OF the torches, the
eager movement OF gaily-dressed figures and the
| ers-on, and the whole produced confusion OF
| light and sound that almost made one dizzy. Al
THIS moment lifted my eyes for an instant &c
| posite me, and hanging from the windows Of it'
| various stories, like bees. were Rrouls OF Mo
| bammedan women, whose scorn or hatred 81
the faith OF the Copt could not make them In
different to that most Interesting OF events,
| wedding. In their excitement or curtosit,
many Of them had dropped their veils, and
was good deal surprised at he intelligence
| aud NlNdClty OF their expressions.
The hand departed for the bridct, and the two
brothers were moment nfterward usherec
into the ar rtment TO await their coming. The
young gentlemen were aIrayed In partly Euro
pcan and partly Oriental costume. the mixed
| effect OF which was neither dignihed nor hecom
| Ing. They were very adablc, however, anC
kissed our hands in tho most devout and lila
| fashion. soon after their entrance the precen
tor or cnor leader sppeared and With HIM IN,
| youthful dcacons and choir boys who were q
| perform the musical part Of the service. Tit
deacons and choir boys had brought their vest
! mcnts with them, and robed with an amount oil
| Cycling pushing. aud whispering which Ind,
| Gated that they were very mucn like their pro
fessional brothers all over the world. WheI
| the clergy and assistants we're habited, the sub
| deacon lighted some candles which were ar
| RANGED IN a curious candlestick having some re
| mote resemblance to a Greek cross, which stooC
| on the table behind the silver case containing
the Gospels. As their light fell on the imprisone,
volume standing below and In front Of them,
noticed for the first time that tfe silver case
was 50 rivctcd together that there was, appa
rently. no way Of obtaininn access TO tina
| which II enclosed; and on approaching neare
and examining more closely. found there wa
nothing to show that the casket had beef
| opened for a generation.
| Once more our conversation was interrupted
| by shouts and cries from the street, and as W,
| turned TO the windows we saw from the torches
| flaming as well as from the crowd that attende,
| them, that the brides were approaching AS ",
| leaned out and watched them threading thei
| way among the motley assemblage which sur
| rounded them, we observed that each OF then
| was nttcnded-protected would be bette
worldly a stalwart companion OF the sterne
| sex, who led them along by the shoulders YER
mucn as one would guide blind child. Indeed
| II was evident from their stature that they wer
| little NOR, than children and on inquiry foun,
that neither OF them WIS over thirteen years .
age. They had not been seen bv the young mel
| who were 70 be their husbands, aud they wer
yelled or dtaped In such away "a to make II i'm
! possible to infer anything whatever as TO thei
| appearance. We were wondering, as they Hp
| proacheu the door below US how they had sur
| vived the walk from their own homes to tn
| scene OF the wedding, swathed as they were b.
| huge shawls, which covered their heads an'
| he
| shoulders. My companion Ventured TO sugges
| how easily one may he married to the wronl
| bride under such circumstances, especial
| when as m this case they were blessed. 50 far a
| cOuld be seen, precisely alike. Bat In the mlds
| Of tie discussion which this suggestion raised
we were interrupted suddenly by n prolonged
| and piercing scream, n II "A locomotive under
! full neal of steam was charging up the staiT
| way, and with this emonitory signal the bride
| entered she room.