The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-02-08

tuSAl o"A CAOlUolVCIy lONul WCSNluS GUS
toms. A wedding in Yorkshire is thing
wildness and obstreper0us mirth. The
bride and bridegroom may possibly be a
little subdued, but their friends are like
men bereft of reason. They career round
the bridal party like Arabs in the desert,
moments, they would hesitate even to
walk horse, shouting all the time. and
firing vOllcys from the guns they carry
the road in advance of the party, carrying
tho whisky bottle, and compelling every
one they meet to pledge the ncwly-mar.
County of Durham, the bridal party is
escorted to church by men armed with
guns, which they fire again and again,
close to the ears of bride and bride maids,
terrifying them sometimes not a little.
Through Cleveland, he who gives the
bride away claims the first kiss in honor
of his temporary paternity. One clerical
gentleman In this part of the world, sup.
posed to be good authority on the Sub
jcct, declares, however, that it is the
privilege of the parson who ties the knot;
and although he will not own to having
ever availcd himself of it, he is acquaint-
ed with an old north country clergyman
who never failed to DO SO. A story is told
of another clergyman, stranger in the
country, who, after performing. mar.
riagc ceremony in a country village of
keep together as if expecting something
more.
"What are you waiting for9' he asked
at length.
"Please, SIR" was the bridcgroom's an
swer, we've no kissed Molly"
The late Dr. Ranie used to relate how
the vicar of Warrington invariably kept
up the custom. Although one of the most
bashful and retiring of men, he looked
upon the matter as one of obligation, and
nerved himself to perform his duty with
herOism. Within the last ten years one
fair lady from the County of Durham, who
was married in the south of England, so
salute that, after waiting for it in vain,
she boldly took the initiative, and be-
slowed a kiss upon the much-amazed
south country vicar.
A singular custom still exists in the
village of Whitburn, near Sunderland
that of sending what are called "hot
pOlS W VuulCA W HUI tlAC VI luC duu
bridegroom on coming out. A gentleman
of that place thus describes what took
place on the occasion of his own marriage
a few years ago. AFTER the vestry scene,
the bridal party having formed in process
sion for leaving the church, we were
stopped in the church by a row Of five or
six women ranged on our left hand, each
holding large mug with cloth over it.
These were in turn presented to me, and
handed by me to my wife, who, after TAX
ing sip, returned them to me. They
were then passed to the next couple, and
50 on in the same manner to all the party.
The composition in these mugs was for
the most part simply horrible; one or two
very fair, and one very good indeed.
These hot pots are sent to the church by
all classes of people, and considered u
very great compliment. have never
heard of the custom elsewhere. Here it
has existed as far back as the memory of
the Oldest inhabitant. An aged fisher
woman, who has been married some
sixty-five years, tells me that at her we'd
ding there were seventy hot pots.''
Another old wedding usage seems con-
fined to Yorkshire. In remote parts of
the county it is the custom to pour q ket-
ClCIul OI DOllIuX W6tcr OVcE Tue USUE.SVCp
Just after the bride has left her old home
Before it dries up another wedding is sure
to be arranged.
A Yorkshire wedding is by rights
wound up by race for ribbon. In
Cleveland this ribbon is given by the
bridegroom as he leaves the church, and
all who choose run for it in sight Of the
house where the wedding feast is held.
All the racers, winners and losers alike,
are entitled to glass of spirits each ;
and, accordingly, as soon as the race is
over. they present themselves at the house
and ask for their 'lowance without any
particular invitation. At the village of
Melsonby, near Darlington, and in the
adjoining district, the bride was formerly
placed as q winning-post, holding the
ribbon in her hand, and tho winner
claimed kiss on receiving it. On one
occasion it is said that the bride, being a
Methodist, refused to give the ribbon.
There was much dissatisfaction through
the place, and the youths revenged them.
selves after the traditional manner Of
furnishing stingy brides-they fired the
stithy at her; that is, they placed charge
of gunpowder in the stith, or anvil, Of
the blacksmith's shop, and fired it as she
passed on her way to church.-Harper's
Weekly.
1T is . good deal to begin life az an
nrf3inarVS hot,sy ~ srrOvv mn IN the r1naitiOu