, 1877-12-10
EUROPEAN GOSSIP.
Neutrality-suspicious. in the Dom'n'
ions Of the Gear.
An Impressive Funora!-The Burial Of
the Queen-Dowager Of saxony.
Gambetta.--Lucy Hooper Describes the
Lion Of the Left.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN RUSSIA.
sditak NdnaniAE

Russian marriages are gentE1t9 arranged |
through priests. Being matters Of business, It |
s desirable that there should DO no mistake ~ |
!o tho amount OF dover which The bri,Is Is TO
bring; and theso would very likely be mistakes
i some member OF tho upper clergy were not |
to act as an intermediary In preparing The Set |
dement's. An archmnndsttc does much Of Tho
work that fails to notasics in other
only he charges moro, and
between bis fingers. 4 well-orel bridegroom
to his parish church; this bride, through her
friends, ls expected to clothe some statue Of a
Virgin with gown OF silver brocade. enriched
with more or less Jewels, according 10 tho p!cty
OF the donos; and in some parts Of Southern
Russia she odds gift Of two white doves to the
roLc, whiuh looks rather 1iko relic Of tho or
shtp OF Venus. The consent Of parents is ncc-
cssnry for a marriage. until the ago Of 80 ID the
case OF u,cu, rs In that Of women; but Soun1
people arc st liberty to appeal t. the
withheld. In this event tho parents ase
rs rssa re,on to ow % a be aT s,
unless ont OF the goltnE people oa lcir to
Landed estate; then tho question Is referred to
the Marshal OF tho nobility In Tho district, whose
decisions .re based upon L. MSxpediency ratherthan
because tho Russians aro marrying people,
and dispose Of their chlldren early. III the mid
llc aud lower classes men marry at ~, when
not drafted by tho conscrfption; ~ the higher
aristocracy q younE man gees tho "grand
tour'' before settling down, but hc Is often
betrothcd before startling TO young lady not
ret out Of tho school-rooIn. and be Wcds her
Immediately upon his return. There u no
The great ridtcu1e attached to the title, when
not borne By nun, has possibly somcthfnV to
do with the unwillinEncs. Of ladlea to sport It.
When girl has reached iHe age OF rs without
aho calls pilgrimage Of labor-on q round Of
travels X rcil antt In either case sflc turns UP
sumo years LATER as willow. Widows arc Us
plentiful "a old sp!nsters arc scarce; and Wid-
ows whose husbonds wcro nsYuE seen arc moro
t,tl,,lcrons than tho rost. Etiquette forbids any
nliusIou to lalys dead husband In her pres
c.eu; and this Ia, perhaps. sometimes co,a-
vcnicnt.
IL held, and ttie brtde-olcct has a lock OF her
hair cut oil In tho presence OF witnesses md
given to tile bridegroom, who In return presents
a silver ring With y turquoise, az almond cake,
n,ent The two arc pllghtcd; nor can tue rcla-
siges break tho match except with tho consent
u the parties themselves, which Is signisod
By the return OF tho ring and lock OF halt.
ii least In tic north Of Russia, that, among
puor people who cannot afford silver aud
i tur3toise, lin aud bit Of blue stone aze
substituted. These betrothal Eangs arc kept
Us hcirlooms, but must not bs made to
aeryc swicu-R son eannot give his bride
the ring which hls mother received, forlnstance;
though why this should be 50 Is tnyetcEy which
tie clergy, who sell the rings, could best az
plain. On tho wcdAtng-day aho bssdo comes to
tho highest classes, who copy Western fashions,
that tic bridal eostutno IL entirely white, auu
lint wreath Of orange howcr blossoms Is used:
Among Russians pure light bueis the nuqttal
| place OF the wreath. Tho wedd!ng.ring for tho
bride Is Of gold or son,o yellow metal, brt not
n plain i.oop; it Is generally q double ring with
cnchnsed Btnrs. Tho bridegroom haa ring,
altar after she has receivod l,ts, aud this IL
mostly plaln Que. Tic clergy make much ado
about the rings being OF pure metal. md thoro-
by keep thu sale Of them In their hands. though
ecclesiastical rold with n touchstone. After tho
wedding service, which comprises in some OF tic
less civilized districts tho breaking Of an castt-
enwaro vessel In token that tho bTltle rcnouncea
her own possess!on (or ID ready to snlnsh all her
luthcra crockcry for ftct husbands sake--eKpla-
| natious ditlereaiter this ttero Ia an ad]olrn-
meut to bunquet, III which tnullel krass (small
bcer) AID almond cakes play great
before midday, aor must they tnke place in q
church, III fashionable circles It IL ting custom
to solenntxe them in drawln0-sooni, and by
canu1c.light. There Is no departure on honey
| moon tour. Tho banquet Is iollowed BY u ball.
tle1l by supper; and At thus lust FepAst, WHEN
held Id houses where old customs arc observed,
new satin slipper, supposed to bc the brides,
Is produced. and used as ,dsinktnc..vc vessel by
and drink the brLle's health In 1t It'll Il
Is soaked through and will huld liquor nc
toupcr. In houses where sDccchcs aEu nladu
It Is not thu bridegroom, but the 6rtde's father,
who returns thanks Wien her health ia drunk
hNJnte f3EfuY to thH fart TINT father
still retalux nuthority oYer his child after sho Il
married. Lie may summon her from hcr home
to tend him when he ts sick. u he lose ILLS wife
he may clnim hls married daughters scryica as
q housckcopcr during the tirst three months q
his Wldowh0ol, aud hu vcry olton docs 80. II
tic daughters husband die, hor father may or
der her to return to hfs root, and he ttccomet
| ile ju1c the guardian Of her children. Nene ol
ana mother.
Divorces ase not allowed 10 Russia, but mar
rlaga cau To annullest for informally; and 81
vorces ass prctty frequent R. u T. oniy Gues
Ltthuanla nna sons parts Of Little ltussta It /,
tho custom for tho BRIDES ncareat rctat!vo /,
give her slap On the face at tho moment o
leading heE to priest, ths object Of tllis be!n'
masr,el Under compulsis,n-wlich would b
enough to break the marriage. Russians them
Sekyea assure strangers That thu slap u only r.
u,indcr to tho bride TO behaTc Weli In future: hu
wlso tho reminder W0uld presumably he give
by the bridegroom. IN eotne parts ot tho Err
tirc tho dats Ut nlarrlaEe as left h,auk on th
certificate; and this Aga!n furnishes ground
fur divorce. III tAu ChcFAoucso tbs Pops intcn
, | ttonally omtts to reXistcr tho agcs Ut tho pa
ttca; tut there IL no real need for any oI thea
precautions, for tho nlarftaEa laWs arc 10 coli
IT, ps pess san msE sssy e!E:t esf s
whose prescriptions were not teruputous!y o.
served Ut their nu}4ia!s. lta the clergy VII