Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-12
TENN. NONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY I2 l87

the bride away claims the first kiss
in honor of his temporary paterni-
ty. One clerical gentleman in this
part of the world, supposed to be a
good authority on the subject, de-
clares, however, that it is the privi-
lege of the parson who ties the
knot; and although he will not
own to having ever availed himself
of it, he is acquainted 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
a marriage ceremony in a country
village of Yorkshire, was surprised
to see the party keep together as if
expecting something more.
What are you waiting for?" he
asked at length.
y" Please, sir" was the BRIDE
groom's answer. ye'ye not kissed
Molly.
The late DR.. Ranie used to relate
how the vicar of Merrington mya-
riably KEEP up the custom. Al
though one Of the most bashful
and retiring Of men, he 10 ked
upon the matter as one Of obliga-
tion, 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,
81 undoubtedly reckoned upon the
clerical salute that, after waiting
for it in vain, she boldly TOOK the
initiative. and bestowed "a kiss upon
the undetermined south-country
vicar.
A singular custom still exists in
the village of Whitburn, near Sun
derlaud THAT Of sending what are
called shot pots" Z" to church to
meet the bride and 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. "Aiter the vestry
scene, the bridal party having
formed in procession for leaving
the church, we were stopped in the
church by "A w'of five or six wo-
men ranged on our left hand, each
holding a large mug with cloth
over it. These were in turn pre-.
sented to me, and handed by me to
my wife, who, after taking a sip
returned them to me. They were
then passed to the next couple, and
so ON in the same manner to all
the party. The composition it
these mugs was for the mos
part simply horrible (; one Oh
two very fair, and one good in,
deed. These hot pots are sent tC
the church by all classes of people
and considered very great compli
ment. | have never heard of The
custom elsewhere. Here it has
existed as far back as the memory
of the Oldest inhabitant. An ageC
fsherwoman, who has been married
some sixty-fve years, tells me that
at her wedding there were seventy
hot pots"
Another old wedding usage seems
confined to Yorkshire. In remote
parts of the country it is the GUS
tom to pour a kettleful of boiling
water over Che doorstep just after
the bride has left her old home,
Before it dried up another wedding
is sure to be arranged.
A Yorkshire wedding is by rights
wound up by a race for ribbon.
In Cleveland this ribbon is given
by the bridegroom as he leaves the
church, and all who choose rul Cor
it in sight of the house where the
wedding feast is held. All the
racers, winners and losers alike, are
entitled to a glass of spirits each ;
and, accordingly, as soon as the
race is over they present them
selves at the house and ask for their
'lowanOe without any particular
invitation. At the village OF Mel.
sonby, near Darlington, and in the
adjoining district, the bride was
formerly placed as . winningpost,
holding tho ribbon in her hand,
and the winner claimed a kiss on
receiving it. On one occasion it is
said that the bride, being a Meth
odist, refused to give the ribbon.
There was much dissatisfaction
through the place, and the youths
revengel themselves after the ira
ditional manner OF furnishing
stingy brides-they fred the stithy
at her. that is, they placed a charge
of gunpowder in the stith, or anvil,
of The bIacksm;th's shop, and fired
it as she passed on her way to
church,
ITnw N tror..,, Roca.ne a MANN