Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-04-16
Wedding-Days.

.eventful day in woman's life, bat it is
not the happiest. though it is conven-
TALLY called so. Nor is it the maN 8.
Both the chief parties to wedding cut
rather awkward figures, and play diff
cult parts on the day when they are
male one in the presence of great
concourse of friends, neigLbors and in
different folk. The only brides who
san really enjoy wedding-day are
those who do not much care for their
bridcgrooms, or who have struggled
toward marriage under circumstances
which convert their welding. days into
splendid personal triumphs. Mile.
Eugenie de Montijo, though she Ger
tainly loved Napoleon ILL.,, must have
been from the beginning to tho end of
her wedding day, ecstatically happy.
She was nothing and he was an emperor
Up to the very eve OF her marriage she
must have felt that dozen things
might occur to Illustrate her ambition.
The emperor might be cut off by an as
sassin's bullet, or some secretary of
state, high justice, or what not, might
discover political or legal imped-
ment to the marriage; but when morn
ing came and the trembling bride was
drivea IT, Notre Dame between double
lines of soldier, all presenting arms;
| when thc cathedral was reached and
dom bishops. in their golden mitres,
were seen standing at the altar, while
the choir was filed with princes, mar.
shals, st.ators and ambassadors; when
the organ pealed forth, and the bless
Jag was spoken, then the bride st
/ l. l,,k l.- Ae Il
was trimming. Aai then the drive
hone through shouting streets, amid
the riot of church bells, the clash of
nusic and the t, under of artillery, and
the breakfast, VIII N tolsts were drunk,
aud TIE compliments, aud those new
! worn titles of "ampress aud maj
esty." which must have had such
grateful Meludy to her unaccustemed
ears. $500. SO in Gambler life, when
girl mlrries man who is her superior
IN statioa, she must experience u mo-
ment of exquisite delight when her
4hion is Gonsecratel amid circle OF
envions friends. The future at that
moment seems rosy to her; she has
strong projecting arm 70 rely on; petty
cares about money have been bAnishcd
! from her thoughts; she has new
home; she has become tue equal of
maay who were her superisrs, an the
Superior Of all who were her equals;
she has kad public homage rendered
TO her charms, whatever they may be
whether beauty or goodness and
she knows that she is u mans darling,
! tho queen of his household, tae hope
of his life. What more can any g,rl
expect ON earth in the way of satislac-
ton to her pride, of solace to her as
pirations after peace and comfort.
Blu: to ordinary couples who Low.
each other, aud whose match is 80 we'll
assorted in respect of age, st .tion aud
fortune that it exeites no wonder, the
wedding day is certainly tiresome
one. The two young people are impa-
tient to be united. a"d they gl-ry i'll
| the day which is to make them man
aud wife; but all the formalities Of
uuptials seem to them most tedious.
| Tue bride exp .:tant rises in the m'rn-
ing, unrefreshed ~ sleepless night,
and nervous in nticlpation OF the day s
proceedings. A glahce at her mirror
shows bier that she is not looking her
best. There ure BLUSH shades round
her eyes, aud her complexion is pillii /;
whon she tries to arrange her HAIR she
finds that it will not let itself be dressed
in tie usual way, as rebellious wisps
keep sticking up here and there, DEFY
| ing cold water or cosmetics. Happily
the wholo process of adorHment Is not
left to the bride herself, for presently
mother, sisters and maids come i'll with
tea, greetings and good offices, and
soon the victim who is to be led to the
altar of Hy1neD is helpless amid half
dozen pairs of bands, all identifying
her. 1t is surprising how soon time
slips away from this moment. The
wedding is to take place at eleven
O'clock, so the carriages have been or
dered at alf-past ten, and the company
is expected to begia assembling half
al hour earlier. The father and broth
ers OF the bride must be ready at ten
to receive the first visitors who arrive,
generally schoolboy cousins, shyly
drawing On their white gloves and peer
ing about for signs of the coming break
fast, in whica they take a potent in
tercst; then the bridesmaids should be
ut their posts in time to &c greeted
without hurry by the guests all round.
r.e bride oaght, by rights. to be down
stairs with fair degree of punctuality;
uut she seldom is. Retouches are
wanted to her dress; a skirt has to be
tucked in little or let out; the wreath
will not sit properly, or the veil will
not fail in graceful folds. When at
last the bride does Come down, the
chances arc that she has forgotten her
gloves, handkerchief, or other such
tritie. Thea servants have to be rung
tor, and dart about distractedly till tn.
missing object is found. Here deli
cate question arises. Ought the bride
groom to kiss his bride ia the presence
If t.e guests when she comes down
In this matter man had best be nat
ural. If his impulse leads him to kiss
mis- bride he will do it nicely; if, on
the other hand, he feels doubtful as to
the proprieiy Of the step he would like
to take, he will be certain to bungle,
and draw smiles by his awkwardness.
Etiquette is great protection to the
nervous. Correctly speaking, man
has no right over lis bride till the
wedding service is over, and. conse-