The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-04-07
The Past and the Present.
BY D. MACKLEY.

Uu1 do uIoAc GldH udlI VI uly pIcocu1
readers are young people, who did not
read that description, and as was at
modern wedding last week, which l
desire to describe, I will briefly allude
to the old marriages.
Marriages in the country in the ear
ly days generally took place between
neighbors; but in the sparsely settled
condition of the country, persons liv-
ing eight or ten miles distant were
neighbors, and were acquainted. Mar
riage always took place on Tuesday or
Thursday. The ceremonies lasted two
days, the wedding and the Unfair. The
bride was dressed in white muslin,
with a bobinet cap, with peak run
ming up at the back part of the head.
She had bridesmaid, or attendance y
who was dressed the same way. The
neighbors were invited for miles
around, and arrived from nine to elev-
en- o'clock.
The friends of the 'groom," as the
bridegroom was called, started in time
to arrive between eleven and twelve.
This party consisted generally of
from twenty to thirty young folks,
men and women, on horseback. When
within mile of the residence Of the
bride, two men were selected to run
for the bottle. They left their hats,
and tied handkerchiefs around their
heads. The crowd halted. The two
men, when prepared to start, gave a
loud yell, and set off at full speed.
This was rather dangerous, as there
was generally only a single path,
through the woods. The crowd at
the residence Of the bride, hearing the
yells Of warning, all came out, the
father Of the bride holding up the
bottle. It was called decanter, be-
ing a round quart bottle, with rings
around the neck. It was dressed with
ribbon and strips Of paper. Soon the
horsemen came dashing up, the horses
leaping over logs, SC. The foremost
man took the bottle, amid the cheers
of the crowd. The two then rode
leisurely back to the party, and the
bridegroom, who was in front, took
the bottle, passed it to the young wo-
man who was riding by his side. She
took drink Of the whisky, then he
drank, then the bottle was passed
along the line to the rear, the men
and women all drinking. Then the
two men who had run for the bottle
took drink, and took charge Of the
bottle, and what little whisky re-
manned in it. Now the column NOV
ed on to the cabin, and all rode around
it three times, alighted, hitched thei,
horses to the rail fence and went in
The bridegroom and his male attend
ance shook hands with the bride and
her attendance, and all took seats
Now the country Squire appeared and
married them. They again took thei,
seats, when their friends came up and
shook hands with each, saying: u
wish you much joy"
Now came dinner Corn bread, bis
cults, pumpkin pie, chicken pot pie
and many other good things.
The afternoon was spent by the
men in various ways; the young men
ran foot races, jumped, wrestled, &c.
the older men sat on the fence OF
wood pile, told hunting stories, Indian
fights, ghost and witch stories, &c.
| At night there was a great dance
and the next day the party set off fol
the Unfair, which was at the house Of
the bridegroom's father, and the same
programme, except the marriage cere-
mony, was gone through with. Afte,
this the parties at once went to house
keeping in their rude cabin. No we'd
ding tours in those days.
Last week I received by mail the
following, printed with beautiful script
| type:
''Mr. and Mrs. Davis Mackley Mrs. NJ. R. johnson
requests at the marriage Rseepi9on og,
At O'clock Biggs House s. B; SosI Jennings. Emm'
| wrote note by next mail, inform
ing Mr.. Jennings that we would be
there. When we arrived it was rain.
ing hard. We took an omnibus fol
the Biggs House, and when we arriv-
ed Mr.. Jennings directed the servants
to take us to room 33, where we found
every convenience. 1t is a double
room, and in a convenient locality te
the dining room.
We went down to supper at half.
past six, and soon after the tables fol
the wedding supper were arranged
Mr.. Williams, the junior partner Of
the House, took me to the dining
room, to see the ornaments and ar.
rangements. Mr.. Williams is a very
polite gentleman, and was pleased tc
make himself very agreeable. HI
showed me the four reception rooms
and explained the programme. A lor
Of women were putting down whit.
muslin on the carpets in the halls, 81
that the trains of the ladies' dresses
should not be soiled.
Promptly at nine o'clock we wen
down, and a few strangers to me wer
coming in. Soon | met Col. O. F