Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-06-08
MODERN WEDDINGS,
prsnoRArIos or oop's HOUSES,

Wedding bells will sweeily and galiy
ring in married life to many q yontiiul
pair during this month oI fo'
nance and Of roses, and the customs
which have come TO be regarded A. IN
dispensable 10 properly conducted bn'
dai festivities will IN most cases be non
oTed in the observance, WIN Ufesoone
iteration and reiteratiOi the society
journals will catalogue the gorgeous,
ness Oi bridal tFOnsseauX, tho beauty OF
wedding appointments and tho 'eoslil,,
ness Gi gifts, Churches VIII 10 turned
int0 temples Of Mamm0n, aud all that
the world aud ihe hesh-with o slight
admiSture Of religious eeremonlal-csh
contribute will he invoked 10 make tho
event worthy IN Of the social standing
Of the contracting parties,
The preliminary and attendant cefe7
monies ia the marriage OF to-day arc
broadly suggestive ot the pomp ana or
cumstance with which q new play u
opened ut metropolitan theater' There
II IN each case an announcement OF the
principal performers and advance re-
ports concerning The costumes and ae-
cessOries, followed by an elaborate no
ticG Of tho event itself, Nor does tie
analogy stop here, for there Is manifest
ed q decided tendency 10 Introduce into
tho church services elements which are
undlsgulsedly theatrical, Sometimes
we arc asked 10 contemplate tho elect
Of small boys lactlng ~ tmin beafefNl
being substituted for brilemaidS, hut an
innovation which II likely TO become
exceedingly popular is tho one suggest
oil possibly by the pastoral pictures N
which little village maids arc represent
ed as strewing tho bridal pathway with
flowers. The taste which complacently
surveys buttoWups, daisies and grasses
reposing on lakes Of glass aud trembling
Ia an atmosphere heavy with the min
glel 0dOrs Of yianls, coal gas and art
fetal perfume will not Of course hesitate
10 adopt any custom, however incongru-
ous, fortho village children scattering
flowers In simple, natural way are sub
stitutod elegantly -attircd self conscious
Young women, laden with costly hot
house treasures, who, in full sight OF tho
audience lcongrcga,ionH, pace down tho
ccntor aisle, and arriving at the door,
draw themselves up in lines, through
which the bridal pair walk, In true
military fashion tho fair escort then fall
in and bring up the rear Of the wedding
party,
One Is tempted to suggest theatoras
the most appropriate place for the show,
II possesses many advantages over tho
church for this species OF entertainment.
Surely this bringing Of the pomps and
yanitics, in their most obtrusiyo mani
icstations, to tho very altar OF Gods
house, is little short Of dosecmtion.
Another feature Of the modern we'd
ding which is hardly to bo commended,
is the ostentatious manner in which tho
gifts are displayed. II is not improb-
able that there would be decline in tho
number and costliness OF the gifts, II
they were not thus publicly exhibited,
labeled with the donors name 30 that
possibly il is an evidence OF shiewdness
on the part Of society to take the dear
ten thousand into its confidence and
display to curious, critical, envious eyes
these riches OF gold, silver, precious
stones and title deeds. II this be the
reason, il must be confessed that gift
giving of this sort Savors strongly OF the
stand and deliver methods OF the high
t..y L.ya