The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-26
NEW WEDDING FASHIONS.
A Ceremony Without Bridesmaids OF LOnC
Jrains-A Few Phil0sophic Reflections
Upon the Same.


Thursday was what Is cOnventiOnally called
fashionable" and the usual "pride,
pomp. and circumstance " weddings
were in other respects iavishlv sustained.
+ l. this social revolution: l. il q pOrten,
as grave Is that apparition OF " Roland the
Just with ribbons in his shoes 8" which
heralded the horrors Of the Reign OF Ter
r0r? J. there not considerable courage in
/ this surcease o. an ancient accessory 20 the
marriage rite ; II one innovat0T Omits
I the accompanying maids" may not an
other countermand the wedding cake or
F the shower II rice, and a third discard the
ring Will these married rites " be H.
/ lucky as those that employ all the accus-
toned paraphcrnaliai Ii would be easy 10
| compile IN archaeological treatise on the
origin, Use. and
MEANING OF BRIDESMAIDS.
I The ten "vlrgins' Of the Scripture
/ parable belonged 10 that interesting class I:
/ the tve who went 10 sleep should have
/ been ready 10 meet the bridegroom when
I he came TO conduct his wife 10 the bridal
chamber. All primitive and all Oriental
races have had this pretty and natural cE-
+ tom OF securing q number OF young com
pani0ns OF her own condition and sex TO
surround and support the bride or this
dav 81 DAYS for her, when she leaves the
I seclusiOn 0f maidenhood and enters uDOn
onerous duties and new life. Many cerc-
monies OF eastern weddings carry IL back
| in thought 70 that :. marriage by capture =
which long prevailed among UnciviliZed
races. and still survives in parts OF Africa.
I The bridesmaids make believe" 10 re-
sist the bridegroom as he comes to take
away his wife. The lady WAC was married
on Thursday. and who renounced these
auXiliaries Of her own sex, had
A PAGE A. SUBSTITUTE,
gorgeous "in yellow satin brocade. with
stockings and shoes OF the same color, and
an oid-gold colOred satin hat with yellow
I feather" No boy. however, could feel
much al ease in such brave attire, while if
I the bride had dropped her veil. lost her
presence Of mind or her handkerchief, or
/ tainted fright of" how could Z page
even il he We're pretty and had 4 - dImpled
chin" which i part Of the prerocatiye OF
his cOuditiOn-be Of the least Use IL such
/ feminine emergencies and distress Then
the excluded damSels lost the delight u
new frocks. the profit and prettiness % the
/ bridecrooms usual gifts. and the glory OF
. front place near the al1ar-to say nothing
i of the luxury OF - good cry should the
ceremony have called for tears. We feel
/ that the lady who thus ignored all her
voun- friends ought 10 explain the pro
I ceednc. Had she quarrelled with - her
+ sisters. her COUSINS. and her aunt>." or did
she love 80 many OF them % much that she
would not hazard q family dispute by
making a distinction.
I This courageous lady adopted
ANOTHER INNOVATION.
/ She was married . in q short dress" Now,
the :. train Of the BRIDE has always been
matter Of enormous importance. II Te-
Quired wards Of satin or silk; H. ike Il
wounded snake. dragged Ii slow length
along. and lav or the altar-steps a subject
/ Of serious apprehension 10 all male behold
ers. who never knew when they might
I tread upon il. Then. oddly enough. the
bridesmaids, otherwise not weighted with
/ task.. never stopped 10 lift il, and 30 avn
/ inr. mating. and carpet had 70 be AZ
RANGED. not ALWAYS successfully, TO shield
I II from contact with common earth. The
trailing skirt. however. which has long
vanished from walking-dresses. where II
nerformed unpaid Scayenger work IN many
I \ muddy street and road, has disappeared
also from dancing costumes, and now
/ II has been discarded by 4 daring
bride. AS 10 the utility OF this change
( there can he no dispute. II Is
hard 10 estimate the added gain and
haupiness which women must enjoy III bt-
! inc released from long clothes. The new
facility for the free use OF their limbs must
seusibiv increase those opportunities OF eX-
ercise which they badly want. Dancing,
which. with cumbrous skirts, was more or
/ les OF a worry and 4 farce, VIII now De-
come a matter o. ease and delight. Lon
don bathrooms. always too narrow ana 100
crowded, will md themselves practically
enlarged when no part OF the tlo0r Is occti-
MED bv wards Of silk, satin, or more DELI
cate fabrics, rent and torn by heavy heels,
and sacrificed at every pressure, whT!, or
even contact. In other respects the whole
style Of women's dresses approaches now
so nearly TO
THE MALE STANDARD
/ in simplicity and fitness that hftie L iell 10
/ ho desired. In some matters, perhaps. the
| imitation is pushed rather too iar. The use
! ~ Main cloth for outer wrappers, modelled
with studioiIs severity on the male " us-
ster f" i an excellent instance OF ludiclous
/ borrowing: but Is il necessary for sirls 10
/ y-s.ar round and narrow -brlmmeu pot hais,
destitute OF ornament or appendage' ahu
innocent of all Indication OF the inner and
faircr sex. For some years our carlcatnr-
| ISIS have raised laugh against the niaiIehss :
who. in long ulsters, short hair, ana rouhu
hats. look exactly like boys, and DO no,
even need Lady Harberton's divided
skirt +" TO convey all the outward semDiance
of their rough and athletic brothers. NAY
NOT this wholesome zeal for freedom, utlii-
~. exercise, and health be carried 10 ea-
ceSss WilInot - sweet difference be sam
| II those whom older poets used TO call tue
:. rjbbon'd fair" discard all breasi-knois
and flving gear. all top-knots and head al
fire an gewgaws, furbelows, and noiInees,
and stalk about in weatbeT-proof garments.
| simple In cut, sober in hue, and studiousE
devoid al frippcrys VIII the world be 20
say % II half the human flowers throw ASIDE
eolor and variety, and all take on the sac
bnes that the other half have long since as
s,meds ! What will the milliners and dress,
maker do ii our girls become as piain sii,i =
sImr,le. as downright sin black and while,
- our boyss For this Is not only an Ing
Iish fashion. AT the present time Inert y
Az AN0Lo-nAxiA II rAEis.
France, which used 10 lead the wofIo y !,
fhsss npztaers, now follows any ~cFazs