The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-05-10

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to the girls parents written on red
/ paper, accompanied BY letter Of con-
graduation and presents Of poultry and
wine. One Of these presents is a basket
conia ming 3 goose and gandcr, en-
b.ematical Of falthfulness, the same
birds being said to pair together every
season. The brides father perhaps sig
nilies bis approval, and preparations
are st once made for the marriage cere-
mony, which shout ! take pla In the
course of another month. Immediately
after the day is fixed the bridegroom
sends the usual pies or cakes. called
ceremony cakes, numbering from q
| score to q hundred and weighing about
pound each, to be distributed among
| the relatives and fir ends Of the parties.
The sum Of money agreed upon at the
betrothal us tho price Of the bride or her
dover is also sent at the same time.
This sum wares from $40 to 81, 00a.
For tride VINO is fat aud pretty and
belongs to q good family sum of
money viii be asked which only rich
man tan give. This mon ~. however,
must be all faithfully spent BY the
brides mother in providing her trous-
seau, household furniture, etc., the
bridegroom being only expected to find
the hare apartments of their future
home.
WEEPING AND MAILING.
For few days before the wedding
day the young lady. who has already
been told Of the approaching event,
gives vent to her grief in orthodox fash
ion by loud bellowngs night and day.
The weeping dainsel expresses at inter-
walls in conventional phrases the sense
Of desolation she feels at the near pros
pc t of being torn forever from her
parents and her childhootl's home. The
writer remembe being Kept awake for
hours by the walls and shrieks of
distracted virgin who was
going 10 be married next day.
Il is on this last night that the
maiden tries on her bridal dress, lights
incense before the shrine of her ances-
tors and prostrates herself in farewell
worship before her assembled parents,
uncles and aunts. At last the dread
ful dsy arrives. The fa!rone rises early,
battles perhaps for the first time for two
or three months, arranges her hair in
matronly style, puts on her bridal gar
ments of gorgeous red silk or stuff,
sometimes richly embroidered, and a
heavy coronet-like head-dress brilliant
with real or imitation pearls and
precious stones, velvet tasqeis and firing
es, and gold or git trappings. which
jingle at every step she takes. Her
toilet i completed by the large red
veil of silk or cotton. which completely
covers her face from view. 1t IS con-
sidered good form to resist the services
of her attendants with loud screams
and approximations, any such thing as
submission on her pa being sure to
be construed by her chatting brides
maids into an mmodest JOY at the near
approach of wedlock.
THE BRIDEGROOM wATTETH.
The bridegroom remains at home
with his friends. He is arrayed ia silks
and satins, embroidered accord no to
his rank, red scarf crosses his breast
and brilliant wedding cab is worn on
his head. He seats himself in glorious
state ava ting the coming of the bride
He has already dispatched an elegant
bridal sedan, richly gilded and en-
ameled, decorated with kingfsher's
feathers and ornamented with gorgeous
carvings, which he has hired for the
occasion. 1t is carried BY half dozen
men In red tun cs and follows Ia the
rear of the procession: 1t is preceded
by gilded pavil,ons and canopies, red
boards with gilt characters represent
ing the academical degrees and impe-
rial honors conferred upon the bride
groom or his ancestors; grand lanterns,
splendidly CARVED and painted, BAN
ners, huge fans and state umbrellas ac-
cord ng to the rank of the br1degroom's
father, The bearers, equerr es and mu-
sicians that swell the train are all draped |
in red robes and the whole process
sion marches along amidss the beating
of drums. the elias of cymbals and the |
Screams Of clarionets. The procession
arrives at the brides house and il
greeted by the dismal bowls Of females
within. A letter written by her hus-
band is now handed to the bride, in
forming her that the fowery sedan is
waiting at her door and inviting her to
set out for her new home. Then come
sundry exhortations fr M her parents,
exchange of good wishes, protracted
partings, choking sobs and vehement
protestations from the bride against
being taken from her home This hol-
low farce is broken up by bridesmaid
casting the veil over the face of the
lugubrious bride, while an old bag
takes her upon her back in ign eminious
fashion, carrying her out of the door and
setting her down in the sedan-chair.
The door of the conveyance is then
locked and the key handed to the
bridegroom's friend. Tho bands then
strike up AMI the procession returns
amidst farewell salvos of bombs and
fire-crackers, the wonder being that
any bride can survive such an infer
nal din.
COMPLETION OF THE CEREMONY.
Arriving at tbs door of her new
home, she is saluted with more fire.
crackers. The bridegroom now comes
forth with all that dignified bearing and
easy carelessness so natu al to a we'll
bred Chinaman, and taps the door of the
char with his fan. The door is then
opened and the bride, stiIl thiekly
yelled from profane gaze. is again car
risd on the back Of female attendant
into her husbands house. She is now
a wife, the simple ride in the iiowery
chair having the mystic power of trans
forming her into q married woman.