The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-11-14
BRIDESMAIDS.
some Old Motions Concerning WEDDING
Attendants.


Some OLD NotiOss Concerning wedding
Attendants.
Importance was formerly attached to
the coiors which the bride wore on her
wedding day. Thus, in an old book
entitled the Fifteen Comforts of Mar
rage, bride and her bridesmaids are
represented conversing together re-
speeding the colors to be used for tbe
decoration OF the bridal dress. 1t was.
anaily decided. after various colors had
Deen rejected. ''to mingle gold tissue
with grass green" this being consid-
cred symbolical of youthful ioility.
Again, that the office of a bridesmaid
was in times past not altogether a sine
g''a non may be gathered from the fact
ina. curing the period of the wedding
lestivltles, which often extended over q
week the bridesmaids were expected to
DC In attendance and to do whatever
they could to promote their success.
linen there was the custom of ..fiing-
ing the stocking" at which the brides
maids took prominent lead; a cere-
mony to which no small Importance
was attached. 1t has been made the
SUBJECT OF frequent allusion by our old
writers, and one rhyme, describing a
wedding, tells us:
"3ut still the stockens are to throw.
T1me throw too high, and some too low
tnere none could hit the mark"
Misson further informs us that if the
stocking, thrown by one
OF the bridesmaids. fell upon his head.
IL is regarded as an omen that she her.
sell would soon be married; and SINH
lar prognostic was taken from the fall.
ng OF the brides stocking. thrown by
'ne OF the groomsmen. 1t was the
duty, too. to present the
BRIDE with the .sbenediction nosset y
70 called from the words uttered over
c: a practice thus noticed by Herrick.
n his ''Hesperides:"
nat short sweet prayers shall be said.
ana how the posset shall be made I
win cream OF lilies, not of kline.
AND maiden's blush for spiced wine"
Sucking thus alludes to this custom. /;
INC came ,, the bridesmaids with the posset =
Inc bridegroom eat in spight' I"
Once more the bridesmaids were SIM.
osed to look after the brides 6ecuniarv
lterests. Thus, at the church porch.
men the bridegroom produced the ring
no other articles relating to his mar. a
age, the chief bridesmaid took CHARGE I;
the "dow-purse." which was public Il
gwen to the bride as an instailment D.
her pin-money. Horace Walpole. tc
rltlng to Miss Berry, in the year 1871 tf
'eaks OF the dow-purse as a thine Of pr
e past, and writes as follows: pr
Our wedding is over very properly. CO
ouSh with little ceremony, and moth.
3 OF ancient fashion but two brides wi
ADS. The endowing purse, believe, ff
5; been left off since broad pieces were Ir,
He'd in and melted down. VIC
IL mas been pointed out, however In
u survival of this usage is preserved eld
Cumberland. The bridegroom pro- q $
les himself with gold and crown me
ces, and when the service reaches the tru
mt, with all my worldly goods 7 ter
'e endow." he takes the money exr
nds the clergyman his fee. and nonrs suf
rest INTO handkerchief which the POI
desmaid holds for the bride.
n Scotland the bridesmaid is ponu-
~ known as the "best maid" and :
OF her principal duties was to con-
tne brides presents on the wedding MIR
Ter future home. The first article a T.
eraily taken into the house was a sna
sci OF salt, portion of which was
mixed over the floor. as a protection :
INST the ''evil eye." She also at. ster
ded the bride when she called ON late
irlends' and gave personal invita- inS
TO her wedding.-T +. 7Histleton Der
y IN Cdsset's Family Magazine. :