The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-09-03
BRIDESMAIDS.
Some Old Notions Concerning Wedding
Attendants.

SoAAS OAe oeAo "SNA
Attendants.
Importance was formerly attached to
the colors which the bride wore on her
wedding day. Thus, in an old book
entitled the Fifteen Comforts of Mar
rage" q bride and her bridesmaids are
represented conversing together re-
specting the colors to be used for the
decoration of the bridal dress. 1t vas
finally decided, after various colors had
been rejected. ''to mingle a gold tissue
with grass green" this being consid-
cred symbolical of youthful jollity.
Again, that the Office of a bridesmaid
was in times past not altogether a sine
qua non may be gathered from the fact
that during the period of the wedding
festivities, which often extended owe a
week, the bridesmaids were expected to
be in attendance aud to do whatever
they could to promote their success.
Then there was the custom of ''hing-
ing the stocking" at which the brides
maids took a 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 n rhyme, describing a
wedding, tells us:
"But still the stockens are to throw;
Some throw too high, and some too low,
There's none could hit the mark"
Nilsson further informs US that if the
bridegroom's stocking, thrown by one
of the bridesmaids. fell upon his head,
it is regarded as IN omen that she her
self would soon be married.; and a SINH
lar prognostic was taken from the fall
ing of the brides stocking. thrown by
one of the groomsmen. 1t was the
bridesmaids duty, too, to present the
bride with the s'benediction posset,"
so called from the words uttered over
it: a practice thus noticed by Herrick,
in his .Hesperides:"
And how the poSset shall be made
With cream OF lilies, not of kline,
And maiden's blush for spiced wine."
Sucking thus alludes to this custom;
I'm came the bridesmaids with the posset
The bridegroom eat in spight."
Once more the bridesmaids were sup.
posed to look after the brides %pecuniary
interests. Thus, at the church porch,
when the bridegroom produced the ring
and other articles relating to his mar:
rage, the chief bridesmaid took charge
Oh Inc uOW-puTSc. WulCu WdS puDliC
" given to the bride as an installmen,
of her pin-money. Horace Walpole
writing to Miss Berry,in the year 1871,
speaks of the dow-purse as a thing O.
the past, and writes as follows:
"Our wedding is over very properly
though with little ceremony, and moth
ing of ancient fashion but two brides
maids. The endowing purse, | believe
has been left of since broad pieces wer'
called in and melted down."
1t has been pointed out, however
that a survival of this usage is preserved
in Cumberland. The bridegroom pro
vides himself with gold and crow
pieces, and when the service reaches tn
point, with all my worldly goods
thee endow." he takes the money
hands the clergyman his fee, and pour
the rest into u handkerchief which tn
bridesmaid holds for the bride.
In Scotland the bridesmaid is popu
larly known as the ''best maid" AM
one of her principal duties was to con
vey the brides presents on the wedding
> to her future home. The first articl
generally taken into the house was
vessel of salt, a portion of which wa
! sprinkled owe the floor. as a protectio
!. against the '.evil eye" She also al
tended the bride when she called O
her friends, and gave a personal invita-
ton to her wedding.-T. F. Thistleto
! Dyer, in Cassell's Family Magazine.