The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1885-07-11
A MEXICAN WEDDING.
Description OF q High Life Marriage In
Santa Fe,

oahtt re-
1apprchend that few have ever wit
messed Mexican wedding in high life
On last Thursday had the special OPP
portunity of witnessing the ceremony,
reception and general "blowout" of a
Mexican alliance in the ultra circle of
the natives.
Early in the morning the bride-elect
was prepared for the sacrifice. In all the
splendor of white satin, silk and rich
laces and crowned with bridal wreath,
which held the flowing vail, the poor
child was escorted to a coach, and, with
three tiny bridesmaids, took up her way
to the scof-the cathedral. Now, dear
ladies, don't expect me to describe her
apparel, for don't know whether the
dress was gored or shirred or sherry
cobblered; nor do | know whether the
satin was embroidered or the lace gen
,uine old Spanish crcmor, the price of
which per yard would make Vanderbilt
dizzy don't know the difference be-
tween chef d'Guvre of the millinery
art and a four dollar bill But the dear
creature of whose dea-, should say
marriage, | am writing, was bundled
into carriage and took up her last
journey of single ble,sedness behind
brass band and followed by all the people
and loose dogs in town. The coach
was drawn slowly but surely through
the public streets to the cathedral, and
was there met by detachment of
troops under command of the unfortu-
nate groom. He looked as though he
had been dead about two hours, as
nothing but hectic flush denoted life
within him. The populace surrounded
the carriage, and that one poor child
was the unspared target of cvcrybody's
gaze and grin. Alightng from the car
riages, the procession was formed upon
entering the cathedral, and the final
single harness march was iDdulged in
The solemn service of the nuptial mass
was performed and the young people
for ever and for aye were made one
man. They received quantity of good
advice from the Archbishop who put
them through their initiatory trouble,
and then the military band began
lively sort of march and headed the pro-
cession out of church. The bride and
groom entered the carriage and the
procession headed for hotel, where
reception was held until the evening;
then the dancing and feasting began,
and it was two O'Clock next morning
before the curtain fell.
The ceremony is at once impressive
and amusing. The Mexicans consider
but one event in the lives of their chill
dren, and that is their marriage. If
they are poor they will squander their
last nickel on white satin or Spanish
lace with which to deck their daughters
at their wedding time. Their sons are
beloved until they marry, and until the
grandchild is born there is no further
concern upon the parts of the parents
of the young couple. All the glamour
and display possible is INDUCED in to
herald the BRIDES beauty and conse-
quence to the world as she approaches
the place of ceremony, and all the
''pomp and circumstance of dollars
and-cents influence is brought to bear
upon and for the success of the feast
which follows. Children in white strew
the new brides way with flowers. She's
lucky if she's not punching burros over
the rocks next summer. In this in
stance both bride and groom are rich.
The contracting parties to the we'd
ding l have referred to were Don Eu-
genio Yrisarri and Miss Barbarita
Perea, both of high social standing and
of personal popularity. The relatives
of the contracting parties and near
friends constituted the procession prop
or, whilst the entire populace of Mexi-
can and Spanish lineage joined in the
general testimony of regard by attend
ing the public service of the marriage.
The solemnity preceding the ceremony
is displaced by q joyous yet respectful
and decorous happiness on the part of
all. The brides thoughts of separa-
ton from those dear to her are over
come by the general joy that springs
from every heart, is reelected from each
face and radiates from every eye. In
deed the poor people vie with each
other in short prayers for the bride S
welfare, as to which is the more pointed
in its wish. The continuance of the
ceremony after the formal reception is
in conformity with custom of ages,
and that is the particular feature tc
arouse the curiosity of us Hoosiers.
Santa Fe Cor. Indiana Sentinel.