The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1888-04-26
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
Origin of Those Now Observed Amou,
GExllika.l Nts4.,tss.

Origin of Those Now Observed Among
Ciyiiiked People,
One woman in England has fol.
lowed the example of Boston woman
IN declining TO part with her maiden
name on bong married. She has
been examining the antiquities that
pertain 10 marriage. and has ascer-
tanned, TO her own satisfaction At
least, that subjccting bride to the
iniliotion Of giving up her own name
and taking chat OF her husband Ia y
relic Of barharism She says thatin
distant and savage nge n man
branded his wives he acquirod--that
is put his namo en- some mark upon
them, just rs ho did on his horses and
cattle This showed that they were
his property aud that he could
10 Nith them rs he chose.
The practice of branding the
brides has been abandoned. but
their names are still entered in n book
which resembles registry of ami
mails This shows that their hus bands
regard them rs property. She is dis
gusted with the low origin of this
bridal custom. aud accordingly de.
cliucd to have any thing TO do with
IL
If this independent woman had
looked into the origin of certain Other
bridal customs she would probably
have found That they were also relics
of barharism The first marriage ring
WAS not mado of gold, neither was Il
placed ON finger Of the left hand IL
was mado of iron aud was placed
about ihe neck. To this a rope or
Chain was attached for convenience OF
tying the creature mp when occasion
required A branded wife might cS
cape, bat one secured by q ring and
chain woald find considerable dill Gull
" in getting away The pearl neck
lace now much desired by brides has
baen slowly evolved from the primi
tive iron chain aud is another relic #
harbarlsm
The custom of making bridal pres
ents Is of savage origin. ltdates back
To the distant time whom girls we've
bought like horses and cattle, IL a
man did net have sheep aud goats
enough TO enable him to purchase a
girl he took fancy to his Friends
Clipped IN aud helped him cut Each
of them expected To receive similar
help when he got ready to invest IN q
wife, For the purchase Of likely
and high-prieed girl So many animals
were ordinarily brought together that
some oi tbem were Killed aud roasted
fer the purpose Of feeding the crowd,
Such was the origin Of the modern
wedding breakfast
The bridal toer is Of very savage as
woll us very ancient origin. II unte-
dates the earliest bridal gifts and the
frs, Wedding breakfast. IL carries MS
back 10 tho time when young
fcmales were not thought to
be at sufficient value 20 ex-
change ether property fer They were
laSSood a0d led away oaptiyeS or car
ried 90 on the hack of a horse or a
camel One object Of tho primitive
bridal toWr was to set the Girl away
from hor parents, who wers presumed
10 want her services Aap,hor was 10
show her that she WAS a captive and
h0yppd the hope ef rescue, Some
fond husbands probably made the trip
as pleasant as circumstances would
allow ghey having heeu among the
first to learn that ahsuaato creatures
are conquered by SipdneSs more easily
than by coRtiRWeNs harsh treatment
u Young woman has prejudice
against relies II Asr6arism that
amounts u aversion she should not
enter into tho estate II matrimouy. --
49, ~