Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-02-16

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match is the principal guest. First.
the wedding garments receive the
priests blessing. the parents solemnly
bless the daughter and son at their re-
spective homes, and the sacred pictures
are three times waved over the heads
of the contracting parties. If the par
ties are of sufficient importance as to
have attendants. the lady in honor
leads the bride-elect to the carriage.
and then they proceed to the church.
The bridegroom in prospect is mean
while at hrs own home. and couriers
from his affianced brides abode run to
the sanctuary. So the bridegroom
elect puts out for the church. When
the pair proceed to the altar they carry
wax tapers, and the belief is that the
taper which first burns out marks the
one first to die. In the upper circles
there is the wedding-ring and the cer..-
mony pledging faith and fealty. much
the same as in America. While the
latter part of the ceremony is taking
place mixed wine and water is passed
to the assembly. After the ceremony
the priest and bridal couple walk three
times around the maloy. where rest the
cross and gospels. When the exhorta-
ton is said the pair must kiss three
times. Then there is benediction,
and the bride and bridegroom go to-
gether and kiss all the holy pictures on
the iconastos. The whole proceeding
occupies half an hour.
If the marriage is in society circles
a feast follows at the house of the
brides parents, and the guests get
drunk. If the marriage is in the
families of the peasantry the BRIDE
groom leads the bride to his home.
There, on the steps to the home. his
parents stand to greet them. and they
are blessed with bread and salt. While
this is going on some of the neighbors
present give them milk to drink and
pour over them barley and down. The
first is in hope that the children of the
couple may be white, Instead of black,
and the second that the newly-mated
may live tremendously. for many
Russian husbands and wives fight like
dogs and cats. The couple enter the
house and review the customary
courtesies and retinue. They sit down
on bench. and the mothcr-in-law or
some other female relative removes
the handkerchief which covers the
blushing brides face, braid her long
tresses and places upon her head a
married woman's head-dress.
1t is now late at night, may be, but
a wedding breakfast :" is served
with great spirit. Originally, it was
the custom, among the peasants. for
the bride and bridegroom to retire
during the breakfast. Then, as now.
all men ON all occasions wore boots,
and, although then, as now, every
bed-chamber had boot-jack. the
bride must pull off her lords boots.
Before the marriage ceremony he fixed
a scheme to determine her lot in life.
In one boot he secreted the surplus
gold and silver coin he possessed. If
the bride pulled the boot possessing
the valuables first. she not only got
the money but immunity against ever
drawing her husbands boots in the
future. If, however. she first got
hold of the boot not containing the
money. she was subject to her hus-
bands whims. If he choose to use
her hands for boot jack at any tir,e
he was licensed to do SO and she had
no recourse.
Of course. in the higher grades of
Russian circles the customs partake
more of the American and English.
But in the country and among the Or
binary folks the olden-time usages are
observed even now. The wife is ex-
pected to stay at home and look after
her many children and know nothing.
The fasts and festivals of the church
afford about the only relief from mo-
notony Russian wife ever finds. Liv-
ing away from the world. it is no won
der the Russian women so often de-
pend upon the witchcraftery of women
medical advisers for their physical
cures. and have so many superstitions
about spiritual ailments. All Russian
women are superstitious. and the per
cent. of those educated is probably
lower than any other civilized women
in the world.
An American in Russia must exercise
great care and deliberation in acting
upon letters, notes and invitations re-
ceived from his Russian friends. He
would do well to consult a native.
Should he receive missive making an
announcement like this:
Mikel Strokoff sends his compliments,
and hopes you may live long,
the recipient must not take it for grant
ed that call is desired. or that a dinner
or theater-party is on hand. for it
means that "Mikel Strokoff' is dead.
and that this is the Russian way of an.
nouncingit The proper thing is to di !.
Al. \