Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-08-23

most Of the guests. The sons OF the
family act as walters, stepping over
the cloth and around the dishes in
stockinged feet, and accomplish the
task of feeding the multitude deftly
and efficiently. After dinner basin
and ever are in requisition again and
hands are washed vigorously. Then
there is a long, wearisome time of
waiting in momentary expectation of
the bridegroom's coming, relieved
only by the monotonous music and
dancing which has now begun to pail
on us. After brides, girls and chill
dren have all taken their turn, two
old women take the floor and are APP
plauded as they renew their youthful
pastime.
At last there is a cry: "Fhe BRIDE
groom cometh," and all is animation.
The bride, covered with red gauze
vail. stands in one end of the room
with relatives on either side. The
music wakes louder and her brothers
dance up and down the room in front
of her. There is glare of torches in
the yard, and the bridegroom enters
arm-in-arm with his "best man, ="
wearing festive white cotton gloves
and large button-hole bouquets of ar
tificial flowers. An old priest pre-
ceeds him and advances to bless the
bride. The young man, though BEAM
ing with pleasure, affects reluctance
and is encouraged to go forward
by pulls and pushes till within
arms length of his bride. The
priest joins their right hands, laying
his own on top, and repeats rapidly
the benedictions, calling them king
and queen. Then bridegroom and
best man, with the bride between,
head the procession for the church.
The brides friends remain behind,
for the idea is that she is taken from
them. The guests from the other
house, each with little taper, go out
into the dark, deserted streets, only
illumined by the torches glare. Night
is preferred as the time for weddings
as the procession will then be unob
served, though the music draws some
spectators, who peer down into the
darkness from the housetops, and a
the guard-house the soldiers bar the
passage with their guns till they re
ceive the expected present.
1t is a weird scene to be in, as We
wind about the. streets, taking tht
longest route so as to avoid the il
omen of retracing our steps as we re
turn. The little church is lighted with
candles and looks pretty in the sub
dued light with its arches and altal
and pictures. Confession is the frs
ceremony. Two old priests lead thu
young couple separately aside ant
kneel with them as they confess, in tn,
sight of all. They then go hand il
hand up in front of the altar, and {
priest in rich robe and miter, viii
two assistants, chants the service. |
is in the ancient Armenian and is salt
to be beautiful service, handed dowi
through centuries. Three times tn
solemn question is put to each an,
answered. A part of the performanc
appeals to the eye, and that | coul
understand. The couple stand facini
each other and bend forwar
till foreheads touch, q vail is throw
over both heads and Bible and eros
laid on top. They remain in this pc
sition some time, while the service con
tinues, and by the time they are pre-
nounced man and wife it seems as
they must be very much married. Con
gratulations are now in order and the
turn to face tho company, the bride
groom holding the Bible in front c
him. The priest stands near with
collection-plate, and the coins th
friends drop in are the marriage fec
If a gold piece gets in the generou
donor is in every ones mouth as
prince of liberality. The sleepy chi
dren, who have been standing abor
through the long service with thei
dripping tapers are ready to go HON
by this time, as we all are, and at mit
night the procession reaches the bride
groom's home.
The next day there is feast ther
and the trousseau is again exhibited t
his mothers guests, with many a con
ment and sometimes a joke. He an
his best man peep in to see the show
and are loudly rated by the old wome
for their lack of modesty, but the ol
fashions can not remain when there
such a disposition among the youn
people to copy European manner
The little bride stands against til
wall, mute and invisible, under he
red vail. She is now under a new +,
gime, that of her mother-in-law, i
whose presence she can neither spea
nor sit without permission, until tt
honor of being herself mother Civ,
her some freedom. But from this tin
on, in her new home, for years {
come, she is called by all the famil
sour bride. ."--Anaie Rhed Wilson, ,
Chicago Interior.
Ventilation of Wasps' Nests.