Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-08-30

i
family act as walters, stepping over
the cloth and around the dishes in
stockinged feet, and accomplish the
task of feeding the multitude deity
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 coming. relieve 4
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 ap-
plauded as they renew their youthful
pastime.
At last there is cry: 1.-The 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 60 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, 60 out
into the dark. deserted streets, only
illumined by the torches glare. Night
is preferred as the time for weddings,
rs the procession will then be unob-
served, though the music draws some
spectators. who peer down into the
darkness from the housetops, and at
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 the
longest route so as to avoid the i'll
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 altar
and pictures. Confession is the first
ceremony. Two old priests lead the
young couple separately aside and
kneel with them rs they confess, in the
sight Of all. They then 60 hand in
hand up in front of the altar, and q
priest in rich robe and inter, with
two assistants. chants the service. 1t
is in the ancient Armenian and is said
to be a beautiful service, handed down
through centuries. Three times the
solemn question is put to each and
answered. A part of the performance
appeals to the eye, and that l could
understand. The couple stand facing
each other and bend forward
till foreheads touch, vail is thrown
over both heads and Bible and cross
laid on top. They remain in this po-
sitiOn some time. while the service con-
tinues. and by the time they are pro-
nOunced man and wife it seems as if
they must be very much married. Con-
CALCULATIONS are now in order and they
turn to face the company, the BRIDE
groom holding the Bible in front of
him. The priest stands near with a
collection-plate, and the coins the
friends drop in are the marriage fee.
If a gold piece gets in the generous
donor is in every ones mouth as a
prince of liberality. The sleepy chill
dren, who have been standing about
through the long service with their
dripping tapers are ready to 60 home
by this time, as We all are, and at mid
night the procession reaches the bride
grOOm's home.
The next day there is q feast there
and the trOusseau is again exhibited to
his mothers guests. with many a COM
ment and sometimes joke. He and
his best man peep in to see the show,
and are loudly rated by the old women
for their lack of modesty. but the old
fashions can not remain when there is
such disposition among the young
people to copy European manners.
The little bride stands against the
wall. mute and invisible. under her
red vail She is now under a new re-
gime, that Of her mother-in-law, in
whose presence she can neither speak
nor sit without permission, until the
honor of being herself a mother gives
her some freedom. But from this time
on. in her new home, for years to
come, she is called by all the family
''our bride. ''-Annie Rhca wilson, in
Chicago Interior.
Ventilation of Name Nae%e