The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-02-10
RUSSIAN WEDDING.

In the higher circles, almost imme.
diately after tho betrothul, workmen
are hired to make tho trousseau. Ac-
c0rding to an old Russian rule, the
bridegroom makes his bride a present
OF a wedding costume as wcll as Of
jcwclry. Tho dowry of a Russian
maiden will consist Of a full wardrobe,
household linen, kitchen utensils, sill.
yer articles, carpets, curtains, china,
furniture and a piano. The latter is
said to he Indispensable. They do
not are for plated articles, but require
that everything should be of solid sill
vel. People in very moderate circum-
stances begin early to lay by some
thing for the dowry of their daughters.
Wedding presents are seldom given
by friends. Should a young wife die
without leaving any children behind,
her dowry can DO lawfully claimed by
her parents. The husband can retain
only the bed, and the picture with
which his deceased wife was ccrcmo.
nially blessed.
Sometimes young ladies form par
ties to help the intended bride make
her clothes. 1t is said to be q popular
belief that if any part of the trousseau
forming the dowry be u%npickcd, the
young couple will pick quarrcls when
they arc tied together.
Tho month of May is supposed to be
an unlucky month for marrying. Tho
name of tho month resembles in sound
tho Russian verb .to worry;'' hence,
in part, the superstition. A moro
likely explanation is this: that. as the
winter breaks up in May and tho
snow melts. leaving such garbage and
filth to tester in the hot sun, Il great
amount of sickness is prevalent, and
the month comes to be regarded as
unlucky and trying.
The guests are far moro numerous
at u Russian than at an English we'd
ding. They are invited to lie s.ass:st-
ants" ut the wedding. To witness,
who is generally tho grandcst of tho
.'comncct;ons" Of the family, is the
most important person. He pays tic
priests fees. Then come the ladies of
honor and tho bridcsmcn. The latter
have to purchase sweetincats for tho
bridesmaids. The %..boyrain." who
.~carr;es the sacred picture of Christ III,
SILVER and gilt, is generally a little
boy. When tho party arrives at the
church it is his duty To hand the two
pictures to the ..rcalcr," who places
tiem behind the ..roval. gates or
leaning against the altar Screen.
TIC old nurse, or housckcrpcr, ST.
perintends the carrying of the lowry
from tho house of the bride to that OF
her future husband, and arrangcs
everything for the use of the bride.
There is no law as to the number Of
= bridesmaids OF their costumes. Their
dresses arc not all alike. On the eve
of the wedding day sometimes q .'fare-
we'll girls party" ID given. No gem
tleman attends this. All those pres
ent must be from the unmarried. They
sing choruscs. chase each otler in the
garden, and romp to t.ieir hearts con-
tent. They devour any amount o!
tea, ice cream lemonade, and sweet
meats. After supper they say fare
well and leave the intended bride very
exhausted in view of the ceremonies Of
the following day. The old custom is
for tho bctrothei pair to fast (eat moth,
ingl on the day of their marriage nn'
til the ceremony, which. in the fam
lily of anoble, always takes place in
tho evening. This makes the day
most tircsomc to a girl. The bride
distributes her cast-off girlish toys
ribbons and jcwclry to her compan'
ions. These things arc called .'maidel
beauty" Tho peasant girls cut VI
and divide among their companions
ON their wedding day the long ribbons
which are fastened ut tho end of tho
plat of hair which hangs down til,
back. These peasants, Immediately
after their marriage. have the hail
plated in two braids and wound
round the head, then covered with
sort of tight cup tied behind, or with
cotton Or silk handkerchief. When a
Pargola, in Finland, 1 often saw til,
unmarried girls trooping along in tn
cventidc, hand in hand. singing theiI
weird melodies. and friends told mo I,
notice the difference in the style of til
hair of the unmarried ami married
The married women have in addition
under tho invariable handkerchief,
little piece of linen, q dappet about TIL
size OF q form, hanging over the cell
ter Of the forehead. This is q NOR
evident proof of marriage than veal
ing q wedding ring.
When the women begin to braid u
the hair they sing part of q "eddin.
song
Al! my braid, my braid of maiden hair;
Ali soon shall It be d;v:de III " o
-Cassels Family Magazine.