The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-27
ExTRAvAGANca IN WEDDINGS.
Ostenta- 10 us, Costly, Inexcusable, and
Vulgar Display.
From the PHILADELPHIA Times.


Next to the ostentatious and costly dis
play that is so often witnessed at funerals
the ostentatious and costly display of
modern weddings is the most ineXcusable.
The number of weddings is largely dimin-
ish d every year by the common custom of
costly display, and, in addition to the
serious hlndrance TO timely marriages, IT
is a perniclous and steadily growing evil.
There is nothing that is more beautiful
on wedding occasions than refined and ele-
CANT simplicity, while the ostentatiouS dis
plays, so common these times. always
border strongly on vulgarity, and at
times vulgarity Is exhibited in its
most offensive qualities 1t begins with
the vulgar gaze and description of the
bridal trousseau, continues with costly
presents for exhibition and publicity, and
ends with all tie pomp and ceremony that
can be commanded to attract the attention
and inspire the gossip of the multitude.
If any doubt the correctness of the criti-
clsm of ostentatlous weddings, let them re-
call the two which most convulsed social
! circles in New York within the last few
years. The most costly trousseau and most
dazzling gifts and most elaborate news
paper reports of any New York weddings,
are now memorable only as they recall the
DEATH i'll felon's cell, of the central figure
OF one of Il EN-, and the scandal that soon
separated the bride and groom of the other.
They exhibited in all the vulgar granduer
of purchased social position the gross vul-
garlty and extravaganza i'll weddings, and
they should teach all to shun egen the sem
blance of costly ostentation that seeks
notice at the cost of modest elegance.
There is another reason that argues
strongly against ostentatious and costly
marriages. II is the unwholesome lesson it
| teaches all newly married couples. Even if
they have what appears to be ample wealth
In possession or prospect, such costly eX
hibitions are calculated to unfit them for
| the great battle of life and its unknown
vlclSsitudeS. 1t is not at all uncommon now
| to see in want and misery the woman who
! only few years before was petted and
| tiattered as bride with every surrounding
of luxury, and the reSpons ility for the
misfortune rests largely upon those who
| started the bride out upon the perilious
voyage without the anchor of common
| sense knowledge of the practical duties of
| life
Marriages are occasions when friends
love to exhibit their affection for the bride
and groom, and it is eminently proper for
| them to do SO; but it can be done, and
| very much better Done, with every regard
| for mOdesty and elegance. The idea that
parents must lavish money on a bridal
trousseau that they cannot afford or that
| friends must give presents that they cannot
afford because of the possible criticism of
idle or malicious gossips is the one that
should be banished from every wedding
! occasion. To honest recipients some of
the poorest gifts in money value would be
most cherished, but if exhibited to vulgar
gaze and criticism they would be regarded as
confession of either poverty or meanness,
and such display ever exhibits a greater or
less degree of vulgarity.
Modest, refined, elegant weddings may
be had in families of the humblest means,
and modesty and refinement should be the
charm of every marriage occasion. 1t mis-
leads no bride or groom in the first step of
married life; it exposes no honest friend to
criticism for humble gifts; it harmonizes
with the exceptionally solemn life compact
best promise of happiness to all We are
fast banishing ostentatious and costly
funerals; let us speedily Danish ostentatious,
costly, and vulgar weddings.