The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-06-07
MARRIAGE IN THE oLDEN TIME.
How Youthful ouakers Courted - An
EloPemcnt Frustrated

A letter written in the year IL g. and
accidentally seen by me, will demon
sirate that those living in that dsy were
also hampered by a marriage license
law L VIII give you the following ex-
tract:
THE practice OF issuing licenses is, rs
l apprehend, without foundation of law
the licenses, as issued, are most cruel
invasion OF domestic rights" I infer
from the foregoing that the legal eur
roundings were quite "a vexatious and
onerous then as attend the obtaining n
marriage license at the present time
In those days love-making was
solemn undertaking The fair Quakeress
received her lover only when in her
mothers company, or ii not her mothers,
what was then considered a proper
chaperonc. In fact, before maiden
coull receive lovers Rddres es il was
imperative on his part that permission
from the parents or guardians should be
had, and then the bashful lover made his
advances in the presence OF the Oil folks
and the only signals were tender rlances
and softly whispered vows; this was
termed coming accounting" The court
ing was conducted by the parties inter
ested with the most perfect decorum,
gravity of demeanor, and instructive con-
versation, and if the fair maiden was in
Clined 10 Coquetry il was at times difficult
to determine, on the lovers part, how lar
he had succeeded in making an i'm
preston on the heart of the fair Martha
or the fair Deborah, as the case might
be, as il was by glances. not words, that
the secret of the maiden's heart was re-
vealed.
The only allowable dissipation, to
make merry and grow fat or lean upon,
during the course of the courtship, was
quiet tea party or supper at 4 friends
house. and, after the intention OF mar
riage had been formally displayed by a
notice placarded on the meeting house
steps. the wedding in due season fol-
lowed, with an expensive entertainment
If the parties were in good circum-
stances the assembled company filling
the interior OF the quaint colonial house
standing in groups on the highly polished
wax floors, or seated on tho high backed,
unhendln. chairs of the per OIL, row
pTiysd so highly by their owners for
quaintncss and antiquity
II g health and future happiness Of
the bride AMI groom was always drank
by the invited guests Immediately upon
entering the house: punch bowls Of this
insidious compound were placed con-
veriently, that all could imbibe. as no
restrictive liquor law governed their
actions in those days.
The bride and her maids remained on
the second floor, while the groom re-
ceived the male friends below, and only
ascended TO the room above upon the
arrival Of the entire company. when IL
was allowable to kiss the bride The
festivities were continued. with eating
and drinking principally, for two or thr-c
consecutive davs. while LIQUORS and fool
were promiscuously distributed. then the
happy couple were LETT in undisturbed
bliss until the termination of q fort
night, when they opened house to re-
ceive friends. That eloprments were of
rare occurrence in those days may be &C.
counted for by the fact of the almost
overwhelming difficulties that would at
tend such Sn undertaking. | have fire.
qucntly heard related a family tradition
o. colonial time, with rather ludicrors in
cidents, apropos to tho present writing.
The only son Of prominent official in
the then municipal government became
enamored OF 4 pretty Quakeress. who re-
turned his love; but as neither had
reached marriageable age, and there was
no prospect OF their obtaining their
parents consent 10 q speedy marriage,
they determined to throw off all restraint
and seek the services of a PRESBYTERIAN
clergyman residing a few miles distant
from the city limits. The ardent lover
obtained horse and gig by hire or loan,
lIcN iOnOlN
thought, to get clear out of the town
without attracting attention. Unfor-
tunately, their course obliged them to
cross a swollen brook. as the recent rains
had caused a rise of the water, making
the fording places almost impossible.
When reaching the middle of the stream
the water came even with the gig floor,
and then TO make matters worse, the
horse became balky, refusing to stir. and
on application OF the whip firmly ground
Ell hinIself threw up his hind legs and
thoroughly drenched the would-bc bride
and groom, rs well as saturating the vel
low handbook containing the bri,lsl trous-
seau. The delay NJ the brook was fatal
to their conuubial hopes, as their elope-
ment had been almost immediately dis
covered. and the fathers in pursuit over
hauled them in the plight described in
the height, or rather depth. OF their
misery. The demoralized runaways re-
turned 20 their homes crestfallen snd de
pressed, with spirits a. veil rs bodies de-
ciledly damped.
Colonial customs and ways have be-
come gradually revolutionized. and mar
riagrable Quaker maidens of ISSS enjov
equal privileges with the worlds peo-
pie"