The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-25
THE NUPTIAL KNOT.
WEDDING CUSTOMS AND CERE-
MONIES IN MANY LANDS.

The first marriage, according to the
Bible record, was closely connected with
tile creation of man and woman on earth,
or. to state it in other terms, the woman
was made to be the wife of the man, says
Marcus Love in the Chicago Globe As the
fIst wife was made for the husband and
there were no relatives to interfere, it is to
be presumed that there was no ceremony,
although one Of the wise old fathers tells us
that the first marriage was the true type of
all others, for God was the priest and
the angels the witnesses"
ANCIENT BETROTHAL AND ESPOUsAL
In the earliest records that have come
down to US very little is said about tie
ceremony by which a couple were ordi-
narily united. Among the primitive Jews
there was bethrOtha and espouSal, but no
further formal ceremony except the mere
removal of the bride from her fathers
house to that of the bridegroom or his
father. At a later time the ceremonies
began to be moro elaborate. On the wed
ding day the bride would be as elegantly
attred as her circumstances would permit.
and yelled like Rebecca. A maid was
always married on the fourth day of the
week, ard a widow on the fifth. During
celebrator, would take the hand of his
daughter and give her 10 tde bridegroom,
saying: Behold, take Ter after the law of
Moses and lead her away" Ii the father
did not act as celebrator, the rabbi or hezen
Of the synagogue would take the extremity
of the scarf or garment which was around
the bridegrOOms neck and cover the head
of the bride with it, after which he cOnse-
Grated cup Of wine and gave it to the two
contracting parties.
In modern times canopy of silk is usually
put up, under which the bride and bride
groom stand on either side Of the parents or
guardians, and in front is the chief rabbi,
standing between the two ministers of the
synagogue Tire bridegroom then presents
the ring (which was only modern custom
IN lieu of dOwer). The ring is examined by
the chief rabbi, who asks the happy man if
the ring is his own, and being answered in
the affirmative the bridegroom places the
ring upon the forefinger of the bride say
ing: Behold, thou art sanctified to me,
according to the the law of Moses and
Israel" Then follow blessing and prayers
by the rabbi, after which one of the syna-
gOgue officials deposits on the ground at the
foot of the bridegroom a small board, upon
which an ordinary wine glass is placed.
The bridegroom then stamps upon it and
dashes it 10 pieces, when all assembled cry
out: "Mazzletour! Mazzetourw Good
luckl Good luckD Then follow the usual
handshaklngs and congratulations, and the
ceremony is over.
Among the ancient Babylonians the cere-
monies were originally much tde same. There
were festivities lasting three days, and in
their course occurs the following curious
custom: The bridegroom was placed with
in circle Of dancers, and the guests and
bystanders then proceeded to stick small
coins upon his forehead As the money
fell it was caught in an open handkerchief
held under his chin After this a party OF
young men would rush into the crowd and
carry off the most wealthy guests and lock
them up in dark room until they paid
proper ransom, which would go to swell
the dowry.
The custom that guests at a wedding
should make presents to the bride and
bridegroom is very old; in fact it has been
observed in all parts Of the world by many
people and at all periods of the worlds his
tory. The old Greek, the Roman and the
jew all did it, and it is a common custom
among even savage tribes to this day, but
the presents made vary with the people
making them. and with the rank which is
given to womanhood in the national GUS
toms. In old Norway the brides wedding
outfit included a shisld, sword and an ak,
1t being supposed that she would need these
to protect herself against her husbands
blows.
MARRIAGES MADE EASY.
The easiest wedding to make in any
civilized country i'll the world at the present
time Is what is known as a common law
marriage under the laws of Scotland Such
weddings have been held valid for at least
100 years, but labor under the disadvantage
OF being considered disreputabe. The
leading principle" said kLord Daas, in a
Judgment delivered by him few years ago,
is that consent makes marriage. No
ceremony, civil or religious; no notice be-
lore or publication after, no cousummation
no cohabltation, no writing, no witnesses,
even, are essential" A peculiar feature of
thls KIND of marriage is that tho claw of
the place" governs the marriage; hence all
persons, though not of Scottish dOmcile,
may, by very little foolishness, find them
selves securely married by the operation of
the Scottish law.
In Ireland an important part of the csre-
mony Is collection for the priest, which
sometimes amounts TO ego or $50. The
IRISH peasantrv are ingenious in doing this
60 as 10 secure the largest results; and here
Is one of the methods: 4 wedding feast is
provided and eaten. Immediately upon
tne removal of the cloth, the priest marries
ine young couple, and the bride cake is
brought Ia and placed before the priest
VINO, putting on his STOLE bleSses it and
SSuUS IL up into small slices, which are
handed around on large dish among the
guests. Each one takes u slice of the cake,
ana lays down in place of it donation for
NE priest, consisting Of pounds, crowns or
enlIllngs, according to the ability of the
Sohor Ii the amount given by any guest
De not considered sufficient those present
are by no means slow in making it uncom-
1ortabIe for that guest, until he shall pay a
proper amount.
III many places in England and Ireland il
considered prudent on the part of the
urlde to take care at the altar 10 put her
tTlght foot before that of the bridegroom,
tGr tnen she will be sure 10 get the etter Of
nm during the whole Of the married life.
rms is especially prudent in Wales, for,
uuuer the W elsh law, a husband might ad-
munster three blows with a stick on any
lai1 OF the person except the head of his
we IN case she misbehaved, and another
unntcted that the stick should not be longer
t man me husbands arm, nor thicker than
us middle finger.
Welded BY PROXY
The most singular custom Of the middle
oSes was that of marriage by proxy. The
earliest mentioned vas that of Clovis of
france, with Clotilde Aurelle, his agent,
hurried Ciotilde at the court of Bourg lgne,
~ Uhe name of Clovis, his master, by giving
.oI ring and other pledge, of a regJlla.
riaI rlage. A like marriage occurred in
olahd where King SigismuUd III. first
"0lued his queen by proxy IL is ais men
ApUeQ in tha ifa ~ Tb.vtag L" that Linz