The morning news., 1889-05-29
FASHIONABLE MARRIAGES. RUS.
SIA.
Russians Marry Young and for Love,
and the Ceremony is Peculiar.
Ernnl Hrrl1er's fnnr-ine

Russians Marry Young and for Love,
and the Ceremony is Peculiar.
From Harper's Magazine
The Russians generally marry quite young
in the upper classes, and amongst ooun -ry
people even at an earlier age; and to the
honor of this society be it said, love mar
riages are the rule, and marriages for
money are very rare exceptions. Dowry-
hunting and marriages of interest have not
yet made their appearance in Russian man
ners. Girls of high social position readily
marry young officers of the guard, who
furnish the largest contingent OF dancers to
the balls of Petersburg. During the car
nival feteS the two armies, the army in
petticOatS and the army that wears epau-
lettes, learn to know each other thor
oughly. Friendships spring up, the young
man pays court, aad one day, without
having consulted anybody, two fiances
come TO ask of the parents a blessing, whic!
Is never refused. The churcl does not
marry during Lent, so they have to wait
until Easter week. Fashion demands for
tae celebration Of the ceremony the chapel
of some private house if the couple have
not sufficiently lofty relations to secure the
chapel of the palace. A family that
resrects itself ought to have at its wedding
as honorary father and honorary mother,
if not the emperor and the empress, at
least a grand duke AMI a grand duchess.
The honorary father gives the holy image,
which some little child related to the
families carries in front of the finances.
They enter the church, followed by all their
friends in gala uniform. The cere-
mony begins; it is very long, aid
complicated with many symbolic rites;
small table-a sort of movable alta is
placed in the mildle of the oratO Y: the
couple are separated from it by a band of
rose-colo ell satin; when the priest calls,
they must advance, and the first who sets
foot on the band, whether husband or wife,
will be the one who will impose his or her
will in he househ Id. This is an article Of
faith for all the matrons, who watch them
at that moment On the table is placed
the liturglcal fCrmulary, the candles whicl
they must hold, the cross which tney will
kl $, the rings wnicl they VIII exchange,
the cup Of wine III which they will moisten
their lips, and Which is callei in the
Savouic ritual "the cup of bitterness
Pages relieve each other to carry with on =
stretched arms two heavy crowns, which
must be held above the heads # the fances
while the ceremony continues. At the de-
cisive moment, when the priest is pronounce
ing the words that bind them together, the
couple walk three times around the altar,
followed by the crown-bearers; until the
third turn is completed there is time to
turn back; after that the die IS cast,
the couple are united for life. Thsreupon
the singers strike upi their most sriGenU
voices the joyous hymn Let Isaiah Re
joica.n The b .ide and groom then 90 and
PROSTATE themselves before the Virgin OF
Iconostase, and kiss hor filagree robe. after
which tleY pass into the neighboring sa-
lon, where they gai!y clink glasses of c1arn-
pagne while ths invited guests receives
box S of sweetmeat' marEe with the mon
ogrlm of the young couple.