Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-21
CURIOUS WEDDING GIFTS.
CUSTOMS ATTENDING THEIR BE-
STOWAL IN VARIOUS LANDS.

Sthity hather lnsh Ofnament--The ked
Gard of the Chinese and the Pig. Sheep
or Cow OF the Swedes-Origsn of the
Moryengabe and the Welsh Biddings.
what shall we send as n wedding present
s.mething useful or something ornamentalr'
How often this question is asked by people
who wish to remember their friends on their
nuptial day. II we are without the pale Of
consanguinity or affinity we fear to trans
gress etiquette by sending useful articles, UNI
less, indeed, we are ON terms Of the closest
friendship On the other hand, every one
feels that IL would be far wiser 20 send some
thing useful, so that the gifts may escape the
fate of so many wedding presents that are
stored away in trunks or deposited in the
vaults and safes of banks.
In the matter Of wedding presents our fore
fathers displayed a degree OF taste and iudg-
ment that the present generation might well
follow
Among the Greeks 1t was formerly the
custom for friends to send to the newly mar
ried people what were known as the unveiling
presents, because they were given on the oc
casion OF the brides first appearance unveiled.
She was seated in her apartment, with a gilt
crown on her head, and there she received
the presents Of her guests Among the Romans
both parties gave presents TO those friends
who had negotiated or favored their mar
riage. The custom of sticking coins on the
bridegrooms forehead is common to several
Eastern races, among others TO the Turco-
mans and Moors Of West Barbary. The
bridegroom on these occasions is placed within
q circle Of dancers and the guests and by
islanders, wetting small coins, place them on
his forehead All the money thus collected is
added TO the dowry of the couple. As the
coins are put on the bridegroom forehead
the attending servants shake them of into a
basket, which is placed in his lap, his eyes
being meanwhile shut, and the name of the
donor and the value OF the gift are announced
GIVE AND TAKE.
With modern Arabians the bridegroom
makes the bride presents, which are sent a
day or two before the nuptials. As soon as
the bride reaches the bridegroom's house she
makes him presents of household furniture, a
spear and a tent. The marriage contract
among the Persians stipulates for the settle
ment Of numerous presents, ia addition to a
certain sum Of money. IL the bridegroom is
in moderate circumstances he gives the bride
two complete dresses, a ring and mirror.
He also supplies the furniture. carpets, mats
culinary utensils and other neceSSaries for
their home Presents are exchanged between
the bride and bridegroom on the evening be
fore an Armenian wedding.
The introduction Of the Chinese method in
the United States would revolutionize the
present etiquette in respect to present max
ing. With the Celestials the family Of the
bridegroom make presents to the family OF
the bride of various articles few DAYS be
fore the day fixed for marriage The pres
ents generally consist of food, "a cock and
hen, the leg and foot of a pig, the leg Of a
goat, eight small cakes Of bread, eight
torches, three pairs Of large red candles, a
quantity Of vermicelli and several punches
OF frecrsckers. Two or three DAYS before
the time fixed for the wedding "a red card is
sent By the family of the bride 10 that of the
bridegroom, stating the quantity of furni-
ture that will be furnished as the brides
dowry.
In Siam all the guests must bring presents.
Swedish brides used to receive from their
friends pig, sheep or COW, and from the
bridegroom a colt, dog, cat or goose. Among
| the Weather class the couple sat on a raised
! platform under a canopy Of silk on their
wedding day, and their presents, consisting
| of plate, jewels and money, were arranged on
a silk covered bench before them.
The fee for the officiating priest at a wed
ding in Norway and Sweden formerly con
sisted of a present Of one or more bladders
filed with highly seasoned mince OF differ
ent kinds of meat, and also "A bottle or two
| of brandy. Every guest at a Norwegian
| wedding brought the bride a present In
many parts kes of butter was the usual
| gift, and if the marriage took place in the
winter, salted or frozen meat was offered.
THE MoRGENGABE
| Among the early Germans money was given
| TO the brides relatives on the wedding day,
but this usage was not followed If the mar
rage happened TO be an unequal one Men
Of rank who had lost their wives, but had
children, in order TO avoid burdening their
estates, married low born women, who. bring.
ing no fortune, were not entitled 70 dover.
In such cases the husband gave his wife such
gifts as pair Of oxen for blowing, har-
messed horse, buckler, a lance and sword,
to signify that she ought not % lead an idle
and luxurious life, but should be partner
with him in his labors aud a companion of
his dangers The wife, likewise, gave her
husband arms.
The morgengabe, or morning gift was
| probably founded on the custom of the hus-
band making presents. At first the morgen-
| gabe was a present made by the husband 10
bis wife on the morning after his marriage.
| Sometimes IL was a chain Of gold or a jewel
and at others a portion Of the husbands for
tune. Formerly such present was given at
every marriage, but later only at the we'd
dings OF the nobility. This custom was often
carried to great excess, the bride having the
privilege Of asking for any sum Of money, or.
in fact, anything that she pleased, and which
could not, m honor, be refused by the hus-
band The demand sometimes was very ex-
orbitant If the woman chose to be avaricious:
hence the laws limited the amount to be
\ given Pay weddinESn general
throughout Germany at one time. At the
entertainment which followed the marriag,
the guests deposited gold or silver money OF
jewelry In basin which stood before tn,
bride, who was seated at table with hei
female friends
In other instances every visitor paid fol
the refreshments which he had as at an inn
Years ago Il was common in some parts q
Germany ms well as in Holland aud France
to distribute at the weddings Of the uppe
classes medals on which were various devices
Presents were made at the entertainment fol
lowing the nuptial ceremonies In France bl
all the guests who were invited to be present
The presents were deposited in basin tina
stood before the couple, while music wa
being played.
The weddings in Wales were characterize,
by several curious customs, among which tn
Buildings" was one of the most interesting
The richer people sent circular letters to tn
guests by paid bidder or invter, in whicl
letters 1t was stated that any donations woul
be thankfully received. In later years tn
custom Of sending bidding letters was so com
mon throughout Wales that the printers KEEP
bidding forms in type.-New York Star
Slight Chance of Recovery.
els the sick man out of danger T. asked