, 1889-11-08
A BULGARIAN WEDDING.
4 ST. LOUIS LADY DESCRIBES ONE
WHICH SHE ATTENDED.

How n Parry of Tourists Attended the Ger.
~emony-JottIngs OF Travel In the Region
of the Bslksns-GuIdes Who Frightened
and Illuminated tho Travellers
We were feeling pretty blue when we
arrived here at 1920 o'clock last night
in a most furious storm of thunder and
lightning and the rain pouring in tor
rents, sky black as Egypt's night.
The crowd of rufians at the depot add
ed anything but a secure feeling, and
they took us in as II we were SO many
savages taken around for exhibition.
Dur trunks had to be gone through, like
wise our hand baggage, and they actual
ly insisted upon opening every small box
and package inside our trunks. They
held a long discussion owe a shawl in
one of our trunks, but finally decided to
stamp our trunks through. While our
courier was attending to this the natives
were taking us in. and / never saw such
awful looking men. They looked as IL
they wanted to kill us.
A RoMAN WELL.
We spent the day very agreeably, first
AAfAA UP ~ ~ OaA AA(hnf We
had n good view of the surroundings
and saw quantities of soldiers, two of
which lovely specimens Of men insisted
upon our visiting an old well built by the
Romans, and we started down the steps
by the light of n candle, the Servian
leading the way md Cousin - and /
following. but keeping very close TO our
courier. We persuaded the other mem
Der of our party not to attempt to come
down. as it was so very damp and dark
and so many steps, SO left her up top
with another individual, who kept talk
ing to her in his own language all the
time and pointing to the steps, and final
ly assisting her down. So, TO our sur
prise, when half way down the winding
stairs we heard her calling to us, and as
she was very much frightened and ex-
| cited we turned back without reaching
the bottom of the 450 steps. These poor
people are so wild to make n penny that
they insist upon making you do things
in order to reward them for their serv-
ices. From the barracks we drove to the
museum, and then visited the palace of
King Milan's son, then drove to the park.
We left Belgrade at 1880 p. M, and
as there are no sleepers en- route we
made ourselves as comfortable as possi-
BILE for the night, but l cannot say /
rested much. The scenery along the
road was very pretty. The Balkan noun
tains looked quite bare after switzerland
and the train seemed to crawl. When
we reached some little station a dozen
soldiers jumped in and entered the car,
and began talking among themselves and
Il tn ms md na Y a Tnni1 NOT frn1argtor1
we took it for granted that we had
reached n new country. and opened our
satchels for them TO inspect. They
opened every box, more from curiosity,
| suspect. than for any other reason, and
emptied our fruit basket OF all the
grapes, which they divided among them
selves, and then stamped us through.
THE BULGARIAN
We are tonight in Bulgaria, in a com
Portable hotel and where we do not feel
as If our lives were in peril. When we
first landed our courier put us in n car
rage and started us off by ourselves
with n coachman dressed in a sheepskin
coat, white shirt and loose white trous-
ers, with a broad belt His costume
might nave been pretty when new, but
was exceedingly soiled. and he was very
dark, with small, Jet black eyes. AS it
was noon Sunday, all the country peo-
pie were in for the day, and l never saw
such a variety of costumes in my life.
Some very fancy, with lots of coins, ETC.,
worked stockings, with skin sandals
laced up the legs. In fact, it reminded
me Of pictures | nave seen of the Holy
Land.
He inquired il we could be permitted
to enter, and we soon found ourselves
escorted into the country villa of the
governor of Sophia, where the house was
filled with guests, assembled at the mar
riage of his sister.
The bride came forward to meet us in
her wedding gown, veil and orange
blossoms. We also were presented to the
groom, the bridesmaids and their beaux,
the landlord and his wife and to the
mother of the bride, who spoke to us in
French. One of the relatives of the
bride spoke to Cousin - in German.
They insisted upon our remaining to the
ceremony, and we were presented seats
of honor on beautiful blue satin furni-
ture. The ceremony was not in Bulgar-
ian, but Greek, with seven priests, can
dies, incense and high mass. We were
kept standing just n hour.
In the middle of the service their
photographs were taken. They were
crowned with orange blossoms and the
men all embraced afterwards; also the
ladies. One Of the bridesmaids was very
pretty and spoke English. She made
herself very pleasant and wanted &c know
II l lad ever met a friend of hers, a Miss
B., who was attending school in America.
Now that l ave described the wedding
party, let me give you an idea of our ap-
pearance in such distinguished company.
After spending all night in the smoky,
dirty train and with no accommodation
for toilet, We reached here at I2 noon,
hurried through some luncheon, brushed
head, and, fortunately, put on clean
gloves. So we appeared amidst silks
and satins, in travelling hats, dresses and
the largest shoes we possessed, and feel
ing like tramps-I think we attracted as
much attention as the bride.
Afterwards we drove through the park
nn1 Than .-oIl-al fh-a,l A. - II.