Telegram-herald., 1890-01-31

kl1v ola4-f ~ the adults have beeu
brought under tae lnhcence of the
Greco-klsslza chuEch. which Is main
ained Ia Alaska ey money pald from
.Ls lalperlal treasury ~ s. Petersburg
ali 81 1-ch church aud its property @re
protected ~ the terms ol lAe tEe-gy IT
-esslon
JUST LIKE ROYALTY.
Last ui & b. Tie people OF slILa witnessed
a We ceremony in the Cathedral of 81.
Michael iuliy as interesting IS the mar
riagc oI tAe Duke of sparta and the
Princess Of Germany The bride and
groom were pure blooded Alaskan lndi-
ans u the al joining village IL Is inter
estiug 10 know that while the influence
OF civilization has wiped out the practice
Of buying and selling Young glIls Is
wives among these people, IA common
with the practice among the North
American Indians. ~ hom these people re-
sembie in only few respects, stlll .
valuable consideration enters into the
transaction in ali cases now, which
shows the origin Of the latter. The Alas
kan Indian has no ponies for gifts 10 the
parents OF tie bride, bat as blankets here
are badges Of wealth, as ponies are
among the plains Indians, he bears gifts
OF blankets Us the consideration Tor tie
bride
The Cathedral Of St. Michaels. though
a wooden structure erected over fifty
years ago, is ia an excellent state of pres
ervation. and lts interior - arranged and
embellished with all the gorgeous appur-
tenances which belong 70 the churches
OF thai communion. The wedding took
place at o'clock, nearly three hours
after dark. The church was brilliantly
lighted by nearly a thousand candles
the windows and the lantern of the Gu
pola being studded with them.
According 20 universal custom the
bride must be given away by some rela-
tive. The groom, rather good looking
young Indian, plainly and decently
dressed, entered the V est door OF the
church and took a position IN the center
OF the floor about ten feet from the door
In about half an hour afterward knock
was heard at the same door, when it was
tered, dressed in pure white, with .
wreath of artificial flowers as sort of
chaplet. The compilations Of both are as
brown As a chestnut. The person who
gave the bride away placed her on the
left OF the groom
In the meantime the gorgeous altar
screens were thrown open and the priest,
l.. 4
silver lace, was observed celebrating that
part Of the mass pertaining 70 that part
of the ceremony. Large lighted candles
were then placed in the hands OF the
bride and groom, and the priest, bearing
a lighted taper and the missal, came
from behind the altar, and from the
brilliantly lighted sanctuary, which no
woman is ever allowed 10 enter, ap-
preached a small desk in front of the
altar screen and read a portion of the
ritual in Russian. and again repeating it
in English and Thinklet- This portion
concluded, ia which the choir overhead
Joined IN singing, he proceeded 20 the
spot where the expectant couple stood.
and crossing his hands with theirs, and
each holding their taPers SO as 10 form a
cross, he continued his recital of the
ritual, the choir making responses.
IT this point the bride and groom
placed their rings IN his hands. and keep
ing the hands of all three in the form Of
q cross, he led them forward 70 q small
dais in front OF the desk. The bride was
attended by two women dressed In white.
and the groom by a Ike number of
young men of his own race. While the
procession thus advanced 10 the dais Lhe
ritual was chanted by the priest, the
responses being mnde in the choir. The
priest took ms place behind the desk.
and for half an hour intoned the words
of the ritual. first IN Russian and then
! from an English translation made by
Bishop Vladimar. Of san Francisco.
UNDER TIE GOLD Crowns.
Two heavy gold crowns were then
| plaord DTon tho heads of the bride and
I groom. and the rings which had received
/ the blessings of the priest bstore the
/ bride ana groom were conducted to the
daI3 were restored 70 the latter, the ring
worn by the bride when she entered the
church beng placed on one OF the fingers
I of the groom. and the one worn bv the
( groom PLACED on the appropriate finger
T q the bride. The int0oation q the
I ritual proceeded for another bali hour,
E the massive and beautiful golden crowns
I being beid above the heads of the b-ide
I and groom by the attendants, each Tax
I ing t8rns