The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-10-09
DUTCH NUPTIALS.
The Dominic Didn't Seem to Mind
Losing The Kiss as Long as
he Got he Guilder.s

He tot he Gullder.S
The law then required the publishing
OF the banns three successive times i'll a
religious meeting before marriage could
take place. After the first notice there
was usually a dance, and after the mar
riage, festivities were often kept up for
three days in succession. 1t was custom
airy for the gro-m, after the ordeal of
proposing the question, to make his IN
tended bride a present of some kind,
usually a pair OF silver shoe buckles,
sleeve buttons, or a snuff box.
C~lergynlen were not very plenty in
those days, and the marriage must be
arranged to suit the dominie'S coming.
1t is related that a young Dutch swain
and his rosy checked fiancee, living near
Albany, were anxiously awaiting their
marriage day. They resided on the north
side of a creek, and the hard worked
domino, making his way to unite them,
lived on the south side Of the same
stream. AS the fates would have it, a
severe storm arose. with heavy rains fall
ing the night previous to the marriage
day. and the creek became so swollen as
to make it absolutely impossible. The
waters were rising, n its current be-
came more rapid every hour. The DOM
inie reached the usual fording place at
the appointed time, but it would cost
him his life to attempt to cross. What
was to be done? He made one
re5race his steps. when he was hailed by
two voices IN the opposite side, who en-
treated him to remain, and which he
recognized as those OF the bride and
groom. After some debate. h dominic
called out:-"Stop! tar we're you be,
and l will make You man and wife," In
the meantime the friends of the betrothed
arrived from the brides house in the
neighborhood. 1t was a singular spec
tacle. The dominic read the marriage
service on the margin of the creek, while
the bridal party stood on the opposite
side. After the ceremony was over, the
company turned to leave. Here was
another dilemma, which cast a cloud of
anxiety over the good old mans face
usually SO tranquil.
"Stop, den, my young friends. Won
moment, If you please. You cannot toss
the four guilders across the creek, but
you can leave them at the first house be-
low. Tell dem it Is ominie Van Ben
~schooten's marriage fee, and will call
and get it." He put these directions in
good Dutch, then mounted his horse and
rode off.
i This recalls the story of the good old
dominee in Brooklyn who came to per-
form a similar office. The groom was
English, the bride was Dutch. The mas
terful Englishman wanted the service in
English, and after some hesitation and
with many misgivings, the dominee con-
sented to do his best. The service was
nearly over when, encouraged by his ap-
parent success In mastering the English
tongue, the worthy man saids in stem
torian tones, II now pronounce you Two
one beef. Mrs. M. p. Ferris, in Hdr-
peT's BazdT.
A Noble, vehea Woman.
It was in the State of New Jersey,
however, and with the foundation of she
asylum at Trenton that Miss Dorethea
L.. Dix began her large work of creating
institutions out of nothing. And there
at Trenton, forty-tive years later, when
worn out out with toll, age and disease, |
she died in the department gratefully
rendered for her use by the trustees Of
the asylum. Meanwhile she was work |
ing with equal zeal at Harrisburg in q !
campaign quite IS arduous n one des-
tined to prove as successful.
And SO for the next nine years she
stormed the country, p~ersuading appro-
priations from the Legislatures of In
diana. Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ala
bama, South Carolina, North Carolina
and Maryland, and securing, besides. the
establishment of two new asylums in the
British pr%oyinces-one at Halifax and the
other at st. John. In her extensive
travels she carried in her hand a valise
of moderate size and wore a plain, gray
travelling dress with snow-white collar
and cuffs. Her trunk was sent a week
ahead with the necessary changes
of linen, etc., and one plain black
silk dress for special occasions. Neatness
in everything indicated her well directed
mind. often in her journeys she was
placed in perilous situations, as during a
ride, for instance, through an uninhabited
district of Michigan. The driver, a mere
boy, had a pair of pistols which he carried
he said, for protection against robbers.
"Give me the pistols" said Miss Dix,
II will take care OF them" Later on,
while passing though q dismal looking
| forest, a man rushed into the road,
caught the horse by the bride and
demanded Miss DIX purse. Il said to
him." she afterwards related fare you
not ashamed to rob q woman l
have but little money. and that / want to
| defray my expenses in visiting prisons
\ and p~oorhouses, and occasionally In Civ
ing to objects of charity. II o have
been unfortunate or are in distress and in
| want of money, l will give you some.' |
| While thus speaking | discovered his
| countenance changing, and he became
| deathly pale. My Godl" he exclaimed, |
that voice!' and immediatelytold me that
| he hal been in the Philadelphia Peniten-
tfary and had heard me ~lecturing to some
of the prisoners in an adjoining cell, and
that he now recognized my voice. He
| then desired me to pass IN, and expressed
| deep sorrow at the outrage he had COM
| mitted. n-Philddelphia Press.
"Fattening Them Up"
Tunisians have a rather unpleasant
custom of 'fattening up" their girls for
marriage. A girl after she is bstrothed
is cooped up in a small room. Shackles
of silver or gold are put upon her ankles
| and wrists as a piece of dress. IL she is to
be married to a man who has discharged
or lost his former wife, the shackles
| which the former wife wore are put upon
| the new brides limbs, and she is fed
until they are filled up to the proper
| thickness.
A Too-Dear-for- Anything Staff.
The editress of the Woman's Penny
Paper. q London publication, is a true
| lover of her sex. She and her staff work
| together on the most friendly terms. Not
| only are all the articles written by wom-
men, but the compositors are women, the
| Office boy is q woman, and SO are the jan
itor and telegrapher. The editress has
but one name for her staff-dear. The
assistant editor is called my dear, but the
rest of the help answer to plain and sim
| nla but sweet and short. "deap.v AT