The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-09-02
MODERN CHURCH WEDDINGS.
Marriages Which Seem But Fash
ionable Exhibitions.
SONS, OF the Features of the society Al
fair which Make 1t ippesr More
ora Ntock-ry Than Any
thing Else

To the thoughtful observer VINO hhuS
himself one of many impatiently eN-
pcctant of the brides appearance
through the church door the ceremony
which of alt others should be the most
impressive. loses much of its solemnlty
The feeling that prompts the earliest
possiblc arrival on the scene in order To
secure am advantageous position Tor see
ing and hearing. and if late the crowd
inc int, th.. ovrrfilled cdiiicr on tiptoe
To catch a glimpse Of the heads Of the
wedding party. can only hc one OF sheer
curiosity. What, asks the san Francesca
News Letter. j. the motive which causes
the girl about 70 face the most serious
problem of her life IL make punlc
spectacle OF herself 70 which she bIds
the public. aS far aS she knows ~ 10
s'comc and see Gazedat by mercilesS
ewes, quick to notice the slightest ue-
fiectiou from the proper thing she oilers
herself as target for comment ana
often ridicule. only a few OF the GU
rious throng are 81 filled with friendly
interest in the participants of the cere-
monial that they are oblivlouS To the
brides expression or of the tone OF the
groom'S responses. a marriage should
by virtue of all il signifies, be conSld-
cred as something apart from other
festivities II is an occasion when those
chiefly Interested should be surrounded
by only their nearest and dearest
friends. Then the entrance into the
holy bond of matrimony" seems holy,
and not an opportunity for the display
of toilets and new and original ideas
concerning bridesmaids.
Another mockery attendant upon the
fashionable wedding IS the promiscuous
sending of gifts. How many there are
To whom the arrival of that bit of paste
board with its summons is anything but
q pleasure, because of the equivalent
present which must be sent. For often
the obligation is felt by those who can
i'll afford the necessary sum required for
the purchase of wedding gift, which
must be 'as good as anyone's." Others,
with no thought or interest in the mat
ter, will carclcssly select something or
ANYTHING. 50 long as it makes goodly
showing, because it Is supposed to be
the correct thing to do. With neither
gift goes the loving thought. the kindly
wish, which makes the value of the
article, if the recipient is not placing
the market valuation on her presents,
ana appTdlSlnS clCu Out d. IL - uh
folded from it's wrappings In France
the sending of wedding gift is con
sidercd as a favor, and only the priv
ileged few who have some claim on the
bridal couple are permitted TO send
gifts-a custom worthy of imitation.
OF course, 70 the young couple whose
new home depends largely for its orna-
mentation on the generous remem-
branccs of their friends the gifts are
highly priced, and, as rule, are sent
by those whose kindly interest in the
young people leads them TO select such
articles as will be just the thing. But
for the girl, whose future is amply pro-
vided for, and whose home will know
no deprivation of any desired article.
the miscellaneous collection gathered
in from the dear five hundred or more
has no sentiment or value. Why will
not some independent spirit take the
initiative, and when she announces to
the world at large her coming nuptials,
state at the same time that she wishes
only the presence of her friends, and
nothing more tangible?