Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-16
The RlindroIdc:, Bride.

FidSe CeleDrdteu Ill ATLlelIit uh'iSi '~
customs of that country seven years
ago came up before Justice Clement In
the Brooklyn City Court Tuesday morn
ing. The parties to the suit are Joseph
Papazian, an elderly Armenian, and his
wife May, pretty, bright eyed Ar
menian girl, % years old. Her maiden
name was Saragavakin. She lived
with her parents in the little town OF
Harpoot, in Armenia. AT the age OF
fifteen, she says, her elder brother, who
was teacher at Diarbeaker, came to
her one day and said he had got her
husband, Joseph Papazian, who was
just the husband she would fancy. This
was on Dec Is, 1885.
It was decided that the marriage
ceremony should take place the follow
ing day. Her old father lay very sick
at home and knew nothing of the
prospective bridegroom, and she,
herself, had never heard of him
before and had never seen him
at all. All the negotiations were
carried on by the elder brother.
This young man told her what fine
husband he had found for her and OF
the money that the bridegroom was
willing to pay the family for the pref
test girl in the village. She would be
taken to a great city, where everything
money could buy would be hers. Then
he suggested that, to make her JOY
more complete, she should not see the
bridegroom until after the ceremony
had been performed. She at first OBJ
jected, saying she wanted to see her
future husband at the altar, but she
was finally pesladed, she says, into obey
ing her brothers. wishes.
When the hour for the ceremony ar
rived the bride was clothed in the flow
ing bridal robes of the country, and, in
addition to this, bandage was tied
over her eyes Then the silver bridal
veil was thrown over her head, and she
was led to the altar by her brother.
She tried to catch glimpse of the flu
ture bridegroom from under the band
age, but it was not until half an hour
after the ceremony that she saw him.
Mrs. Papazian, whom probably no
one would recognize as the pretty, rosy
checked Armenian girl of seven years
ago, told the court yesterday what hap
pened after she was led away from the
altar.
"After the ceremony" she said, Il
was led away to the house of friend
of nv husband, who took me in charge
and led me into room, where the
bandage was removed from my eyes.
Sitting at one side of the room saw an
old man who had little eyes and a very
bald head. l looked around for the
handsome young man of whom my
brother had told me. Then l learned
that the old man was my husband, and
ran screaming out of the room, calling
for the servants. One of these and the
old man dragged mo back into the
room and locked the door. sat up all
that night crying TO them to take me
away. No one needed me, and at last
nv husband obliged me to live with
him as his wife.
in December, 1890, we came to this
country. After | had learned the Ian
guagc little, and found cut that
women have greater freedom than in
Armenia. l ran away That was in
August, 1891. Since then / have been
living with friends in Massachusetts. !
have two brothers in this country
The elder, who negotiated my marriage,
is studying TO enter q school at Hart
ford, Conn. | saw my husband for the
last time in October, 1892, when came
to Brooklyn to see about having my
marriage annulled. "
The young woman told her story in
a plaintive manner, wiping her eyes
from time to time to keep back the
tears. When she had finished her
brother, Simon Saragavakin, was called
upon to testify. The young man said
he was 81 years old, and had been in
the United States for six years.
81 was present at the marriage" he
said, "but as l was only fourteen years
old don't remember all the details.
Nv elder brother made all the arrange
ments, and my sister was kept in the
dark about the man whom she was 60
ing to marry At the time my father
was very sick, and knew little or moth
ing about Mr.. Papazian. The day be-
fore the marriage my brother brought
Mr.. PapaMan from Diarbeaker, and
told me that he was going to marry sis
ter to him. Every thing went of just
as he had planned, and sister didn't see
her husband until she was taken to his
room after the ceremony. 1t was |
who served the summons and COM
plant on Papazian.'
When young Saragavakin had finish
ell tcstifying, Justice Clement looked
about the court room and called for
Mr. Papazian People looked about to
get view Of the old and ugly husband.
but no one responded to the name. The
Justice then adjourned the case until
Wednesday morning, and issued sub
ppna for Mr.. Papazian's appearance in
court.-N Y. Sun.
THE NEW CAPE CHARLES LIGHT