The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-08-23
Add the friends of the T. family


family-plus an employer and the
clerks in the store-and visions of a
home practically furnished, with moth
ing but the kitchen range and a few
washtubs, perhaps, not on display
among the wedding presents, gladden.
Noostarter's prophetic soul and en-
bolden him to ask Miss q to link her
fate with his.
"What popular young couple Moo
starter and his bride must be p
Not necessarily. They are simply
the benefciaries Of a pernieious cus=
tom of compulsory giving, which so.
ciety has winked at as harmless and
laughed at as funny" until it has
virtually grown into species of black
mail.
The sufferings Of the wight who
dares to accept a wedding invitation
literally. and goes to it because he
has been assured, in black and white,
that the pleasure of his company is
than described.
Perhaps he is fellow clerk of Moo
starter. Not a dashing, daring fellow
like Noostarter, who feels warranted
in risking matrimony while friendship
fills the sails, but a timid, cautious,
! plodding sort of fellow conscious Of
small salary and many claimants upon
it.
He is fond of Noostarter and would
like to see the "old fellow married,
and he goes--to suffer. The gorgeous
display rooms convict him Of being a
mean, miserly curmudgeon, who has
not purchased his welcome. Not a
single bit of that glittering array Of
silver and china and bric-a-brac is
tagged with his name. The hot color
mounts into his cheeks. He is ready
to take oath that every man and wo-
man bending over the display and
reading the tags which give the pub
lie the benefit of knowing to whom
Noostarter and his bride are indebted
for each article, knows of his derelic-
tion, and is ready to point the finger
of scorn at him, if only the usages Of
society would permit them that genu-
inc expression Of contempt.
In better case than this is the young
woman who ''swears of entirely" Said
one of these wise virgins in hearing Of
the writer recently:
"Icannot afford to accept invitations
to weddings nowadays. At the very
lowest calculation each one would cost
me five dollars. I have lots of girl
friends. All Of my class are out and
ready for matrimony. No use trying
to hold fast by simplicity. Simplicity
is clean out Of date.
IT began by manufacturing my Of
ferings. My creations excited wonder
and awe in the home circle. They
were all perfectly lovely in the eyes
Of my partial critics. But after I had
been thanked at two weddings ili-con-
cealed scorn for my nice little remem-
brance, conviction seized upon me. ]
must not do it again !! must invest.
''To what extent must depend upon
the exigencies of the case. That is,
the probability of other folks giving
One does not care to inform the whole
world Of ones own poverty-stricken
condition. One must either try
to keep up with the procession or one
must drop out. I have dropped out
IT found it too difficult to grade my
good wishes on the established scale
Bisque figures, at 81 pair, might be
admitted to display rooms untagged
They were serviceable as chink filters
in the obscurity of the background
But the sender Of them is sure to hur'
ry pass them with the stain Of guilt
upon his cheek. Five-dollar testi
monials of affection will pass muster
as second-class matter, warrantint
tag, but it is only after one has
recklessly passed the so limit that ht
or she can accept a wedding invitation
with clear conscience and wall
through the display rooms head up.
| Who is prepared to deny the faith
fulness Of this picture ?
In ye olden times-those good ole
times that were perhaps a little bette,
in some respects, very much slower il
all respects-marriage was solemn
undertaking to young couple no
overburdened with pelf. The bride
elect was not an idle lassie who cold
bloodedly calculated the possibilities
opposite. each name on the list Of tn,
invited.
| Her chief concern was in beautify
ing herself for the tremendous occa
sion, bestowing weeks of industriou
toll on the trousseau, which was largel.
the output of her own skilled labor ant
delicate fancy.
The groom-elect was haunted witt
grave apprehensions touching tn
solemn duty Of making home comfort
able for her coming. This duty hat
not been transferred to his friends ant
acquaintances then. He was the hom
maker.
Custom makes cowa IDS of us all. Ii
nine cases out of ten We give simpl,
because We are expected to give ant
because others are giving.
The fashion of displaying weddin!
gifts with the giver's card attached
was bold stroke for diplomacy on tn
part Of its originator. One needs al
unusual equipment Of hardihood tt
pace around three sides of a room de
voted to the di"play Of gifts sent il
response to invitations, in company
perhaps, with gift-bringer conscious
ly satisfied with the commercial valu
Of his own offering, and not vince will
dishonest shame.
There are but two courses left open
Either to give on scale not commen
surate with your ability, but with tina
of other givers, or "drop OUT as tn
wise virgin expressed it, The wed
ding gift shame has reached the pro
portion of public tax, and we doub
if many will be found to pronounc
the picture here drawn an exaggerate'
one, or the structures here passed un
just to any degree.
sThey say says Spriggins
"that it will take three generations tt
make gentleman. "That," replie'
Virgins, "opens up pleasant pros
noot for vonr or.ndson O-Tife