The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-29

good old times before this country was
discovered, and even to-day in Northern
Europe and among certain primitive peo-
pie of Pennsylvania the kindly feeling is
that when a couple of the neighborhood
young folks marry their friends and ac-
quaintances should combine to start them
in life. The wealthy give magnificently,
a COW, or even two or three, "A horse, a lit
tie flock of sheep, some beds and cover
ings of eiderdown or choice live goose
feathers of the donors own plucking and
curing. Those less affluent content them
selves with churn, table, some chairs,
a piece of linen, and so on down to some
bushels of apples and potatoes.
every society woman yields to the
matter of giving handsome wedding pres
ents because it is customary That alone
is sufficient reason for the anti-wedding
present league idea to receive consi@era-
tion at their hands. It would also have n
salutary effect, in my opinion, in other
ways. OStentation is too largely fault
of Americans, and it is noticeable at
funerals as well as at weddings. II works
injury in many ways.
''FOr illustration / will mention one
Frequently at funerals the flowers re-
ceived from friends outrank in point of
| beauty those donated by relatives, AS
the more costly tokens generally have
the most conspicuous places 1t often hap
pens that the modest gifts Of relatives are
crowded out. | will be glad to counte-
nance and encourage any innovation that
will remove the premium on ostentation. F"
MARY BIsLAND IS OPTIMISTIC.
"To my mind, - said Miss Bisland, fthe
whole idea of the league Is impertinent
and absurd. Giving or withholding we'd
ding souvenirs must always remain mat
ter of individual caprice, desire, or pol
icy AS well attempt to suppress the
time-honored and beautiful custom of be-
slowing Christmas gifts, Easter flowers,
or Thanksgiving dinners upon ones
friends. The pretty fancy of starting a
newly-married couple with testimonials
of loving regard may be abused, but
certainly not to the point where such
stern prohibition is demanded.
1.-THE very priGciple Of the league
savors of dictatorial interference in ones
private affairs, cf meddlesome pettiness,
and looks as though its projectors had
successfully conned the old adage. "A
penny saved is penny earned What
haze the brides and grooms of this genera
olon done to be deprived of the seven but
ter knives twenty tides and three dozen
nutpicks that gladdened the hearts of
their great-grandpapas and great-grand-
mammasl Among all the confusing dupli-
Gates there were sure TO be numerous
pretty trifies that filled the young people
with joyful gratitude and were tenderly
cherished through long years of sorrow or
happiness together
''And then if wedding presents are for
hidden Of course Christmas, birthday,
and anniversary gifts must 60 too. In
fact, the whole system of benefaction
should be abolished, and when attacked
by spasm of generosity the only thing
loft is TO 20 out and treat ones self.
'Recogni2ing that the custom is occasion
ally misused, IL should be observed that
the fault lies with those who give, not
with those who receive. In the flush of
her new found happiness the very smallest
souvenir will delight a bride. If the false
pride OF poor relative leads him 10 com
NIT an ugly extravaganza that is no good
reason for depriving girl Of the little
gifts that under those circumstances I'LL
her soul with ecstacy.
WHAT THE LEAGUE MIGHT DO.
"The whole tendency Of the age Is GER
tainly materialistic enough without sacri-
ficing The few pretty sentiments that are
left. Instead Of preaching prohibition
this new league might turn is attention
10 teaching men and women the value Of
q word. a flower, the veriest trihe given
with an impulse genuine, kindly and do
void Of circumstances.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox says that she has
always boon opposed 10 the custom, princi-
pally Tor the reason that 10 has been car
ried y q ridiculous extent. While she