Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-11-21
CUSTOMS IN ROME.
INTERESTING MARRIAGE AND FU-
NERAL CEREMONIES.

Wedding Celebrations That Were Replete
With Beautiful Features-EIaborate Fu-
neral Ceremonies Accompanied by the
Pickering Light of Torches.
There were very few old bachelors
and old maids in Rome Not only was
marriage encouraged by the laws, but
penalties were inflicted on those that
remained single. The betrothal took
place in public with many ceremonies,
at which the priests and augurs assisted.
The marriage itself was celebrated with
a great entertainment given at the
BRIDES home, and if she was to marry
a soldier her hair was always divided
with the point of a spear. She was then
crowned with wreath Of flowers and
wore long veil, just as brides do i'll
modern times A contract OF marriage
was then drawn up in the presence of
the guests, which was confirmed by the
breaking of straw between the welded
pair.
Late in the evening the bride was led
to her husbands home by three boys
whose parents were still living, and five
torches were carried before her, also
distaff and spindle, as emblems of the
habits of industry expected of her. Hav-
ing come to the door, she bound the
posts with wreaths Of wool that had
been dipped in melted tallow, in order
to keep out witchcraft.
The same obedience to superstitious
fears enjoined that she should by no
means touch the threshold in entering
her new home, so she was always lifted
across it. After this was done the BRIDE
groom presented her with the keys and
two vessels containing fire and water.
There was usually grand festival
held at this house also, and the guests
were expected to sing odes in praise of
the newly married couple. In Italy, as
in most warm countries, young people
attain their growth SO early that the
ordinary age for marriage was from l3
to 18 for girls and from 90 to 80 for
men. The bride was allowed little or
no choice III the matter, as her father
arranged everything with the BRIDE
groom, and it was customary for him to
stipulate that she should retain the con-
troll of her own property. When she
was enrolled among the matrons, she
had her own private band of attendants
and could go out in public without any
restraint.
A Roman funeral was also conducted
with great pomp and ceremony. The
dead body was bathed in perfumes,
dressed in rich garments and laid out
on couch strewn with flowers, and for
three days slaves and hired mourners
kept watch with every outward mani
festation of grief. The outer door of the
house was shaded with branches of cy-
press, and priests were careful not to
enter, as it was thought that they would
be polluted if they came near the dead.
Before the funeral procession coin
was always placed between the lips of
the dead body in order to pay Charon,
the boatman, who was to row the de-
parted across the river Styx, which was
believed to divide this world from the
land of spirits Many of these coins are
found in the old sepulchers near Rome,
and I have one in my possession that
was taken from burial urn in Pom
peii.
The funeral took place by torchlight,
and first in the procession came band
of flute players, then company of buff
foons and dancers, one of whom was
dressed to represent the deceased, and
who initiated his gestures and bearing
as clearly as possible. Next came ''the
ancestors THAT is, a groupof the most
prominent citizens wearing the wax
masks that were kept in the house Of
all who laid any claims to honorable
descent These masks indicated the diff
ferent forefathers who had held high
positions and were worn at all the
family funerals.
Round the bier in their newly donned
caps of liberty walked the slaves who
: had been emancipated by the dead
mans will. The family came next, the
females belonging to it with heads un-
covered and hair falling in wild con