The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-05-05
Old-Time Wedding Lore.
From the New York Times

NS--
to the ceremony is not, perhaps, unsuited
TO the moment.
Beginning with the love tokens, it is in
teresting to notice in these days of luxury,
when only the most precious and costly
Jewels are considered worth offering at
loves shrine, that the knights of old
counted the veriest trihe a sufficient re-
ward from their lady-love for the proudest
deeds of valor and chivalry.
During the reign of Elizabeth, dainty
little handkerchiefs three or four inches
square were in high favor. These were
usually embroidered by the hands of the
fair giver or ornamented with fine gold
lace, buttons, tassels and the like.
Folded so as to display the artistic work
manship to the best advantage, they were
conspicuously placed in the cap. My
lady's glove, scarf or ribbon was also SINH
larly worn, as is widely chronicled in story
and verse. More popular than any of these,
however, was the joint ring thus described
in 'Don Sebastian
curious artist wrought EN-,
With JOINTS so close as not 10 he perceived
Yet they are both each others counterpart,
Her part had Juan inscrib'd and his had
Zayda),
You know those names were theirs;
And in the midst heart,
Divided in two halves, was placed.
OF curious affiancing customs history
gives many accounts. Parke, in his travels
in the interior of Africa, gives glimpse
of courtship in that remote region, where
he witnessed an act of romantic devotion.
A young Slatee, who was about to be-
come benedict, seated himself one even
ing on a mat near the door of his house.
In few moments young woman, his Sc
lected bride, approached him, bearing in
her hands a ealabash containing water.
Kneeling by his side she desired him to
battle his hands, and after he had gra-
ciously complied with her request, with a
tear ofjoy glittering in her eye she put
the vessel to her lips and drank the water.
This act is considered, in that part of
the world, the greatest proof of fidelity and
love woman can offer
Equally curious is practice in vogue
in some ports of Scotland. There when
young man wishes to pay court to Il young
woman, instead of going to her father and
making known his wishes he proceeds to
public house and con6des his secret to the
landlady.
This sympathetic individual at once dis
patches messenger for the object of his
affections The summons is rarely disre-
garded, and when the girl arrives upon the
scene she is entertained in the most lavish
manner the house affords, after which the
details of the wedding are decided upon.
In Guernsey au engagement is almost as
binding as a marriage. When young
man is accepted by lady of his choice
the parents give them feast to which are
invited all their friends.
In the course of the entertainment the
young woman is led around the room by
her prospective father-in-law to receive
congratulations, and the young man is
similarly escorted by his, after which they
exchange rings and other gifts.
This public announcement over, the girl
must never thereafter on any account be
seen walking with anyone hut her fance,
while he is scarcely allowed to even so
much as glance at anything feminine.
These courtships are often carried on for
years, and if ia the course of time the af-
fections of either undergo a change, and
the engagement be broken, half of the
property of the inconstant one may be
claimed by the other.
OF significance, too, is the remote an
tiquity of nearly all of our marriage Gus
toms. The use of the ring and cake at
weddings is almost as ancient as the cere-
mony itself. In an old book, "Swinburns
Treatise of Spousals,' is the following:
"The first inventor of the ring, as is re-
ported, was one Prometheus. The work
man which made it was Tubal-C Cain. And
Tubal-Cain, by the counsel of our first
parent, Adam, as my author telleth me,
gave it unto his son. 10 this end, that there
with he should spouse wife like as Abra-
ham, delivered unto his servants with
bracelets and earrings of gold.
"The form of the ring being circular,
that is round and without end, importeth
thus much, that their nuptial love and
hearty affection should roundly flow from
one to the other as in circle, and that
continually and forever.
From the earliest time the third finger
Of the Ieff hand was the enc chosen to
wear the golden band, because Of sup
posed artery connecting that finger with
the heart.
Anciently the wedding ring was usually
broken over the head of the bride, and
then thrown among the guests to be
scrambled for. Sometimes SLICES of the
cake were passed through the ring nine
times, aud then distributed among the
friends to be carefully preserved to dream
upon under the following conditions