The morning call., 1894-06-17

given by the priests. and ONLY when spe-
clal compliment is intended does the father
Oh one or the contracting parties 90 in per-
son to bid the guest.
Cnild marriages are still, / believe,
part OF the Parsee code, but not of the
tr "tSee custom. children are still be-
troshed very young, but not often.
AT marriage where both bride and
groom belonged to prominent Parsee fam
lies In Bombay the groom and his friends
marched to the house of the bride at
O'Clock in the afternoon. The men were
all dressed IN white and looked very hand
some. Tor almost every well-to-do Parsee
man is handsome. A band of music was
with the procession and played unceas-
ingly. Formerly the Parsee women formed
part OF every Parsee marriage process
sion, but on this occasion there were men
only. The bridegroom's mother had pre-
ceded him to the house of the bride, bear
ing with her the prescribed gift of a dress.
At the end Of the procession walked a
score or more of coolies carrying on their
heads shallow baskets heaped with cocoa
nuts. At every turn of the street cocoa
nut was waved about the bridegroom's
head, then broken and thrown awav.
Some time before the brides house was
reached her only sister met the process
sion. carrying three silver chattees. Into
the upper one the bridegroom dropped a
rupee. That was symbolical of his deter
mination never to fail to befriend his
wife's family.
At the threshold of the house an aunt of
the bride threw rice and water and an un-
cooked egg beneath the feet Of the groom.
Then she welcomed him ana he was care
tul to put his right foot in before the left.
Inc women were waiting in large,
handsomely furnished room. The ParSee
ladies' all sat on small silk carpets that had
been placed for them on the floor. The
men all sat about the walls on low, mar
row, backleSs benches. The father of the
pride and the father Of the groom sat side
by side, and the chief priest blessed them.
In the center of the room low platform
OF stone had been built. This is called the
wedding booth" Sometimes a complete
booth is erected and richly decorated. but
not invariably. The stone foundation must
De lald-u denotes purity and chastity.
Chastity, IN the best and broadcast sense, is
the beginning and end Of the Parsee re-
igion. Two chairs were placed side by
side upon the stone foundation. Then the
bride came in with her mother.
The contracting couple were seated upon
the chairs that were upon the stone. They
were facing each other. Then the eere-
mony proper began. A priest tied their
right hands together with a soft silken,
bright red thread. Two Younger priests
stepped forward, carrying a large piece of
yellow cloth. This they held between the
bride AID groom. The chief priest stood
near them, holding in one hand a lighi ed
censor and in the other dish of benja-
min. Another priest gave a handful of
rice to both the groom and bride. The
chief priest began 3 long prayer. At a
certain word, for which the young couple
listened inteDtly. he threw the incense into
The fire. At that moment the couple threw
their haDdfulS Of rice each into the others
face. Then their position was changed
and they were placed side by side. Two
of the priests stood before them, and two
witnesses stood beside them, holding brass
plates heaped with rice. The priests be-
gan the marriage blessing. This they re-
cited in Zend and Sanskrit. At every sem
tence they pelted the couple with rice.
Then the priest put the two questions,
Have you espoused her?" and ''Have you
espOused him?" He was answered, "Yes,
l have espOused her," and Eyes, have
esDoused him." The questions and the
answers were in Persian.
After the marriage benediction there
were other ceremonies more fanciful and
less interesting. The husband and wife
ate out of one dish and each found in It
ring.
The marriage feast followed in an ad.
jacent room. Upon the floor of the dining
room were laid long silken carpets. They
were about foot and a half wide and
about fifty feet long. Upon them the
guests seated themselves. They had plan
tain leaves for plates and used fingers for
forks.
Except in the matter of hats and caps
manv Parsee men on ordinary occasions
dress like Europeans. Women do not wear
the European dress, in which respect they
are superior to the Japanese women, whom
they are like in being fragile, pretty and
dainty.-NeW York Advertiser,