The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-12

! according 10 his wealth to trustees to &c
| 80 ,ho hride AT the espousal. There was
| sometime Pickyickian about this gift
| si,c. what vas the brides was the
| ,-room,S and what was his was his own.
| So the generous lover got everything back
| when Tho contract was fulfilled.
| Accordlur 10 an old writer. the wedding
ring was first designed by Prometheus.
and fashioned out OF adamant and iron
by TubaI Cain. The Same writer says
that IL was given by Adam TO his son
to this end. that herewith he should
espouse a wife" When paradise had
quite receded from view, men. who are
deceivers ever. got into fashion OF we'd
ding with a ring made OF rushes. to make
their vows the less binding. But In 1917.
the Bishop OF Salisbury offectually put
his foot down on this practice Wedding
rings were made as often OF silver as OF
gold, and OF fantastic shapes, with "po-
sizes inside. one OF which ran:
Fortune doth send you. hap IL well or ill.,
This plain gold ring TO wed you to your
will.
The wedding cake is the remains of
Roman custom. In ancient Rome a bride
held in her left hand three wheat ears.
the attendant glls threw corn, either in
grains or in small bits OF cake. upon the
heads Of the newly married pair and the
guests picked up the pieces and ate them.
In the eighteenth century the wedding
cake came into general use. II was then
composed Of solid blocks laid together and
iced over with sugar. When il was scrv-
ed IL was held over the brides head and
the outer crust was broken, then the
cakes inside fell on the floor, and were
distributed TO the company.
Throwing the slipper has an origln the
reverse Of sentimental. and g. a reminis-
cence Of those barbarOus times when the
relations OF man and wife were much
akin to those Of master and slave. The
shoe was an Anel0-Saxon emblem of au-
thority. and was given by the brides IA
Their TO her husband in token of trans
ference OF power. which the groom ac-
knowledscd by tapping his bride lightly
on thc head with IL as an earnest of mas
tershlp.
The suporstitions connected with enter
Ing the married state are numerous and
curious and most Of them are purely
feminine possession. AS a. preliminary
there IS q little difficulty about choosing
a day, il this little verse is 10 be bolioy-
ed
Monday for wealth
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday. the best day Of all;
thursday Tor crosses.
Friday for losses.
Saturday no luck NJ an.
il "a day has finally been chosen. then
comes tine question 0f season. Marry i'm
Lent, and yOuu live 10 repent" takes
that period out OF consideration. Then
ctcn month has certain unlucky days in
which marrying and giving I'm marriage
u.s. not 20 Dee thought OF. Then there are
other sibylline utterances TO which the
prospective bride should pay heed. she
must know that "tO change the name
and rot the letter is TO change for the
worse and not the better also. that 90
marry and yet "t0 keep her own name is
10 keep her condition forever the same"
Wnon AN these little obstacles are o,.r-
come. bride I'm rraying herself for the
ceremony must be sure 70 wear
Something old and somothlns new.
Something borrowed and something blue
The sun must shine on her wedding day.
and She must not triD on The way 10 the
church. nor cross the thro hold with tho
leil .0ot hr.t. the same applies 20 TIE
bridegroom. 40 one must open am UNI
broiia while bridal pair arc in the house;
that would bring The worst Of il-luck
a horseshoe and o. wshbonc hidden I'm
,ne flowers under which the pair stand
20 plight their troth have D. most saluta-
~ influence ON their future lie.
So III those who are contemplating mat
rmony wish 10 secure the prize OF hap-
piuess I'm that lottery Of lotteries. they
have only 10 follow faithfully an The de
roctions here given.