The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-12-19

Quaint Wedding Customs in the
Coast Vu1aHoa

OOUD6 VUMDO&
TAe 1gsas 1s 1assa1lsa - Hs1sswt1e ~
the ussak1ns ee RrsaA Abeve ase
1aoA-The Ceoseaaing
Ceeen6a6.
Th6courtship may have been of many
years standing, and '.the young mans
intention" have been not only obvious
to the community, but assumed with
out catechism by the lady's- father.
But 20 soon - the contracting parties
have come to an understanding, the In
tendant bridegroom, accompanied by
two or three bachelor friends. calls
upon the father Of his inamorata, to de-
msnd her hand IA marriage. The origin
OF this escort il. perhaps. capable of
moro than one Interpretation. It il to-
day, indeed, nothing more than piece
Of etiquette, but it may Be relic Of
time when escorts were not without
their protective use in the event Of any
difficulty arising between the parties,
or when witnesses to such an interview
were actually members Of the suitor's
family.
Yet that even now there may be oc-
casions on which the persuasions Of the
bridegroom's friends may be not with
out service would appear from the fol-
lowing conSersation between the sis
ter Of an expectant bride and friend
(the case being marriage with farm
servant): Sister-"Oor James ga'en to
get married" Friend-'Wha' wi p
Sister-"Ga' to marry . great coun-
try muck-the-byrs. He Gamma shell q
mushel nor yet bait . line" Friend
AN what the deuce guild win he be ?"
Sister-"Dinna ken. But he and his
lsddies brought in three mutchins, and
my father said: .A'richt.'" Friend
"Well, she'll rue't!" The consent of the
brides father having been obtained.
the happy suitor. accompanied by that
worthy or his deputy, proceeds on the
following day to the registrar to exc
cute the legal part of the contract,
commonly termed '.the booking" This
prosaic business dispatched on the
Saturday Of the same week the BRIDE
groom gives an evening party a. for
NAL announcement Of his approaching
marriage; graceful custom. much to
be commended. With this very ftly
ends the first of the three weeks.
On the following Monday, the bride,
with her parents, shows her acceptance
of the position by proceeding to the
town in quest Of her trousseau--an ex-
petition Of no less importance than in
Belgravia, though conducted, it may be,
with singular deviations from the cur
rent mode. Follows period of calms
devoted to the construction Of gar
ments which no layman is more worthy
to investigate in q Scottish village than
he is in the West End. At the expira-
ton of this, and strictly on the Satur-
day, bride with bridesmaids on the one
hand, bridegroom with grooms on the
other, respectively make house-to-
house visiting round, to invite their
guests to the wedding. Thus closes the
second week. On the Tuesday of the
third and last, q very classical scene is
played. The bride, with her maids,
visits her future home, where they to-
gether bake the bread for the marriage
feast; which, by the way, gives her an
opportunity Of criticising the BRIDE
groom'a view of "what is what" On
the succeeding evening party, for men
alone, il given at the house of the
brides father, the ladies being only in
vited TO inspect "the bonnie things"
the wedding presents, set out in the
houses of bride and bridegroom. In
these crockery plays the chief part; the
walls Of the new home being almost
concealed with jugs, plates and dishes
by the score; than which array nothing |
gives a more comfortable, If shop-like, |
aspect to the cosy interior of fisher
mans kitchen. When this exhibition
has been duly honored. the bridegroom's
presents first and then the brides are,
on the following evening, conveyed to
the new home.
Two days now intervene, and each Of
these IL marked ~ curious ceremonies.
On the night of tie hrst, the feet Of the
bride are bathed BY her maids in her
mothers house; while in the bride
groom's his friends perform that Office !
for him. On the night Of the second
the bridegroom and hi best man oc- /
cupy the marriage bed together. The
origin Of these ceremonies il worthy Of
On the Saturday, the
wedding day, while the young men run
mp gay flags over the house Of the
bridegroom, the bride sets or to church
under charge Of tho best man and his
.