The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-03-03

surely an article which in its origin
was universally regarded as an emblem
of modcsty and subjectIon is we'll
worthy OF attack by our oracular
amazons. In the mean time, it is the
almost universal custom throughout
the civilized world for brides to wear
the veil at the marriage ceremony.
Naturally, the fashion as TO color,
shape and materials differs, and what
would be good form IN one country
would be considered the height of bad
taste in another. For instance, the
Roman brides wear yellow wells, the
Bokhara damsels favor rose color, the
Persians and Greeks vivid red, while
the wells OF Turkish brides are usually
of brocade, and if appertaiuing to a
wealthy family, are often of almost
fabulous worth. What would doubt
less appear strangest of all to English
eyes is that OF Spanish bride, which
is invariably black.
The ancient Greeks had u very pretty
story to account for the origin of the
bridal veil, which, if not strictly nc.
curnte, is, We think, well worthy of a
place in our article. 1t is shortly as
follows:
Icarus, having given his daughter,
the beautiful Penelope, in marriage
to Ulysses, begged of him to make his
future home in Sparta, to which
proposition, however, his son.in-law
would not consent. An appeal to his
daughters filinl affections having
proved unsuccessful, and seeing Pene.
lope ready to depart with her hus-
band, 1carus renewed his efforts to de.
tain her, and even insisted upon fol.
lowing their chariot on its way to
Ithaca.
Ulysses, wearied with the importuni-
ties of tcarus, said to his wife: "You
can best answer your fathers request
1T is yours to determine whether YOU
will remain with your father, or de.
part with your husband. You are
mistress of the decision"
The lovely Penelope, finding herself
in this cruel dilemma, blushed, and,
without n word, drew her veil over
her face, thereby intimatins to her
father that she could not grant his re-
quest, md fell into her husbands
arms.
Icarus, deeply Touched by this
scene, and being DESTROYS that it
should be transmitted to posterity as
an example. erected, on the exact spot
where Penelope had thrown the veil
over her face, II marble statue to
modesty, that from that date the veil
might serve ms n symbol of modesty
among women.
AS We have already limited, the Spar
tans were not, we regret to say, iusti-
fled in their claim of being the origi-
majors of the bridal veil, for it was IN
use among the Hebrews at least five
centuries before the time OF ULYSSES,
as Is evident from the following pass
age in Genesis: ''Rebekan took a veil
when she saw Isaac coming towards
her and covered herself it being
usual, even in those early days-l257
Is. C.-for women to wear wells, espe.
clally in the case of brides.
Among the Hebrews the females
wore the veil rs n token OF modcsty
and subsection to their husbands, and
this is the meaning attached TO the
bridal veil throughout the East to the
present day, and, indeed, though
somewhat obscured and lost sight of,
IN Christian countries as well.
We may therefore trust that. con-
sidering the hold it has upon the peo-
pies of the earth, coupled with its mn.
doubted antiquity, the bridal veil may
yet long be spared tho humiliation OF
becoming another dragon across the
path Of modern st. George. House
hold World.