Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-03-18
MuFFLED WEDDING BELLS.
Where Marriages Take Place Without No
tice and without Ceremony.

Where Marriages Take Place Without No
tice and without Ceremony.
There Ire few places and few
grades of life in either the rural or
the urban world where the word
wedding is not synonym for Joy
and festivity. Only the cynio or the
misanthrope protests against the
wedding celebration. We wear out
most customs, but the wedding feast
remains. While very likely not
the only place in the world. the
only place in my experience where
there is any general concealment Of
proposed connubiality and nuptial
intent is in the mountains of the
south. 1t may be generally known
that Zeb is keeping regular com
pany" with Lie. Suddenly the
town will be apprised of the fact
that "Zeb and Lie done got married
last night" This constitutes what
might be called an anticipated sur
prise.
Sometimes in the large settle
ments due notice will be given, and
the wedding takes place in the little
church or in the building used in
common for all public purposes-re-
igious services, school, political
gatherings and itinerant shows.
That practice is, however, generally
confined to the elite Of the commu-
nifty. In one place in my experience
the popular resort for the perform
ance of the ceremony was the broad
platform in the rear of a local saw
mill. Icould discover no ground
for the popularity Of this spot.
Sometimes a few intimate friends
would be invited to attend. Some
times there were no observers save
the casual passersby. More frequent
ly there were no witnesses save the
sun above and the lumber piles
around.
Concerning that spot a local mag
istrate tells an amusing story. A
certain man had been unfortunate
in the longevity of his selections,
had been twice married and twice
bereaved. He called upon the mag
istrate to officiate at a third ceremo-
ny. AS the happy pair took their
places before him upon the mill
platform to pledge their faith and
love he said to the groom: "Movea
little farther owe this way, John.
Toe up to that line. That is where
you've always stood before" And
there was no proceeding until John
had "toed up"
A man who was doing some work
for me came to me M day at noon
and asked permission to be absent
until "quartering time"-half past
So'clock. He said nothing to me or
to his associates Of his purpose. He
returned promptly on time, to an
nounce in a casual and indifferent
manner that during his absence he
had been married and, with the lit
tie furniture possessed by the pair,
had settled in a cabin of his own.
Again and again have I seen the
same plan followed in other cases.
The ground for SO general observ-
ance of secrecy I could not discover.
1t holds with both the intention of
marriage and the precise time Of the
contamination. l think it is due In
considerable measure to fear of that
narrowing performance known as
the charivari-in the idiom, "shiv-
aree." To those unfamiliar with
that entertainment I can only de-
scribe it as most excruciating pan
demonium, effected by combinations
Of pots and pans, horns and howl.
ing. It takes the form of an even
ing serenade to the newly welded
pair. The officiating musicians COM
prise all the young men and boys
for miles around. I have been the
unfortunate auditor Of one or two
such performances, and if I knew
that one were to take place around
the walls of my dwelling if I mar
ried I should choose to "live a bach
elor." I blame no man for retaining
his secret to avoid the experience
Black Mountain IN. CO. Letter In
New York Post.