Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-30

light on the public highway Widow Sarah
Collins, dressed in q long shift covering her
feet.
In the neighboring town of Westerly the
same custom and belief obtained. Here is
an entry in the town records:
ITO All People Whom ii May Concern
This ~certifies that Nathaniel Bundy of West
erly took we widow Mary Parmenter of said
town on We highway with no other clothing
but shifting or smock on we evening of We
goth day of April, 1924. and was joyned to-
gether in the honorable state of matrimony
in ye presence Of
John Corey, and was joyned together
George, as above mentioned per
mercy Hill, me.
Peter Crandall, JOHN SANDERS.
Mary Crandall. Justice"
1 have a record of a SHIFT marriage as
late as the year 1886, in the town of Easton,
Mass.
/ QUAINT CUSTOMS.
1t was a tradition in England that a felon
sentenced 30 death could be rescued from his
fate II any woman would offer herself as a
wife to him and marry him from the gallows.
1t is said that such marriages took place,
and 1t can be seen that in those days Of
death sentences for political strife there was
much opportunity for romance and exhibit
ton OF sentiment. A curious variation of
this custom is told by a famous negro, Gus
taVus Vassa, In his memoirs. He states that
he saw in New York, in the year 1884, a
malefactor who was condemned to death and
standing on the gallows about to undergo
his sentence. He was reprieyed and liberated
through his marriage on the gallows to a
woman who was clad only in her shift. /
have not, In reading the memoirs of Vasea,
been impressed with their truthfulness. and
l think his story of the gallows marriage
will bear inv estigation and confederation.
The sport of stealing Mistress Bride" a
custom derived from the old savage brigade
OF many peoples, occurring first in actual fact,
then in symbolic customs, obtained in Con-
necticut until a century ago. II the bride
were leIt Tor q moment unguarded a party of
young men seized her, carried her to a
saddled and pillioned horse and bore her off
TO the nearest tavern, when She was redeemed
by the groom furnishing a gay supper to the
jewellers. Madam knights tells that some
times the groom deserted the wedding party,
was pursued and brought back to the BRIDE
a most ungallant proceeding.
II the marriage were one which would to-
day be termed Sin society" and THEREFORE OF
note In the community, q sermon applicable
to the event was often preached. The bride
was usually permitted to chose the text.
The wife Of Asa Greene chose from III
Chronicles, IA; And Asa did that which was
good and right In the eyes of the Lord"
Another bride selected from Proverbs: Her
husband Is known In the gates when he
stitch among the elders OF the land" A
New England minister, In honor of his own
wedding and his own brunette bride,
preached from the text, II am black but
comely," etc. :
OLD TIME MARRIAGES.
Many a shadowy outline OF the picture OF
an old-time marriage has come down to US
through the journals and interleaved al
MANAGES which some OF the old New England
parsons kept SO religiously. We read 'in the
diary OF Rev. Thomas Smith of Falmouth,
Me-, under a date just previous to the revo-
luton, OF one happy couple coming to the
parsonage across the wintry fields for many
miles on snow shoes; others came by boat,
the sturdy husband-elect owing with his
bride many miles along the shore or padding
in a canoe. The ~fayorite means OF approach
was on horseback, on saddle and pillion.
These journals give us also amusing records
Of the wedding fees received by the clergy
men, not only In the country. but in town.
All kinds OF household stores, bags Of corn.
beans and peas. sides OF beef and ham.
strings OF sausages. a "store ~pig"-these
borne also on horseback 10 the wedding. One
Vermont couple. poor but loving and deter
mined. came TO town In midwinter la a high
backed pung. or sleigh. with half q dozen
handmade birch brooms. a box OF cider
brandy. q bushel Of beechnuts. q bog Of sau-