The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-07-29
MAARKEN WEDDING.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONY IN
THAT QUEER LITTLE ISLAND.

An Engagement of Five Years Is the Us
ual Custom and During that Time the
Lovers See Very Little OF Each Other
aud are Never Alone.
1t was a bright Sunday in June that
| chose for my visit to this little trian-
gular island of Maarken, situated III
the Zuyder Zee, whose Inhabitants, ac-
cordlng to Washington Irving, have |
settled conclusively, to thei: own
minds at least, the lOng-disputec ques-
tion concerning the situation Of the
Garden of Eden. Inclosed by b"oad
dyke, that keeps out the encroachlng
waters of the Zee, these fishermei,
with their families, live their quiel
| lives. Many of the women, ana even
| the men, have never ventured beyond
| its narrow limits. An air Of unusual
| excitement prevailed over the whole
island the day of my visit. Following
the direction taken by the various
| groups, found myself in front of the
church, and when few minutes later,
hand in hand, a couple, in holiday at
tire, gravely entered l knew instinc-
lively that it was wedding that had
so moved the calm, stolid Dutch peas
antry. The bridal couple approached
the altar, entirely alone and the bur
gomaster addressed few remarks
and questions to them. Then he ex-
tended his hands in blessing and sol
emnly shook hands with first the
groom, then the bride, and the cere-
) mony was ended. Quietly, without a
word or sign to or from any one, they
turned. and, hand in hand, slowly left
the church and walked in the middle
! OF the street to their new home whlcl
Y the groom, according to custom, en-
, tered first, the bride following abou
| a minute later, both having removed
their shoes and left them on the out
side. Not word or glance was ex
y changed between them. The littl
bride was most picturesque. Her darl
stuff skirt over a white petticoat wa
Just short enough to show her feet, III
cased in blue knit stockings and leatn
er shoes with silver buckles. A whit
e spenser, over which was a bodice o
IS corselet, green In front and red behint
heavily embroidered in gold and silve
70 thread. These bodices are works
art: the embroidery Is most gorgeous
~ and it takes years to finish one. The
Ill are handed down from mother
daugher as heirlooms. Like all the W
n men on the island, old and young, IL
little bride wore a white cap Govern
er all the hair excepting a square bang
e. front and a long yellow curl on eith
side of the face. The groOm's knicke
=, bockers would have made bicyc
- girl envious. He wore a striped wais
coat over red shirt, long silver chai
III and collar buttons, also heirlooms.
no certain age, somewhere near siXtee
the girls assume the "shako' or G.
m worn by the women. After this tn
can "smuggle," as the term Is, or
by English they make their debut.
nd the evening, after the fishing boz
come in, the young men and made
r assemble in the harbor and sit In
VI boats together. AS soon as they
ain come engaged, all this Is changed.
ate girl stays ut home and learns to bt
the good housewife, weaves and makes
t a lines. etc. The engagement usua
IS lasts five years. During this time
n n Young couple seldom see each oti
IL never alone. The man fishes, build
home and makes ready for his brl
ohi a p w. in Washington Star.