The times., 1898-10-23
THE SOCIAL CALENDAR
October's Last Days to Be
Marked by Many Weddings.
THE BRIDES OF NOVEMBER
NuptinI Events Next Month Bid Fair
TO Equal In Number and Excel In
Brilliancy Those of the Present
Then, Hail to the Debutantes-
Personal Mention.

Nothing especial happened In the social
world last week except weddings, and ex-
cept for more weddings. nothing especial
is likely to happen during the week to
come The war weddings set the FASH
ion for simplicity in the Summer, and the
Autumn brides, with but few exceptions,
are carrying the idea out. There is SIM
ply no end to the money an October we'd
ding can cost IL the rich bride lives up to
the capabilities of the family bank book.
The dress is a fortune of itself. Silk,
maybe, satin most likely; long train bill
lowed with yards and yards of rare lace.
Nearly always the bride is swathed in a
mist of tulle or lace, flower crowned and
jewel-pinned generally with diamond
sunburst, "the gift of the groom" There
is the traditional bouquet-to be, accord
ing to the English fashion, arranged this
season into a cascade" instead of
which. when the the florist is done with
II, is worth somewhere near its weight In
gold. The dozen or more attendants
which now include matrons and widows
are gowned in keeping with the splendor
of the bride, each receiving a jeweled
souvenir from herself and the groom.
There are ante-dinners and theater par
ties, and at the close of the church SER
vice-to which admission is generally by
card-a formal reception is held at florist
bedecked home of the brides parents, ="
with stringed orchestra invariably
screened from view by palms. In some
befiowered corner Is set up an elaborate
combination of ices, with seas of punch
in big, consequential silver bowls, and
in the spacious dinins~room is set table
with a centerpiece, say of La France
roses and maiden hair fern, with q big
sugared wedding cake in conspicuous evi-
dence fianked by the inevitable silver cam
delabra, capped nine times out of ten
with pink shades.
So far this month there has been a
dearth of floral pages and rainbow
maids. The chanting chorister has not
been heard from. and there has been a
distinct falling off in those time-honoreti
mascots, old slippers and rice. They are
all interesting features in their ways, but
that they are not necessities from either
an ecclesiastical or social standpoint is
evidenced by the almost absoluteness
with which they have been dispensed
with in this year of grace.
II is always satisfactory to know the
family history of custom which We
practice without knowing why.
In these days when the world and his
wife get married they include in theiI
arrangements that highly ornamental
appendage, the best man" Why, they
| don't exactly know, except that they
| can't be united In style without him
which is very commendable reason
and we have Socrates's word for ii tha
| one reason is always enough. In tbs
| good old times, however. when the gol
| den-age folk (whom we occasionally
have flung at US in contrast with our OWL
| wickedness) had the earth to themselves
! the best man was originated for a pur
pose, and that purpose was to fight.
was his graceful mission to protect, b!
| force of arms, the bride of the occasion
| from all rivals who might attempt L
| carry her off, and for the better fulfill
| ment of his duties he selected trusty re
tainers TO help him out, and who proba
4 bly, figure as the ushers of today. Th
| Scandinavian warrior, for instance, neve
| condescended to let girl know he want
| ed her until she was on her way to b
4 married to some other man. Then II wa
/ that she best man was expected to d
| great things for the bride and groom
and that he did It to the entire satisfac
ton of both parties is evidenced by III
fact that Hymen retains him in per
| petual service, long after the CONDITION
| that caused his existence have foreVe
| passed away