The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-06-14

=
! glorious morning dawned over hill
and dale. after several days Of rainy
unpleasant weather, when, accompa-
MED by ny little daughter, I crossed
the frontier, TO spend the day at Villa,
d nearby italian hamlet, as invited
guests at a wedding.
Everywhere around us was beauty,
and life and midsummer and abund-
ance, but not long could we tarry and
enjoy the grandeur of the scenery. We
had to hasten on towards our destina-
ton; the Italian dislikes waiting.
Turning towards the narrow Main
street, we were met by the mother of
the betrothed, greeting us with friend
ly reproach. PadrOna, we were afraid
wedding; suppose you wished to please
your little daughter? She led the way
to the house, entered first small
kitchen, through which we passed into
the living room, with its low ceiling
and narrow windows, something sim
liar to the chalets in the Swiss Alps.
only the view from the latter is to-
wards glaciers, while here it rested on
chestnut groves.
Some twenty persons sat around a
table, on which were piled huge lOaves
of bread and cheese. These mountains
are placed there to refresh the guests
as we'll as on exhibition, for their
height is the standard of the riches of
the house, and what is left over, the
bride takes to her new home.
After much pleasant greeting, Anun-
ziata, a relative of the house, made
room for us at her side. The father of
the bride presented the filled goblet to
us, saying: Take a good swallow.
PadrOna, in this heat you need it. -
Evidently not satisfied with my effort,
and looking for an explanation, he
chided his wife: "Beata, you invite the
Padrona, and yet provide not even a
tumbler; if you have none of your
own, why not borrow one" To which
the wife eXcitedly replied that for
years she had been in possession of a
tumbler and had intended it for the
Padrona, but who can think of every
thing on a day like this:
l intended to thoroughly enter into
the spirit of the day and people, and
so reached for the bread, broke off a
piece, but ere I could bring it near my
mouth, the husband was heard again
''Beata! Haven't you a knife?" The
wife smiled at her husband and advised
him not to NEEDLE with things he did
not understand. as the Padrona prob
ably brought her own pocket knife, as
the others did. This is all right.
4
knives, did not Jesus break the bread L?
She knows what the Bible says, nod
ded Anunziata, pleased to another wo-
man who made many pilgrima ges to
Switzerland with chickens, eggs and
vegetables, and added tolerantly: Why
should she not know it, the Swiss have
the same religion as we, aside from
the Madonna and the Saints.
Meanwhile other guests assembled
in the kitchen, the drawing room of
the Italian peasantry. They were quite
lively, and the contents of the cask OF
cheap wine diminished considerably
Then with loud hurrah, the door
opened, the bride entered. heated and
excited, dressed in bridal attire. fol-
lowed by her attendants, who had as
sisted at the difficult toilette now rad
liant over its success. Annina, the
bride, was a beautiful girl. cheeks like
peach blossoms, the unruly, black hair
now laying in smooth bands around
the head, and from the dainty ears fell
long ornaments, touching the scarlet
neck-handkerchief, gift of the groom
The small, though stiff and hard
worked fingers We're almost covered
with broad gold bands, gauge of the
groom's prosperity. The young girls
were asked to be seated and to enjoy
the food and drink, but Annina feigned
nibbling her piece Of dry bread, and
AnunZiata whispered to me that it was
lucky sign if the bride was not hun
CRY on her wedding day, want would
then always keep away from her
hearthstOne.
Again the door opens, this time with
great noise, and the young men of the
hamlet are bringing in their midst the
husband to be- The leader asks the
girl nearest the door: VIII you come
along? To which she answers no, and
the question is repeated till the bride
is reached, who, for answer, hides be-
hind the others, from where, after
friendly struggle, she is brought for
ward in triumph. Not finding this
wrestling to my mind, | tried to leave
the room unObserved, but AnunZiata.
divining my intention, detained me, by
holding on to my dress and laughingly
remarked: You are not the bride.
Don't you see she has to leave the
room first. Thus preventing a breach
of etiquette.
The young men were soon victorS
and escorted the betrothed and her
girl friends outside, where the process
sion was formed. a last glimpse back
wards to the home Of her childhood
and mOmentary slight emotion passes
over the little brown face the eyes are
full of unshed tears, then EDWARDS to
the church. In North Italy it is Il bad
omen for q bride 10 weep, she is to be
the gayest among the gay at her we'd