The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17
CURIOUS
Marriage
Ceremonies.

]
/ the bridegroom, who had been called for
duty in the Philippines and was compelled
| 10 anticipate the date originally set for
( the wedding by several weeks II he
wanted 10 see war as a benedict, was by
no means unique occurrence. Stranger
wedding ceremonies have been witnessed
by thousands. The marriage in show
window originated with an enterprisinS
down East Yankee-a furniture dealer on
the installment plan. OF course-is still
heard from once in a while, though the
first ingenious puff OF this kind Oc-
CURED nearly a generation ago. Mar
riageS By telegraph and telephone are also
among the things that have been, and a
marriage up in a balloon occasionally
furnishes one OF the attractions at some
country fair.
Whether 1t adds TO connubial bliss 10
nave the marriage certificate read Mar
ried al an altitude OF 5000 feet above the
city OF X IS not known. though the ex-
pectations OF the contracting parties we're
certainly high. To have the marriage
ceremony performed In a sporting arena
was the outcome OF bicycle contest in
New York not long ago. Certainly this
marriage ceremony had more witnesses
than any OF the queer marriages that hap
pened before.
But America is only recent addition TO
the countries where queer marriages oc-
Cured and occasionally take place to-day.
Inc marriage by proxy, IN which August
Spies INDUCED with the eccentric Nina
Van Zandt shortly before he was hanged
IN Cook County Jail, is probably the only
one OF its kind that ever occurred in this
country. In European countries this form
OF marriage has been in vogue among the
members OF royalty for many centuries,
present time.
Where bride and groom live at too great
distance from each other. or where rea-
sons OF state prevail, the groom is repre-
sented by proxy. According 20 usage in
HIsh circles TINS proxy is either near
relative OF the bride. a brother or a
cousin, or a minister extraordinary OF the
groom. If there ever was a marriage in
which the bride was represented by proxy.
history fails 10 record the fact. The right
OF proxy seems 10 have been monOpollzed
by the grooms.
AT present such marriages by proxy
among members Of royalty are excep-
lions. but they occur not infrequently be-
tween parties considerably lower in the
socldl scaIe: mis- is notably true In
States which have colonies and the
nited States may soon be among these
states. since the acquisition OF the Philip
pines may cause many an American bach
Tor in the other hemisphere 10 become a
benedict by proxy, and thus wed the girl
he left behind him.
The German missionary in East Africa.
the English official in Australia. the
French soldier in TOnkin. marry by proxy.
The bride l. in Europe. and the groom Is
unable 10 leave the colony. Then the
bride marries by proxy and starts as
wedding journey. which sometimes re-
Quires months OF time.
Such marriage by proxy is usually
performed FOR practical reasons IL has
happened that such a bride would arrive
at the residence Of the groom. only 10 find
that the latter had succumbed 20 climate
conditions or had fallen victim 10 the
dangers of the service. II she should
nave come 5 Miss she would. OF course.
be without support and without any claim
she might have had a. wife II she ar
TiNes as Mrs. and finds herself a widow
upon arrival she is entitled TO all the
claims and privileges OF a widow in the
shape OF pension, travelling expenses. free
transportation home, and the Ike.
in the case Of the Dutch colonies. Java.
the Sunda Islands and the West Indian
ISLANDS, these marriages by proxy are
subject 10 certain rules and usages. one
may marry with the glove or with the
hat. The colonial groom sends TO a male
relative or intimate friend in Holland a
glove ne has worn upon the right hand
MS glove is also worn at the ceremony
Dy the proxy and such marriage Is per
iectly legal under Dutch law.
me marriage viii the hat is solemn
lied IN Java and other SUnda Islands II
the bride is a native woman. In such a
case the groom sends a hat. which is
worn by q male relative Of the bride dur
ing the heather ceremony in the absence
OF the groom; The natives consider such
a ceremony binding. but the Dutch law
does not recognize II as legal.
Similar TO the marriage by proxy Is an
other form of marriage ceremony which
is in vogue between Europe and the colo
MES. The brides arrive in the latter from
Europe by the shiplOad. so 20 speak Not
long since such cargo Of brides came
from Berlin 10 the German West African
possessions. destined for COlonlSfs who
had notified the Government Of their in
tentiOns TO marry. Immediately after the
arrival Of the vessel the men made their
selections from the women and the
clergymen OF the various Stations tied the
knots in due form. This enterprise is OF
too recent occurrence 10 admit OF any re-
port as 20 the blessings enjoyed.
Certain marriage arrangements in Italy
bear a resemblance 10 this venture but
they are employed only in cases Of orphan
girls. In several cities OF Central Italy
there are funds connected with the or
phanages from which young girls raised
in these institutions receive a small dover
when they marry.
on a certain holiday in the year the
young girls who are To leave the orphan
age and who have the right to marry
are grouped at both sides Of the altar
in church at early mass. The prospec-
tive grooms, mostly young mechanics at
tend service. during which time they take
"a good look at the girls. This may or
may not intensity the devotional eXer-
cises Of both sexes. After the service the
bachelors proceed to the sacristy and
there declare 10 the officiating priest that
they are willing to marry, and at the
same time they. designate the girls Of
their choice. If in any case the girl con-
sents and If the papers of the grooms
are In shape, the matter is settled. At
the afternoon service the various couples
are married in due form and the bowers
are paid over. 1t is said that these mar
riages are, as a rule, happy ones. verify
ing the old adage that accident is a good
marital agent.
Conditions may arise in rnethodicaI and
law-ridden Germany which make mar
riage difficult. In such a case there re-
mains the marriage in Heligoland. where
quick and exceptional marriages are still
awful-from the former English reign.
There is certain degree of necessity for
these HeligOland marriages. German.
for instance. emigrated in his early years
and this lost his citizenship. He returns
TO Germany and wants to marry. Then
he finds so many legal and technical OBJ
stacles 10 overcome that only the He'll
goland marriage remains.
The latter Is also quite opportune for
people who want to stay in Germany but
a short time. and who want TO marry
during this sojourn. A foreigner or a
German residing I'm a foreign country
visits Germany and there finds the girl
be desirable, but before the necessary
papers can be procured and the requisite
proclamation and bans OF marriage can
be had months may elapse. In such a
case the young couple takes the steamer
for Heligoland and is there Spilled in
due form by a minister
The latter requires an oath to the ef-
feet that the parties are unmarried and
that there exists no legal obstacle TO their
marriage.
Artistic Paper Covers.
Two elegant sample books OF cover pa
pers have just been issued by A. Zeller-
bach e. Sons. paper dealers. OF 1926 San