The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1899-08-04
NUMBER 25.
CHARIVARI CUSTOM.
IT IS GRADUALLY GOING UtT Of
rAsfffON.

Fashion.
The ancient custom OF chafivafa OF
which still survives 10 rural
sections Of the United States, is not
only brutal one, but IL led TO q
frightful tragedy near WatOnga, OK.
lahoma, few days ago. A charivail
party was serenading a bride and
grom, Mr.. and Mrs. Ray Higgins, and
making deafening noises by beating
on pans, etc. The couple appeared on
the porch and the groom ordered the
serenaders to leave. One of the party
pointed his gun at the young couple
and fired. The BRIDES face and breast
were filled with bucksl0tj and she
died an hour later. The bridegroom
was shot in the face, but not fatally,
and little brother OF the bride was
also wounded. The charivari party
fled, and so far none have been arrest.
ed. This outrage should so far to put
an end forever to a custom that long
ago should have become obsolete.
THE ORIGIN OF CHARIvAKf.
The word charivarl, which in local
American usage is frequently c0rrupt-
ed into chivaree or shivarce comes
from French word OF uncertain
origin, signifying a mock serenadc.
In France, particularly in the south.
ern districts, serenades produced
by kettles, frying pans, and horns,
and accompanied by shouts and cries,
given undar the windows OF newly
married couples, or inflicted upon
persons who had made themselves So
cially or politically unpopular, were a
popular custom, but popular rather
among the givers than the receivers
Of such dubious compliments. Such
concerts were styled charvari, and by
extension the term is now applied
to amp tumultuous discOrd. The Gus
tom is traceable to a very high anti
guilty, and still survives in spots
throughout the French trovinces4s
The same sort of concert in Germany
is called katzenmusIk (cat's music),
and 10 England rough music.
The charivari IN France was origin.
ally extended TO all bridal couples, but
more recently was limited to- widows
or widOwers who remarked too hast.
lily, to couples In whom an unusual
OF age existed, or to suclt
other unions as we're either ridiculous
or unpopular. Gases OF notorious do
nestle infellicity or infdelity called
forth similar expressions OF neighbor-
ly disopproval.
In mediaeval times in many Euro.
pean countries a wife who beat her
husband was placed upon donkey,
with her back to its head; its tail was
grasped by the henpecked spouse, and
thus they paraded through the streets,
greeted with shouts and cries, and
beating Of tin pans. Here possibly
was the germ idea of the charivari.
At tile begiHning0t the seventeenth
century charivaris were forbidden BY
the Councils OF Tours under pain OF
communication. The French Par
was against the custom, but
neither church nor State was able to
put an end 10 the custom.
CHARIvARI in THE UNITED STATES.
The French inhabitants Of Louisi;
ana and Canada, and also the Dutch
settlers in New York and Pcnnsylvan.
la, brought the custom 10 America.
and through them 1t was pretty gen.
orally distributed over the United
States, where It still retains its hold
on various rural communities under
the name OF shivarec.
The hideOus aggregation of sounds
that 60 to make upa charivari is kept
up until the bridegroom appears and
treats his crowds Of torturers. Should
he delay his appearance too long, or 70
attempt to wear out the crowd by .
refusal to appear, tlieoutside coinpa'
ny is apt to become riot0us, and often
stones hurled through windows, and
after them perhaps dead cats and rot
ten eggs.
The firing Of blank cartridges is also
considered u fitting accompaniment
to the music OF tin pans, horse fddles
any horns, and the fatal ending Of the
recent case Ia Oklaliottta was probably
due to this idea, for murder could
hardly have been Intended. But the
fool with gun that he does not be-
llcve TO be loaded Is a very common
aud dangerous hind Of fool. Asylums
should be set apart for such fools.
1t Is high time, indeed, that the
communities In which the eharivarl
still exists should take stringent
measures to stamp out this idiotiC
survival OF seml-barbarous tlmes,
That It still does survive in certain
communities only points to . lack ol
civilization and progress 10 such sec
tions, th0uGhs Indeed, the custom
breaks 0ut ln unexpected spots q
times.
European railroads haye now to de-
with women passenger Who inslst oI
smokIns and viii n0t O. i1tc u