The evening times., 1900-01-22
LOVE ON A BRICK TABLET.
An inscriptions of Affection PreserV-
ed In the British Museum.
(From the st. Louis Globe-Dcmocrat. )

(From the st. Louis Globe-DCmocTat.)
The Oldest known love letter in the world
is in the British Museum. II is a proposal
Of marriage for the hand OF an Egyptian
princess, and il was written $500 years
ago. Ii is in the form of an inscribed
brick, and is therefore not only the oldest t
but the most substantial love letter in oX-
istence.
The frst silver wedding dates back 70 the
time of Hugh Capet. Two servants belong
ing to him had grown grey in his service,
a man and a woman, and what cou he d
as reward? Calling the woman he said:
Your service is great. greater than is
mans, whose service is great enough. for
the woman always finds work harder tnan
man, and, therefore, / Will give you a
reward. At your ge l know of none be
ter than dOwly and a husband The
dowry IS here-tbIs farm from this time
forth belongs to you. II this man, who
has worked with you five and twenty years,
is willing 70 marry you, then the hu nd
is ready"
Your Majesty" said the ola peasant,
how is il possible that we should marry,
having already silver hairs?'
Then it shall be silver wedding, and
the king gave the couple silver enough to
keep them in plenty. This soon became
known all over France and raised such en-
thusiasm that il became a fashion after
twenty-five years OF married life TO cele-
brate a silver wedding.
The practice of the wife assuming the
husbands name at marriage is a Roman
custom, and originated soon after the
Roman occupation. Julia, married to Pom
pey, became Julia of Pompey" In later
times married women signed their names
in the same manner. but omitted the "of .
However, during the sixteenth and sew
=
ful, since we find Catharine Parreo signing
herself after she had been twice married.
In Iceland the opposite has always been
the custom. There after marriage. the hus-
band assumes the wife's name.
The word wedding is derived from the
wed, or security, which the Anglo-SaXon
bridegroom gave at espousal for the due
performance of his contract. This wed was
held by trustees, and in addition 10 IT,
the groom wore an espOusal ring As for
the wedding ring. ii was first designed by
PrOmetheus, according TO tradition. and
fashioned out OF adamant and iron by
Tubal Cain. and was given BY Adam 10
his son to the end that he herewith should
espOuse wife
Our wedding cake is the remains Of a
custom whereby Roman bride held in her
left hand three wheat ears, and many cen
turtles later an English bride wore a chsplet
of wheat. The bridesmaids threw grains OF
corn or small bits OF cake upon the heads
Of the newly married and the guests pi cked
up the pieces and ate them. The wedding
cake did not come into general use until
the last century. and was then composed
OF solid blocks. laid together. iced all
over so that when the outer crust was
broken over the brides head, the cakes
inside fell on the floor and were disIrib-
uted amOng the guests Bridal fayOrs a1e
Of Danish origin, the true lovers knot hav-
ing been first designed by Danish hearts
and derive its designation from the Danish
"truelofa. Il plight my trOth
The throwing of the slipper comes from
the custom Of a shoe being given by the
father Of the bride 10 the new husband, in
token Of transfeTence OF power over her
the groom lightly tapping the brides head
with IT,
The best man il d survivor of the band
Of friends who accompanied the suitor in
his wife winning and kept watch for him
over the brides tribe while the lover
sought the opportunity to carry of his
prize. The honeymoon Journey is the hur-
ried flight Of the husband with the wife
10 escape the vengeance OF the pursuing
tribe. The presents gigen the bridesmaids
and ushers are simply relic OF the rough
bribery used by the ancient bridegr oom
among his personal friends so that they
would assist in the capture Of his chosen
bride when the day arrived on which be
had determined 10 carry her on In tht
fifteenth century bride-if one OF the
aristOcTacy-Often received twenty rings
from her relatives and six from the bride
grOom-twO when he became interested in
her, two for the espousal and TWO when
they were married.