The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-09
A BRAHMIN WEDDING.

Picturesque Scenes That Attend Tn Ceremonies-Mr Jackson, Prest
 dent of the Bengal Branch of Tn
 T. S. S., Tells of Customs In India Mrs. Helen Jackson, president of tn
 Bengel Qndia) branch of the Tribun
 Sunshine Society, gives some interest ing facts about the marriage ceremon!
 in that country. She says:
 Life in India presents to the West
 ern visitor so many sharp contrasts, SC
 many daily illustrations of ancien times, that at every step one encoun
 ters strange and delightful pictures.
 There is much of interest to be noted
 in the customs of the women of India
 and, although a great deal has beer written about them, the half has never
 been told. There is one crowning
 event in the life of every native girl and that is her marriage. Unlike her | Occidental sisters, this is not an uncer-
 mentally disqualified, is married, and this accounts for the overwhelming
 number of widows in India.
 For some unaccountable reason, the death rate is much higher among men than women. Polygamy obtains, and, as an old man may be the husband of young girl, it becomes matter of course that she will be left. Then, as the question of remarriage of widows has never gained ground, there are literally millions of children who are under the terrible burden entailed by their condition
 c,,ptn falx place at very early age. Brahmin girls are frequently betrothed in infancy. The betrothaI is more than an engage ment-it is as binding as marriage; and should the bridegroom die by cho- lera or snake bite, or any other cause, five minutes after the funeral cere- monies are ended, the girl is as much a widow and subject to the penalties at taching to that state as though she had been married twenty years.
 The early years of the average Hin doc girl oe comfortable position are passed uneventfully She may possi- bly, have few lessons in needlework and learn to read, if there is a mission available. When she reaches seven or eight years of age great preparations are made. The parents have been ap- preached by some, neighbours family which has narriageable son. he be- ing possibly fifteen years old or more. If the early negotiations are favorable tailors are called in, travelling cloth merchants are interviewed and quanti- ties of gorgeous little jackets and skirts and veils are designed and embroider nl WAY tv1 t,n Pn V,7t1 fe. fitted out for the occasion, even though the garments hreTlaid aside immediate ly after, to be worn next at the we'd ding of another member of the family. Jewels are looked up and put in order. and amid great rejoicings the engage ment ceremonies are carried on.
 Tn young wife, who has, however, not yet seen her husbands face, goes occasionally to visit her mother-in-law and become familiar with her prospec- tive surroundings. These visits occur while the bridegroom is away at school or college, and so the years speed on of ten or twelve years.
 Now all the family are brought to-y gether Great cauldrons of food are prepared, being cleansed and cooked by Brahmins so that all may eat with out breaking 7fheir caste. At certain hours of the day hundreds of people are called in from highway and hedge. to make merry. Within the house all is excitement. Vast sums of money are expended in making up tinsel, or- naments and fire balloons, and in hir- ing horses and elephants to go through the city in procession. These displays last for many days.
 One day great blare of trumpets and ringing of bells and beating of drums were heard at dusk, and we all rushed eagerly to the gate. First came the band, in old and faded uniforms, obtained, most likely, from the sale of cast-off effects when a regiment was leaving. Their instruments were neither in tune or time, and they play ed medley of gospel hymns and min strel airs, which were scarcely distin- gushable one from the other.
 After them came twenty white Arab horses, richly comparisoned with cloth of gold saddle cloths and necklaces of huge turquoises of coral, each stepping as proudly as though he understood the occasion Then followed eleven huge elephants loaded with rich trappings, their great necks encircled with large silver medallions strung together Above at the corner of the street, two women stole out under cover of the darkness and looked down from the balcony. Their brown arms, encircled with ornaments, together with their bright robes, made pretty picture.
 After the elephants came hundreds of men and boys bearing flambeaus, which were constantly replenished 1 with castor oil by man with large | ,an like a gigantic watering pot This, poured on cotton waste, famed high in