The age-herald., 1901-07-21
Where the Majority of Honey
 moons Are Spent
SOME CHARMING JOURNEYS
Outlined Over the Railway Systems Leading From Birmingham to Other Earthly Paradlses.
 Society Gossip.
BY ANNIE kENDRIck WALKER.

bY ANNIE NENDHICk WALkEh. The fin-du-seicle bride told you Tn whis- per where they" were going to spend the honeymoon,- but this information was withheld fin the newspapers. The romance that led to the engagement, the details of the wedding, the beauty of the trous- seau might be told in pages of history Cor spangles of verse;. but the destination of the bridal pair was thing unknown, an unsolved mystery, the secret imparted to only the brides closest friends
 Numberless happy couples have depart ed under the shower of rice, serene in their certainty that their destination was a thing known only to themselves, and in the meantime the brides closest friends confiding to this one and the other have let the cat out of the bag.
 / It is one of the anomalies of civiliza- ton that such a quantity of superb cu- riosity hinges about the wedding journey. Just why It cannot pursue the even tenor of it's way without many questions being asked only goes to prove the asser ton that "all the world loves a lover," and also that there is nothing more inter casting than the affairs of other people.
 The bride "du nouveau siecle' takes HiiOit WOrtu lnlO Ter cOnnuenCf J quite the proper thing to tell of her desti- nation, quite "comme Il faut."
 The world is as eager to receive the information as when It was whispered be- tween the dinner courses, and is in flut- ter until the bridal pair safely depart upon the honeymoon. But the destina- tion, while no longer a perplexed subject to an ignorant world now that the pretty bride is so frank with it, must be an ab- ~a..-- beautiful journeys are suggested.
 I know a charming bride who confessed that she could not decide upon her we'd ding journey, and the papers announced her departure for the Pacific slope, as that had been her latest decision. Later on it was disclosed that the happy pair were spending a week at Blount, defying all tradition. all conventionality.
 But the average bride-to-be in her nor nal condition, seems to prefer an extend ed wedding journey, and after her trous- seau is planned, the brides maids decided upon, the next important thing to be dis cussed Is naturally the honeymoon trip and where the first few weeks of her mar ried life shall be spent
 If the bridegroom q do not intend tc overlook him) Is sufficiently we'll off from a. financial point of view, the bride canno 'a-feel conscious-stricken if she plans a triI
 
 Paradise, and who can blame her if she Is led into an extravagant trip? Witt money to burn and luxurious tastes she should be blamed if she did not select a charming globe-trotting trip.
 3 With all the luxury of modern travel. even a journey to Mars could be comfort ably accomplished with the proper con nections. There is not a railway system in the country that is not equipped with all the modern and luxurious conveniences and with every wish being anticipated. every comfort provided, the bridal pair, once started on their journey, have noth- ing to think of but each other. The ele- gant Pullnans, the cafe cars, where de- liciously prepared meals may be served 'just for two,' the observation cars where ..they'' may view the scenery-all this is supplied on the honeymoon trip, and even the bridegroom is not even de- prived of his after-dinher cigar, for he may enjoy that in the luxurious smoker. Then If the honeymoon Is transferred from the palace on wheels to one of those floating palaces, it is only a change in landscape. Instead of sunset valleys or mountains they view life on board a luxurious ocean liner.
 Just what direction the wedding journey may take depends Of course upon the sea- son, and which is the most favored route for Southern bridal parties is difficult tc say.
 The social columns in the papers Of may refer to them) bear record that a majority of Birmingham wedding parties have gone East" which is as vague a term as abroad
 When a wedding journey Is announced to be in an easterly direction the natura conclusion Is that the destination is New York. This, however, should not alway' follow, for going West does not mear San Francisco. 'The most favored route for Birmingham brides Is East whereve that may be-" observed a Birmingham bride recently; while another declared