Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-22
Brides Of Today and Of Yesterday.

tions back in America. That modest.
quaint maiden very likely had her
linen chest partly filled years before
the coming event had assumed very
definite shape. thinking it better to
be ready and not be axed than to be
aXed and not be ready for readiness
to start a new establishment then
meant special labor long and real for
some feminine individual. The linen
for a new house was not to be had in a
day for song. 1t We're difficult
enough to obtain even if the family
excheuuer was well stocked. and
thrifty women made the household
country.
The prospective brides own fair
hands spun and wove the flax or cot
ton or wool for the sheets and table,
cloth. napery and towels as well as for
her own wardrobe. She was pro-
Queer in the economic sense. and was
happy in the knowledge that the prod
uct of her deft hands and maiden
thought was to make comfortable the
new home she was to establish. She
was sweet and good and young-much
younger than the twentieth century
bride Often not more than child as
we reckon college girls now. She
looked upon the idea of giving up her
maiden name as n matter of course.
and if she had thought that she
wished to retain the one she had had
for Il or 16 years and uniting ii with
that of her husbands. as many pres
nt-day brides do. she put ii aside and
sang at her wheel happy in her gay.
young usefulness and thoughts of her
lover.
But the wonderful machines which
have become so much a matter OF
course to us all now that we almost
forget their newness came into use
and took away the important occupa-
ton of spinning from these blithe.
young girls.
Yet occupations have been taken from
other persons. too. and they have re-
adjusted themselves to the new con-
Gitions. so these girls turned their at
tention to other things in school or
business or professional life until the
girl of the present day perchance has
no knowledge of spinning or even sew
ing or the ordinary duties of house
keeping, and likely has no especial idea
of what n linen chest is. Really 1t is
not nearly SO important that she does
as it used to be. 1t is really a small
matter to the bride-elect. II she
knows nothing at all about household
matters her habit of working out
problems for herself in school or bust
ness life has made her fearless TO
undertake these sweet. new ones. She
likely has not let pass unCrasped OPP
portunities TO solve mysteries Of cook
ing and practical caring for q house
that have come up during the years
since she was a child. She really has
been stocking her mind with the
knowledge of experience while her
heart has been developing.
If she belongs 10 the large class OF
Americans who earn todays sub
sistence while they lay up a fund for
Il rainy day she in all probability
spends the last happy months before
her wedding at her desk. in the office
or store or wherever her chosen ocCu-
patton has kept her for the years since
her school days. while some other wo-
man whose bread is won by sewing
prepares the trousseau and fashions
the contents of the proverhal chest for
itl' sNiit pays lol tlltlil herself out Ol
her earnings. and has just as great
conc 30 aos,ar,.;,,,x .,,.o.,,.,,;. &c
vi "VS,' ING y" ei''S sup ~ II sue
had made them as her thrifty little
sister n centur. hack did hers
nv,
me new slrl Is less lReiN 10 he disil-
lusinned after marriage than was the
Hldldtil oi tle nineteenth century. De
cause she as not 50 many Illusions about
~. 49, anI L = ~, ~ " ,n.ii. d
Sha 1h IN 1.,f
,,,,; ,,,.i,i ~, 'i'au - d p.'sdIl I'm
To- 80 fPr;t1 g.; ~. -. nc. ,I ~, ~ .I
nnd ,,astar.' ;doa ha. ,an;sha1 r'i., IL
sn;nri,,,, u,on1 IT, an u. w w ~,
nI.;s " ~ ~ 80 "a D.'hs 80 80,
to.t ~, II u 49, I'm -. i, 1870 l
~ ",i' ~. l'.II IT, lin l" ItS't
- ..,,,.n.. " ''.,its = ~ IT w.
"a u" ,'E ~ ,i, INNS d III ~ u ~ T.;
w., oaros W. ano'h ,sb 49,, - -
80. T., ,',:' S ~, - ~. \ = -
- = nhnar;, 80, f - - ~, -
S.hd ,H ~ Sh w T.; IN a. v II, II ~, :,
,.u'a s;,,,I ~: Iorr,; a,1 ~ -
'. w ~, VI b'ioi' anu
'pout m, , itIiio.. III H'IT.iI -.
~, so' ~,
prenaIts i.erstiL 10 1911, naL'Sil 'hsii nl h nel
ii'i az - Will Siie hl,om y
.Liu NV l" "ii'i it'i'i h'i OWN "''"9 III
'he pas.
She does not hesitate to suggest the
omission of obey" from the ceremony If
1t appears: She has been taught to think
Tor herself ana to he sell governing. MAJ
vice Is sufficient reason why It should not
twentieth century man she is going -