The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-08-29
VOLUME 2.
An Armenian Wedding.

WeuQluS III bile OIleHO 10 ca
tracted from private letter from
Rev. Charles r. Pitlman of this
place, but who is now a Mission
ary in Persia. 1t was not written
for publication and is used with
out asking his consent; but he is
so far away that we do not feel
much afraid of him. EDITOR.
"The wedding was the marriage
IF a young man who is graduate
of our Boys School, but is not a
member of our church. He ap-
plied for membership once but
would not agree to have a Pro.
testant wedding which is one of
the conditions of church member.
ship, and was, therefore, not re.
cieved. He married the daugh-
ter of an Armenian priest, and
invited all the Missionaries.
"The wedding took place last
Wednesday. The friends of the
groom were invited to his home,
and the lady friends of the bride
met at her home, at seven o'clock
ON Wednesday evening. DR.
Wright, DR.. Wilson and l went to
the home of the groom at that
time. When we arrived, we found
several men sitting around on a
brick paved place which had been
carpeted for the occasion, just
back of the house. Back of this,
was small garden of almond
trees, dotted with a half-dozen
lamp posts. We met and congrat-
ulated the groom on our arrival,
and took seats with the rest of
the men and were served with tea.
! took seat from which | could
see through an open window into
a small room occupied by several
ladies', two of whom were dancing
to the music of q small drum and
two tife-like instruments, and the
rest were sitting around the sides
of the room on the floor looking
on. They began slowly, aud kept
getting faster until the close.
The dancing is very pretty and
graceful, and l think much less
harmful than dancing in America.
The ladies' and gentlemen seldom,
if ever, dance together.
''Then we were served with
cherries, plums, and cucumbers.
The cucumbers were cut length
wise, and eaten with the rlnd on;
sometimes with salt and pepper,
sometimes without. They are
much better and more tender
than cucumbers in America, so
that the rind and all can be eaten;
and of these cucumbers, one may
eat as many as he likes without
getting sick. was dubious at
first about eating the rind, but
found it really good.
'Then the musicians came out
side and the men took their turn
at dancing, while the women
watched from the window (the
Armenian women are not as Sc
cluded as the Moslem, but are
more like Europeans.) DR..
Wright thought he had seen
enough, and decided to leave; but
/ had become interested in the
proceeding, and decided to wait
and see the finish. The ladies
now disappeared and the servants
spread. the table and invited the
men. | said "table, but it was
simply a bright colored tablecloth
spread on the floor of long mar
row room, and cushions placed
around the sides of the room. We
sat on our heels on these cush-
ions, as we might at picnic at
home. AS / entered the room |
was directed to place at the
right hand of the priest, who was
at the opposite side of the room.
| was perplexed as to how was
to get there; but all difficulty was
removed when saw the natives
walk across the table; so | made
two steps across the table, and
was at my place. We remained
standing while the priest asked a
blessing, and then sat down on
our feet. The priest, who sat
next to me, learned, was seven
ty-six years old and had been u
priest for fifty years. On the
-