New-York tribune., 1902-03-08
THAT WEDDING PRESENT.
LADY JEUNE TELLS WHY PEOPLE BEsToW
GIFTS ON A BRIDE.

"This is an age of sensation and excitement
says Lady Jeune. We always in state of
herocs moral fagellation. We develop from
time to time new virtues. idiosyncrasies. and
when we have carried virtue TO a point where
it becomes ridiculous start off on the con-
trary tack and prepared to chide ourselves for
our follies. 1t is always something new, some
exaggeration of dress conduct life and
always treating ourselves like naughty chill
dren. We bemoan the seductions of bridge, We
lament the independence of women, in
weigh against the luxury of life. and now we are
in state of Mysteries the folly and extrava-
gance of wedding presents.
THE multiplication of newspapers, the lack of
perpetual fresh emotions and the for variety
in everything make often supremely ridiculous,
and in way have we been more foolish than in
the needless outcry which one or two weddings
have called forth. There is a hurrying to and fro
to collect opinion the matter and formulate it
for the public, and a ridiculous fuss is made in
two important papers about a matter
which only concerns people perfectly willing and
able to incur the expense. 1t may be that the
tom of giving wedding presents has grown out of
proportion during the last few years and not
prepared to say that reforms might not in the
interests Of every be desirable, but it is quite
unjustifable to attack the custom. From time i'm
memorial it has been the custom to present newly
married people with gifts their wedding day,
with two objects-to help toward making their new
life and home pleasant and pretty and a proof
of goodwill In earlier times presents took an even
more expensive form than to-day-horses, cattle,
hocks and herds, jewels and all kinds of valuable
gins were poured out on the newly married pair.
Formerly the practice of giving wedding gifts was
confined to the immediate relatives and friends,
a bride has always been the recipient of many
I'm the olden days the bride brought to the hus-
band much of the household requirements. She
provided the linen and part of the crockery and
glass, and much of the beautiful furniture and
gifts which a rich wife brought to her new home.
The increase in wedding gifts has come with the
that the wider circle of friends and acquaintances
interested in the happiness and future of the young
people. To the numerous persons who have
leading people in society it is a pleasant way of
showing their appreciation
Engllsh society nave increased and that no one
their own lives, can avoid knowing many people
who would naturally send costly gift; but in
value of the presents is largely exaggerated. At
the majority OF weddings the presents are large
in number but not OF great value, and those sent
by the girl friends and partners of the bride are
ance has been manufactured out of the tax we'd
ding presents are TO the young Guardsman, the
Tery few of them give Wedding presentsand them
oniy to very great friends or perhaps relations
and these probably spend more in a week on
however great a friend she may have been s'
The fact is that in the giving of wedding pres
amount of vuIgarity and that if girl is marrying
presents who Would never think of doing So se if
she making an ordinary marriage. 1t is in
ding presents makes itself apparent. though if
these people like to give them there is no earthly
presents into two classes-those which from
people they for and who love them. and those
which sent by outsiders. There is nothing
ridiculous than the outcry against wedding
presents, because one is obliged give them.
They do so because they like 10. and because the
weakness @ Gf & rS age is {haI every one must 90 the
be left behind cut out They give them, possibly
because they have chance of making
turn for kindness shown to them-no doubt be-
they wish the bride we-but, above all |
have Safd heCa they Ike and stlcb
being the case. there is no reason why should
get into hYsterical state of mind and talk a
lot of nonsense about iniqutOus tax"