Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-09-30
Everything Depends on the
Brides Outfit.
DAY OF "BENEDICTION"
Parents NegotIations-I1er Posses
sions Carefully Examined by the
Groom's Family-If Everything ls
Not in Order Contract Is Broken
Off-Youth Of Both.

casiOn. asking her why she was not so
gay as usual. she replied that she was
nearly eighteen years old and not yet
married. l had quite forgotten the
circumstance. when one night late.
hearing a great disturbance down in
the servants Offices. went to see
what was the matter. AS | entered
the servants room all was confusion.
boxes were being opened, bundles
ransacked. dresses measured, boots
thrown about. under linen inspected,
beads counted (the Russian costume Is
never worn without as many as six to
eight rows Of beads round the throat),
tockings examined. bed linen animal
verted upon. jewelry valued. goloshes
felt. and fur nantes tried on.
This scene that had been witness
preliminary befo marriage. The
sturdy old peasant sitting there was
the father of the young fellow who
had just gone out, and he had come
up from the country to find wife for
his son. He had heard of this young
woman from travelling peddler who
went every three months TO Moscow
to replenish his pack. and who knew
half the girls by name who were In
want of husbands. On the strength
Of this information from her peddler
the old peasant (the father of the
father of the bridegroom-elect), his
wife. and son had come to judge for
themselves as to the eligibility OF
Macha's goods and chattels; but, II
they had found any article or articles
wanting to the brides trousseau. there
would have been no marriage. Every
thing depended upon the brides
clothes; but all was there, even to the
154 roubles of the hard-earned savings
of the peasant girl. So she was to be
married! and she considered herself
fortunate in having husband given
her; not that she liked him, for she
had only seen him for the first time
that day He and his father, the old
peasant, lived far away In the coun-
try: but as the spring was coming on,
and the old father would want some
body besides his own wife to help
prepare the earth for the seed to be
sown, the best thing was to get wife
for his son. and thus secure the help or
another pair of hands during seed
time without the expense OF extra
wages.
Friday came, the day OF "Benedic-
ton" Macha went about her work as
usual: she neither seemed anxious
nor nervous. AS she had been a good
servant. we were all going to honor
her by appearing at the ceremony. At
about Z D. m a small table covered
with a white cloth was arranged in
one corner of our large family dining
room. two or three images of saints,
ornameuted with flowers and precious
stones, we're placed on the table, to-
gether with a large, round sort OF
bread or cake which was to play no
mean part in, the ceremony. A few
minutes later the steps Of the priest
were heard on the marble staircase,
together with the heavier tread Of the
peasants feet. and in another moment
the room was full Of the brides
friends, arrayed in the most gorgeous
ehintz dresses, and of the bride
groom's mates, dressed in the usual
outdoor black leather "pelisse," lined
with sheepskin. After every one was
arranged In place slight stir and
hustle were heard. and, the crowd
making way. the future bride came
sailing in beautifully -attired in a sal
mon-colored silk and tulle dress, lent
her by her mistress. She passed awk-
wardly up the aisle and took her place
before the effigies OF saints, or
images" as they are called, and inn
mediately after her future husband
(who seemed half frightened slipped
from the crowd. followed by his father,
and took up his position on the right
side of the bride. Then the ceremony
of 'sBenediction" commenced; 1t lasted
about forty minutes. the priest read
ing and chanting, together with his
clerk, many psalms and prayers.
while the future man and wife contin-
ually bowed themselves to the ground,
touching the floor with their fore
heads. Then the round cake or bread
was put into their hands by the priest,
and It was kissed by the recipients.
afterward by the bridegroom's father.
and then again by the brides mother
father or friends. The ''Benediction"
being over, nothing now remained to
take place but the marriage cere-
mony, which was arranged for the fol-
lowing Sunday at the church.
There the ceremony was somewhat
long. In fact. so much that the brides
cousin was unable to continue holding
the wreath over her head throughout
the whole ceremony: he was relieved
by another peasant. who took kindly
TO the task, and who was heard to
mutter: 1.-THE bride is bonnie lass,
I'd give six years to have herr After
the ceremony all the party adjourned
to a public house or ''Traktir," where
they made as jolly as they possibly
could with five or six quarts of ''vod-
ka" for the men, and as many quarts
OF kyass. or what the French call
Llmonade des cochons. for the wo-
men.
A Purgative Pleasure.