The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-12-20
Rites, Customs and superstitions
That Obtain in Various Countries.

He most ancient and symbolic rite
connected with the marriage ce-e-
mony Is undoubtedly the use OF the
ring. It has been so long regarded as i'm
dispensable that strange substitutes for
the golden symbol have not iufrcquently
been used. Thus we hear of curtain and
key rings doing duty at short notice or
Of the cutting OF "a circlet from the bride
e)grooms glove
Ia very ancient times. Il viii be remcm-
bered, the ring was very generally looked
upon as a token of authority or Of dele
gated power. Monarchs sending their en-
tssaries TO brother kings gave to them
rings, as indicating that they carried due
authority
The wearing OF ring was once the
mark or dignified office arroEated only
py kings and their representatives. IL
seems 20 be clear that woman was per-
united the wearing of rings only as the
advance OF civilization gave her claim 20
greater dignity. It's use Don the marriage
ceremony seems to have been intended 30
express the honor a that time bestowed
upon her by her spouse.
a twofold reason would seem 20 have
HlleAoed the cnotce Of form in the wed
ding ring. Various poetic meanings are
ascrlbeu 10 the Clrclct and it's plaluncss
makes II practical for common use. In
ancient ERvDt the symbol of eternity was
the clrclet- Let your love be as this
rms. having no END. says the preacneT
o. the finger Of the bride.
Choice of Finger.
The choice of the ring finger has been
accounted for I'M many different ways.
l,pfmerly there was a BELIEF that from
tbe third finger Of the LETT hand an artery
ran directly 90 the heart DOetic8l logic
arguing therefore that this situation was
OF an others the most appropriate Tor the
marriage token. ANTAGONISTS rudeiy DIS
tlpated the theory of the artery. and some
low suppose that the lett hand symbol
lies witely submission
Practical view would seem to suggest
taat the wedding ring Is more protected
on the left hand. that being less I'm use
than the right and that the third finger
was suggested because it is capable Of
less indeoendent action than any of the
ln many old pictures of the Virgin hcr
ring was painted on her fOrefinger. as
was the custom for the wearing OF IL in
ancient Greece and Rome This finger
j. the one nearest the mount OF Jupiter.
Indicating the pridEe of dignity.
An Old italian custom placed the birth
month stone OF the bride ln her wedding
ring, and this idea became elabora ted into
The using Of twelve stones. one for each
month, that 10 good fairy might DC an
propiuated. Through this custom the
ring became so enormously expensive as
40 be "A severe tax on many humble
universal use
The modern practice OF a gift of Jew
cry from the groom 10 the bride aside
from the engagement or wedding ring is
e. s-rvivai of the old institution OF the
'daW-purse,' or purse of coins. which he
gave TO her TO signify that he had pur-
chased her from her friends.
Customs in Japan.
Japanese marriage Cvstoms are very
much at variance with western sentiment.
pIdN M bringing youth and maid together.
Inc aim and object of japanese parents
Is TO place their daughter where she will
be we'll connected and wen cared for No
japanese mother would be so unwise as
20 give her daughter TO a young man
VINO had not a proper home ready for
her. Before he could aspire TO Eiri s
hand he would have to show a crediJabIe
family tree. and prove that his means
warranted his taxing unto himself wife
Mess he could do this he might love and
rove IN VAIN Ior Whatever tho young
get her In no case does the japanese
eInatd choose her own husband. Her mar
rage is the care Of an interested friend
~ tue Iamlly, known as '$o-oetween.
- hen Sirl reaches manageable age
wis 'go-between' looks out for a suitable
nisoand Tor her ana. HAVING found q
youth who meets with the requirements
or the family. he arrauges for a meeting
with the girl and her mother Another
plan is to arrange a meeting at a friend
mouse and, of course. the matchmaker
pretends that IL is entirel-- accidental
Fthough an the party know perfectly wei
that this is a mere polite fiction. The
maiden is very shy and hides her fac,
with her ran as she bows very low AGAR
ana again. Ihen she retires, blushins
and nervous. behind her mother IN,
young man decides at this meetn.
ne thinks biEbiv .enougb 'o of Ser c5 5 arus
negotiations are continued. lie paws fol
the rousseau. and the brides father pro
= Nides the furniture for the house that the
newly welded couple viii occupy.
There are always number OF mar
Tiages on board the cody ships which
ply between Calcutta and the West In
osCs The coolies are very fond of marry
ing before entering on their period o.
fervttude. Sometimes as many as 100 o.
them will want the nuptial knot tied.
The captain OF any British ship ha
legal power 20 marry people but IN,
master of one of these cody vessels hai
grown tired of reading the Anglican
service fifty or sixty times voyage. s.
he has had a number of forms printed
with the essential parts of the service
&he bride and bridegroom step into tn
Nhbin. sign one of these forms. have i
witnessed. and become man and wife
No questions are asked. They simpl,
sign their names.
II is the quickest kind OF marriage OF
record. bat the British authorities hav
declared DO 10 be perfectly valid
Where Matrimony Is Punished.
Matrimony is considered a punishable
offense In some communities. These cir
cles Of society are small. but their edict
. are strong. The larger community IL
takes cognizance Of a mans single state
Usually Imposes a fine for not gettin
married, as in Argentina. where bach
elOrhood requires the payment Of an in
creasing tax to the government.
But in certain circles marriage Is re
EdrUeu as an nIAenSH. AL oxford unlEer
sity. for instance. a fellow Of All Souls
college forfeits his fellowship III ne take
20 himself "a wife while he is supposed Q
be studying the classics.
he not only must pay a penalty. bu
he must present his college a memOria
SIN the shapc of silver cu1. on whic
matrimonium' Gle backslid into matrl
moBE ,.
The aristocratic Bachelors club of Pic
cadiily. London ostraCzcs members VIII
forget themselves so far as 20 marry
instant expulsion Is the punishment 70
this offensc. The baCksliders must ICaV
the company Of the bachelors forever
AS an act of grace they pay a fine Of SO
and become honorary members Of IN
club. but that is their only salvation.
Not only ENGLAND has these anti-matrl
snOny Gibbs Their formation Gu Chicag
has been treated as a joke, as il has 3
other American cities Bachelors &
other countries have lent an air Of SER
BUSINESS 20 their cndeavors-
TO IS serious for q member Of a certai
IunEEcsclien club I'm Germany to laps
INTO matrimOny. As soon as his inter
tion becomes known he IS tried in IN
club court. with the president as judge
when ne is allowed TO plead In aXtenua
ton of his offeHse. on the skill Of hi
pleading and his excuses depends hi
fine. from 500 TO $3.50.
Dinners in Morning.
Tho fine is devoted to a dinner a
which an members appear I'm mouruin
garb. At it's conclusion the presider
reads the sentence OF expulsion. and tn
Trrf-rrenf fg led from the PROMISES Cd a