The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-07-17


sofneySh i and thHI Ic0n siofi lis begin:
inihg TO give way & to ;expec CLANCY + all at
once o. coarse cry. tB heard & near the
backl 1.-THE house and out rushes q SER
yant yelling OF the tor. OF his voice to
frighten away the evil spirits from the
kitchen so, that: tho rice vessel may al-
ways be fill. - Z: -; IS.
/ BY this tiue the groom has been
| found and lead in and placed before q
table on which two or more immense
red candles are burning. And now the
two men,; one furnished bY. each fam
| lily, who are to ofilciate take their po-
sitions and the bride is ut last released
from her chair and brought forward,
attended by two or more women, who
are servants. The groOms is accompa-
MED by his father or elder brother,
but also has an attendant, who lends
him ;tny assistance needed in bis re-
peated prOstrations.
| The bride is usually clad In very
richly embroidered silk dress and
wears large aud elaborate headdress
which is covered by a red embroidered
veil which covers her down to her
waist. Nor is this removed during the
whole ceremony, but she is led about
by the two servants. The groom is
dressed in long outer coat with a
large embroidered square in front and
In the back In winter it is lined with
fur and has beautiful collar and cuffs
of some rare fur; tie shoes are large
and heavy, made of black silk; the hat
is also large and has q long plume
hanging behind, 6cing caught in the
! centre OF thctopOf the hat by a gaudy
ball of some kind, metal or stone. The
oiliciators arc drapcd over the regular
clothes with black and red cloth and
their black caps arc ornamentcd with
brass foil bangles.
The ceremony takes place in the
large outer reception hall and the mob
OF haDgcrS-on in their filthy rags press
close upon the bride and groom in their
shameless curiosity; at times they
have to be driven back by force.
General pandemonium reign S
throughout the whole ceremony. every
body laughing, talking, jesting, while
the regular monotones OF the conduc-
tor Of the ceremony and ihe dull clank
OF the gong together with the shrill
noise Of the flute lend weird aspect
to the whole scene and you begin to
wonder that such Il sacred thing can
be turned into such mockery. But
back to our waiting couple. The
groom stands on the right side first
and upon a red mat spread before him
he makes four prostratiOnS and then
they change places and the groom
makes four more prostratiOns on
the left, worshipping heaven and
earth. This much finished, the
groom now has placed in his hands
two pieces of cloth, red or yellow and
green, which is also held by the bride.
Small sacks of the same colOrS are
placed on the floor leading to smaller
inner room, whittier the groom, walk
ing backward, now leads his bride.
In this chamber they are seated at
tables facing each other while the
prieSt-like otliciaLorS take up seperate
dishes, one at Il time, and bless them
Nothing is taken by anyone. This pro-
cess is called worshipping The food.
AS soon us 1t is over the groom again
leads the bride over the sacks, which
arc taken up and replaced us they ad-
vance into the new room" or brides
chamber, which has been claboratcly
decorated and here they both are
seated on The bed for 4 few moments.
The bride has not uncovered up to this
time. but now the room is clared and
She is allowed o little fresh air, while
the groom goes out to receive con-
gratulatiOnS.
i The person wishing to extend con-
graIulations advances and he and the
groom both prostratc themselves. This
being repeated by the groom many
Times during the course Of an hour
must be very tircsomc, but it is GUS
tom and must be observed
After Il while the ancestors have to
pc wursnipped by making prostration
before the tablets Of each.
When this is all over and the feast
ing has lasted we'll into the night and
the men arc somewhat rowdy, then
comes the trying time for the bride,
for the young men gather and tease
her, using all kinds of rude and indc.
cent expressions. This is one barbar-
ism that surprises foreigner con
stantly, and yet it is 50 hard to uproot.
| Ibis disgraceful feature is the eli
max of the carousal and when it is
| oFer Ctc guests scatter, each one car
rylng with him little box containing
nuts and candy
On the next day the bride and groom
must visit the home of the bride and
then they settle down to IL rather com
mon place life, if rich having nothing
to 40, nothing to make effort ncces-
sary-lf poor, on the other hand life
has its duties and burdens, and woe
betide the poor thing If she has bound
feet, as is the case almost invariably
with the Wcalthicr ones.
This is simply the general outline
for any marriage, but each has it's own
variations and Irregularities. For in
stance, j the groom has no home of
his own he may borrow the brides.
The JOY OF the home is full to over
lowing IL the first child is a boy, but
II girl she is not given such Il hearty
welcome.
Mrs. IL. Il. JOllnson's VIII.
The will Of the late Mrs Harriet
| oil