Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-27
MEASURING THE BRIDE.
Competitions and Awards in an Old
 Fashioned Scotch Hamlet.

FaShlOned scotch Hamlet. It is a very quaint matrimonial com petition that prevails in the old fash toned fishing and agricultural hamlet | of St Cyrus, on the northeast coast of Scotland.4 .r.s..s. F7 It js,ap RAAual contest open fenlyitp, brides, is judged and umpired by the parish minister in the parish church and has to do entirely with age and stature. Four money prizes of equal value are awarded every year. There is one each for the youngest, the old est, the shortest and the tallest brides married during the course of the year in the parish church.
 Candidates, if not resident in the parish, must take up residence there at least six weeks before the nuptial knot is tied.
 The procedure followed Is the es- sence of simplicity. At the close of the wedding ceremony the bride re- tires to the vestry in order to sign the marriage register and to have her con- petitive qualifications ascertained. The birth lines" as they are familiar.y designated, show her age, but no docu- mentary evidence of stature, however authoritatively attested, can be ac- cepted. Proof must be forthcoming on the spot. For this purpose the candi- | date has to submit to an ordeal, the | first part of which consists in remoy- ing her shoes. Then comes the undoing of her hair until the tresses, length permitting, hang loosely over the shoulders.
 Thus temporarily bereft of part of her adornment. she steps on to the measuring stand provided for this spe- cial purpose. and always kept on the premises. Now comes the crux of the ceremony. The judge carefully wields the sliding indicator. and in the gen tlest possible manner checkmates any suspicion of unduly manipulating the head and feet.
 Measuring completed, the pastor en- ters the particulars in the brides reg ister. The entries close with tta end of each year. and it is an interesting group that wends its way to the manse on the first week day of the year to receive the dowries.
 These marriages always take place on a Friday. on which occasion there is invariably a good turnout of spec tatOrs. the union of q deaf and dumb couple having attracted a record at- tendance. The brides register reveals some curious features. In one family three sisters and a brothers wife were successful in annexing the gift. and of two prize taking sisters one was the tallest and the other the shortest. Tn another instance only half a day sep arted one of the lucky brides from the next in turn.
 The present minister of the parish has officiated at these contests for the last twenty-one years. during which period the value of the dowries has average a trffe over s30 each.
 The origin of this drOll competition is decidedly interesting. One bolster ous winter day a wealthy local laird observed young couple vending their way to church to be made one. Curious to know their circumstances he made inquiries and learned that the mutual love of the plOughman and the ex-servant lass was their principal as- set for setting up house As sequel the laird left at his death legacy of S5.OO1. the interest of which he de creed was to be divided annually for all time coming into five equal DOT tiOns. four among brides. as already mentioned. and the fifth to provide cat meal lea. sugar. etc. for the poor of the parish.
 This quaint custom. besides creating pleasurabIe excitement. does much material good tO the humble parfiei- pants The fand- which Is invested in government consols. st present stands at s5s1a and the next distrfbufioa- on Monday. JanBsry 1. 1ppS- will bs the fftT-ninfh.-CssseIrs Journal