Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-23
WEDDING BARBARITIEs.
Ridiculous and Disgusting Franks by
Pretended Friends.

Pretended Friends.
The Rev. c. E. Mckinley, of the
Union Church in Rockville, Conn,
has been moved by several demon
strations which he has seen Of late
to make public address in which he
protests vigorously against the So
called humorous treatment TO which
newly married couples are subjected.
He is evidently among the growing
number of persons who fail to see
anything funny in the performances.
We do not know that many persons
are aware, as Mr.. Mckinley told his
bearers, that the custom Of throwing
wheat and rice over the bride origi-
mated in Egypt, where it symbolized
the wish that she, like the prolIric
grain kernel, might become the mo-
Their of a multitude.
1t had, in the far-off times of its
early adoption, a sort of religious sig
nificance, and was valued for its SYM
boliSm, not because it was supposed
to be funny In other regions the
custom of throwing the Ole shoe after
the newly married pair for luck
came into being, but it did not mean
throwing the shoes at them, nor did
it mean decorating the carriage with
string of cast-off and disreputable
footwear In their original intent,
and carried out with moderation,
these things were harmless enough,
and they even had a certain useful
ness.
But both customs have been car
ried far into excess" says the min
lister, with our habitual American
extravaganza" and, we MAJ add, in
to performances which are not only
excessive but vulgar. The throwing
of excessive quantities OF rice is not
only annoying but even dangerous,
and where paper confetti are substl-
tuted the danger is less, but the in
convenience is even greater, because
it is so much harder to clean up" Mr..
Mckinley went on to say that rice is
thrown even before the ceremony,
that brides sneak out of the house by
secret ways, even crawling down lad
ders or out of windows, or else make
a mad rush for the carriage in the
midst of screams and shouts and
scuff1eS and the rending Of gar
ments" carriages are decorated and
placarded, baggage is derisively Ia
belled, and the noise, flying rice ana
general confusion are a source OF
great annoyance to the passengers on
the train taken by the bridal couple.
He summed up the situation as fol-
lows:
Everything is done that can be
done to make the couple appear like
fools and their friends succeed in APP
pearing like Doors and barbarians. In
stead of the happy parting OF friends
there are often tears and sobs and
the chord of friendship is broken, and
many a newly married pair never for
give the insults and humiliations Of
fered to them on their wedding day
by those who were supposed to We
their closest friends.
1--WE think ourselves superior 10
those who habitually celebrate a we'd
ding by getting drunk; yet our we'd
dings frequently terminate in dis
graceful brawl, and we cannot even
plead the excuse that we were in
toxicated and did not know what we
were about"
That is true, every word OF 1t; and
the pity is that persons in supposed
ly cultivated circles give occasion
for all this condemnation. What was
once a custom having sort OF sacred
symbolism has degenerated in this
time of widest civilization into rough
ness and rowdyism, in which young
men and young women who would
resent the imputation that they were
even related to half savages exhibit
the essential characteristics Of the
barbarian. 1t is true, as Mr.. McKin-
ley says, that the leave-taking OF the
bride should be a holy thing in the
eyes of all who are privileged to wit
ness it," that cit is really the most
solemn, the browning moment of the
W6uuluS udy, IllC etOOuI WAASh SAAN
most precious memories should clust-
err in after years." and that, therefore,
mo one has any right, by throwing
rice or any other foolishness, i
make it impossible for a bridal couple
to say their goodbys as they should
be said, and to leave the paternal
home in peace" 1t would be difficult
to trace a connection between the dis
orderly accomplishments of the we'd
ding departure and the lack of APP
probation of the sanctity of the mar
rage relation which is the cause of
SO many unhappy divorces, but that
point need not be dwelt upon. AS
matter of mere good breeding and
decency, the horse-play after the we'd
ding ought to be abolished, and the
quicker the better.-New Bedford,
NEoce Standard