The Washington herald., 1910-11-13

Rachael his wife, he was but acceding to
a custom which poor but ardent lovers
in Oriental countries have been compelled
TO observe since the dawn OF history.
In the far-away Philippines. the most
distant Of Uncle Sans possessions,
strange and interesting marriage GUS
toms prevail among the 100000 inhabi-
tants who are scattered throughout the
wide reaches Of the archipelago. and the
old law that man must work for his
bride prevails to-day under the Stars and
Stripes, just as it did under the old
Mosaic law.
In the Philippines, when a young
couple have been pierced by Cupid's dart.
it is customary for the prospective bride
groom or his parents TO make settle
ment upon his bride II the young man
has no dowry TO offer IL is usually stipu-
lated that he shall serve on probation
for an indefinite period in the house OF
his future bride IN other words, the
young chap, whose whole being is CEN
tered In the possession OF some dusky
belle. generally goes to work for his
future father-in-law, and sometimes Ia
bors for several years before he may
lead the young lady up TO the altar.
When the marriage does take place,
however. the young man has not become
an inveterate bachelor, nor is his sweet
heart a confirmed spinster, for marriages
take place early in the Philippines. The
bride may be but eleven years old and
the groom fourteen or fifteen, and even
II he has worked seven or eight years
10 secure his bride, as il infrequently
happens he Is no older than the average
voung American lad who Is Just out or
college or who has just mastered his
trade.
Religious and Social
Marriage is one or the great religious
and social observances Of the Philippines.
when the swarthy Filipino lover has
6naIv won the bride OF his heart the
whole community turns out for the
church ceremony, the feast, and the
dance that follow, and it matters not II
the wedding guest has been rendered q
special invitation; he will be welcomed
If he Is a stranger.
On the day Of the appointed ceremony
the wedding guests, the prospective
groom and the parents. OF parientes, OF
the elated young man, assemble at the
home OF the bride. long procession
is formed. led by the bride and her par
ents or guardians, with the groom appro-
priately trailing far In the rear. Oh
course there Is a band Wedding festi-
walls are always accompanied by music
of some sort, either orchestral, brass
band, or choir, and sometimes all OF
these. During the Spanish-American wal
unpopular air much sung by the soldiers
was the lively negro melody Of the so
called rag-time type. "A Hot Time III the
Old Town Tonight" This tune gained
a tremendous hold on the Filipinos ano
no wedding ever goes on without this
tune. II is almost the Filipino national
wedding march.
OF course. the bride is decked out II
the handsomest garments In the posses
sion OF her family and relatives. Filipino
women are passionately fond OF jewelry
and it is not rare that they possess or
naments OF considerable value. Some
times one will see a bride dressed In or
binary cotton cloth, but decorated with
real gold ornaments and with diamonds
that have perhaps been in the possession
OF her relatives for a great many years
or course. the poorest families do not
have these diamonds or real gold in theii
possession, but they nuy inexpensive or
naments manufactured in Europe
Sometimes at a wedding the stranger
who has been going through the interior
and has been Hospitality invited In Is
amazed to see the ease with which the
Fllipinos glide in the dance in their
'chinelGs, a kind of slipper fiat like shoe
with no heels and just enough upper IL
front 20 put the toes inside, This is inva'
riably worn in the distant provinces
where neither men nor women ever wear
stockings. Even in the waltz rarely does
the chinela slip from the maiden's foot
When perchanee II does she slides around
the floor in her bare feet. slipping IT or
deftly when the circuit is completed with
out stopping in the dance.
Simple Dress Attractive.
The wedding dress is simple. vet at
traetive, Corsets are yet unknown; the
chimesette, which Just covers the bosom
and a starched neck (panuelo) are this
usual mode. The panuelo presents th'
appearance OF a great ruffle or collar ii
the seventeenth century style. The gar
ment is square, but being folded triangu
larry. hangs in a point in the back. while
at the inside fold stands loose and high
at the base OF the head. The other tive
corners are gathered together at the
breast by a brooch, meeting at the top o.
the chimesette. The sleeves are wide and
flowing. Frequently the women wear EN-
broidered garments. embroidery being al
art at which they are clever.
The bride wears no hat, her raven blacl
hair being done up IN an attractive col
and anointed with cocoanut oil.
After the wedding ceremony comes thu
wedding feast. The bride, demure, bu
conscious that al eyes are upon her, oc
oupies the seat of honor at the marriag,
hoard, while the bridegroom has an hum
bic seat and IL would be hard 10 picl
him out as a bold Lochinvar. In fact
az a Filipino wedding IL would often b.
difficult for a stranger. happening in. t.
tell which one OF the young gallants as
sembled is the bridegroom.
AAc menu a. INC NtuuiHs least IL eau
crate. Roast pig, stewed chicken, fish
vegetables. preserves from Spain are al
put upon the board. If the daughter o
a Filipino family is married and he
parents have no chickens for the feas
they will borrow them from the neighbor
who. in honor of this occasion. lend then
readily enough,
ON with the Dance.
After the wedding there is almost al
ways a dance (baile). The volatile ma
ture of the Filipino lends itself readil,
10 the rhythm Of the music and the swim
80 ska danaa stan II CARLY Che pFsh tfy,s.