The Holbrook news., 1912-01-19

ACy dAC WSAOOAnCQ at lAC CSAOAus served with wine and fruits. and then the bride. hidden under voluminous hooded mantle, is persuaded to ad- vance to where her palfrey awaits her.
 She does so with apparently reluc tance. affecting to be forced by the matrons who support her under each arm. Silk draperies are extended at each side while she passes so as to conceal her movements from the out side crowd until she is mounted The cortege then sets of. the man at the bridle of the white steed stopping at each notable landmark so that the bride may salute it for the last time as a maid
 When the house of the bridegroom is reached her family bid the bride farewell and withdraw, after leaving her seated on a pile of cushions in the best room. At the door, however. they take care to impress on the mem bers of her new family that terrible reprisals will follow any i'll treatment of her. any neglect of her legitimate wants.
 The veil is now lifted from her face. and the bridegroom's relatives crowd around to see her, singing at the same time.
 How beautiful is the bride. God bIess
 heri
 Her eyebrows are arched as the rainbow,
 and her eyes are like cups. God
 bless her!
 Her mouth Is little golden box. and her
 lips are cherries. God bless her! Her skin is like milk, and her shape
 is graceful as the cypress tree Got
 bless her!
 The marriage rite is performed iD the nuptial chamber, where the bride groom is introduced by force, for it is the proper thing on both sides to af feet reluctance as the crucial moment draws near. When the bride is asked if she consents to wed the man kneel- ing at her side no answer is returned until the priest repeats his question for the third time, when the matroD behind her lays her hand on the brides head and inclines 1t downward in token of acquiescence
 Wooing That Follows Marriage.
 When the religious ceremony is fin ished feasting begins. the men being put to one table in one room, the women in another Dancing is kept up till midnight, the sexes indulgins, in it apart, for any fusion is consid- cred unseemly and opposed to GUS. tom. The young pair take no part in the festivities, being relegated to their private apartment.
 During the first week of her wife hood the new spouse is obliged to re- ceive visitors; that is. to be present while they talk among themselves. for she stands erect in her wedding clothes, taking no part in the conver- sation, and replying only by an incli. nation of the head to those who sa lute her. The husband is full of gen. tie, unobtrusive attentions to his wife. but it is not good form in Al bania for them to be seen much to- gether, and if he wishes to exchange word with her throughout the day he must have recourse to strategem, as if he were a clandestine lover This state of things lasts for a year. so that the honeymoon is generally more pro longed than in other countries, where the wooing precedes rather than fol lows marriage.
 Fifteen days after the wedding day an Albanian bride is conducted to her former home. where she remainr an entire week At the expiration of that time her husband coms again to fetch her It is the proper thing for her to show regret and reluctance as be fore and to betray sorrow at the fresh from her parents.
 Arrived once more at her new home. she puts of the yellow shoes, which are the distinctive mark of .he bride. moves henceforth uncontrolled and attends mass regularly. Divorce is, of course. unknown to the Alban- ian, but the Mohammedan has some times recourse to it