Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-05-12
RACE TO KISS THE BRIDE
Quaint Customs Sttll in Vogue
Among German Communities
in Missouri.

Missouri has q number OF German set
Elements. mostly in Gasconade. Warren
and Lafayette counties, and while much
has been heard of the old world atmos-
phere peculiar to them, perhaps few
know to what extent ancient customs
quaint and full of poetic interest sur
vive in many of them.
A marriage in a Missouri German com
munlty means unfeigned rejoicing among
young and old because Of the intimate
spirit that pervades them. When lovers
come to an agreement each selects q
friend and the two friends toss for the
honor Of being the herald. whose duty
Il is In country communities TO announce
the wedding and to invite the friends OF
the betrothed couple. On the day assigned
he mounts his horse, gayly cepartsoned
and with the name twisted In many
colored ribbons. and rides forth over the
countryside on his mission. He carries q
long trumpet of the medieval pattern, not
a megaphone. and II you are among those
honored rides to your door. calls you out
and announces the fact TO you. In re-
turn for this courtesy and Kindness and
the honor extended you are expected to
bestow a small coin In way Of iargess to
show your appreciation and to lie
streamer OF bright colored ribbons to his
arm. following which he gsllops sayly
away to the next place.
On the wedding day the Illusion II pre-
served with fully as much fidelity. The
bride and groom are escorted TO the
Lutheran church In the village by six out
riders, three for each. riding on opposite
sides Of the carriage and, carrying long
clubs instead of pixies as in the days of
old. The guests, large company. as
usual thing. OF young and old. follow In
carriages or on horseback, and the
pageant is as joyful as It Is coiorful, one
Of the many pretty things the Germans
have brought TO America.
Nothing unusual transpires until the
minister finishes the ceremony and the
bride is safely back In her carriage. and
then follows the most interesting and the
most exciting spectacle OF all. But one
kiss can be given by the bride save to her
husband. and that goes to the man who
can beat her back home. II she outstrips
her pursuers no one gets the kiss. As re-
suit the widest Of scrambles ensues. The
young fellows are all well mounted and
are fearless riders and the chase begins,
with the old folks in vehicles racing along
behind in order TO be present when the
coveted kiss Is won.
The race may last for miles. and II you
meet the riders II Is the part OF safety to
get out OF the way as speedily as possible.
They sweep along at q gallop. q score of
them perhaps. and heed nothing. II you be
a friend carrying you along with them.
Some more daring than the rest are sure
TO take the fence. and then follows mad
race across the fields. with the bride
speeding down the roads perhaps q mile
away. Perhaps nowhere else on this
continent is the custom still odhered to,
and there is flavor of nedievalism about
Il that makes Il worth going many miles
to see. The kiss is always claimed. the
bride never having bad taste enough to
win, and Is freely and vigorously given.
AT night stems and music are the order
and the celebration lasts until sunrise,
rest being denied alike 20 the guests and
the welded couple. This 10 the only
modern thing about a German wedding.
and is fully as strenuous as the rest
Of it.-Ransas CITY star. o.,