The Washington herald., 1913-07-08
Court Gossip of Interesting
Events on Two Continents

verse to happy households. On the other
hand, June was held to be the mos,
propitious time of the year for wed.
| dings. In England in medieval times
superstitions in regard to weddings were
many, and people had recourse to ali
kinds Of love philters, magical invoca-
tions, and other follies which were sup
posed to bring luck to the bride OF
bridegroom. Some OF the superstitions
OF the Middle Ages were rather curious.
1t was believed that ilI-Iuck' would fol-
low the union OF the married pair IL the
bridal party. in going to church. met a
| monk. priest, a hare, a dog, a cat a
| lizard, or serpent. On the other hand,
II was considered very lucky to meet a
wolf. spider. or q toad.
Marry in Lent and you live to repent
Is superstition which holds to this
day. All penitential days throughout
the year were considered unsuitable for
| wedding festivities.
! II 1t rains on the wedding day, the
bride will weep all her married life. Is
a saying that is still believed in. 1t also
Is considered unlucky for the bride to
try on the wedding gown before the
ceremony.
Three times a bridesmaid, never a
bride. is another well-known saw, and
one seldom finds a girl nowadays will
ing to be bridesmaid more than twice
1t is considered unlucky for a bride
and bridegroom TO have the same in
itials. ITO change the name and not
the letter is n change for the worse
and not for the better"
In Sweden the bridegroom has a great
fear Of trolls and "sprites." and as
an antidote against their power he sews
into his clothes various strong smelling
herbs, such as garlic and rosemary. 1t
Is customary 10 fill the brides pocket
with bread, which she gives to the poor
she meets on the way to the church,
and so averts misfortune with the aims
she bestows. On their return from the
church the bride and bridegroom visit
their COW houses and farms. that the
cattle may thrive and multiply.
The wedding ring. as a symbol. also
dates back to far gone times, probably
having its origin in the days Of Tubal
Cain. 1t was at one time customary for
marriage rings to be worn by both sexes,
and this custom Is largely followed in
Germany today. The ancients put the
ring on the left hand. because they found
it more convenient, and they chose the
fourth finger. because II is less used
than the rest and more capable OF pre-
serving the ring from damage.
of the idea that a shoe brings luck; but
1t is reminiscent Of the time when a
woman was practically sold to her hus-
band. In olden times the Jews confirmed
a sale by giving a sandal to their Gus
toners. An Anglo-Saxon father would
give his shoe to the bridegroom. who
tapped his wife-to-be on the head with
it. signifying that henceforth she was
his property.
1t is considered lucky in the north Of
England for a young unmarried girl to
sleep with a piece of wedding cake I'M
der her pillow.
An unusual form OF pen was used
when the treaty of Paris was signed after
the Crimean War. On March g, 1856.
the Empress Eugene having expressed
a wish to possess the pen with which the
plenipotentiaries were to sign peace, the
Emperor ordered that the finest eagle in
the Jardin des Plantes should be plucked
of its best feather, which, being 'taillee
en- plume" was used on that occasion
and then handed over to her Majesty.
The eagles feather had been used for
the signature of one or two copies. 'mais.
gu on e. est revolte." against the en-
ploying it for all. as in that case the
plenipotentiaries never would have got to
the end of their labors.
FLANEUR.