davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
ORIGIN OF MODERN
MARRIAGE CUSTOMS
Unlucky for Bride to Try on Wedding
Gown Before Cerem0ny-Shoe
Sign of Bondage

Every nation has it's own beliefs and
superstitions in regard to weddings. 1t
is considered unlucky to be married in
May. The ancient Romans believed May
to be under the influence of spirits ad-
verse to happy households. On the 9TH
er hand, June was held to be the most
propitious time of the year for we'd
dings, says Tit-Bits.
In medieval times superstitions in
regard to weddings were rife, and peo-
pie had recourse to all kinds of love
philtres, magical invocations, and other
follies which were supposed to bring
luck to bride or bridegroom. Some OF
the superstitions of the Middle Ages
were very curious. 1t was thought that
ill-luck would dog the union of the
married pair If the bridal party In go
ing to church met monk, priest,
a hare, a dog, cat, lizard, or serpent;
on the other hand, it was considered
very lucky to meet a wolf, spider, or
a toad.
Marry in Lent and you live to re-
pent," is superstition which holds to
this day. All penitential days through
out the year were considered unsuitable
for wedding festivities.
IF it rains on the wedding day the
bride will weep all her married life"
is a saying that is still believed in. 1t
is also 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 girl nowadays will
ing to be u bridesmaid more than twice.
1t is considered unlucky for bride and
bridegroom to have the same initials.
"To change the name and not the letter
is change for the worse and-not for
the better.
In Sweden the bridegroom has a great
fear of trolls and sprites, and as an
antidate against their power he sews
into his clothes various strong-smell
ing herbs, such as garlic and rosemary.
1t is customery to fill the brides pocket
with bread, which she gives to the poor
she meets on the awy to the church,
and so averts misfortune with the
aims she bestows On their return from
church the bride and bridegroom visit
their COW houses and farms that the
cattle may thrive and multiply.
The wedding ring as symbol also
dates to farback times, probably hav-
ing it's origin in the days of Tubal Cain.
1t was at one time customary for mar
riage rings to be worn by both sexes,
and this custom is largely followed on
the continent today. Our ancestors put
the ring on the left hand because they
found it more convenient and they
chose the fourth finger because it is
less used than the rest and more Ca
pable Of preserving a ring from dam
age.
1t is hard to determine the origin of
the idea that shoe brings luck, but 1t
Is reminiscent of the time when a
woman was practically sold to her hus-
band. In olden times Jews confirmed a
sale by giving sandal to their GUS
toners. An Anglo-Saxon father would
give his shoe to the bridegroom who
tapped his Wife be on her head with
1t, slgnifying that henceforth she was
his property
1t is considered lucky for young
unmarried girl to sleep with piece Of
wedding cake under her pillow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
A Step Too Far

Mariana was not injured-though
much frightened-by her fall; and
gratefully accepted the services which
Steno offered her in remounting. He
was her cavalier back to the shore and
back to the Grand Ducal Palace when
the train returned to Venice.
The feast was over in the Palace
of the Doges and Mariana was sitting
alone upon a marble balcony overlook
ing the canal, when to her appeared
Steno.
He had been dining and wining too
well. He approached Mariana with an
ardor which was i'll befitting such a
noble dame and such a cavalier.
Pacing in the gallery from which the
balcony jutted out, the Doge, seriously
meditating upon affairs of state, heard
the scream of Mariana In an instant
he was at her side.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
Caesar or Cataline?

When the chief % the Arsenal had gone
Marino medtated long and earnestly,
Should he league himself with common
ruifians against the state of which he was
the chief? And if re failed, give his name
to all the growing calumnies of time?
Would lie oc Caesar or Cataline?
And yet The foul reproach upon his fair
young wlfe-his face reddened as he
thought of the light sentence upon which
the Forty had seen fit TO put Steno.
Il will venture" said he to himself.
there is but one. touchstone of desert
success
The next morning the Doge held ses-
sion of the senate and was as calm and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
Before the High Council

Two days after. in the great hall of
council. the Ten, as court, was as
sembled to try Marino Faliero and his
conspirators for treason against the
State.
What have you to say in defense?'
asked the chief of the Ten.
What shall l say to you-judges and
executioners?' cried Marino; you sit
there as judges you-you are traitors.
You cut down the power and privileges
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
The Sun Again

The great gusts of wind which
rushed from the Dalmatian Mountains
went out to sea. But they drove before
them to the Italian coast great banks
of fog, so that when the glittering train
of Marlno, was embarked a thick mist
had enshrouded all the etoral.
The air was dark. Thespilots sought
in vain for the usual landing place of
the Doges. At length they made the
Plaza of San Marco and the new Doge
was landed between those two pillars
at the very place where traitors to the
state were publicly executed.
That was a solemn company which
landed and Angelina was again in
tears.
But, suddenly as 1t had arisen, the
great sun of the Adriatic burst forth
and, amid the acclamations of an en-
thusiastic populace, the Doge and his
Duchess We're conducted to the Church
of san Marco, passing under the great
bronze horses and into the splendors OF
that most remarkable of cathedrals
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
Saved by Steno

For nine months Marino Faliero
reigned as Doge of Venice. And great
was the splendor of his reign
Then came the day-it was of
Thursday-when the Doges were, by
custom, wont to go over to the main
land and hunt the bull which ran wild
in the forest of Treviso. 1t was most
splendid hunting and 80 wild bulls
were slaughtered.
No one among the cavaliers who ac-
companied the Doge was more valiant
and more expert in the hunting than
Michel Steno.
At one time bull, suddenly charging
from the woods upon the cavalcade OF
ladies. Marianna's horse, in its fright,
slipped and fell and Mariannas lie
would have been forfeited had not
Michel Steno, charging with his lance
given the infuriated animal the coup
de grace" between his head and his
thick shoulders.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
All Must Be Killed

There was Short consultation among
the conspirators and then Calendercno
said: Whenever 1our lordship wishes
Tomorrow at SUNRISE, said the Doge
when you hear the Sreat bell of san
Marco--whicil may not he struck except
by special order Of the Doge-then march
on San Marco.
i"Let every go march by a different
route. Upon the way let your cry be OF
war and of battle against the feet of the
Genoese which, il will be reported, has
been seen before the city
my nephew and the clients of my house
will be arraigned in the courtyard of the
grand ducal palace. Shout San Marco!-
the foe is IN oyur waters
1.-THE Patricians, aoclSing to the council.
you will fall upon and hill-kill.'
Then spoke up one Bertram and asked
''Must all be killsd:'
"All," sternly responded the Doge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
Youth and Old Age

OF course, the wits and gossips OF Venice
became very witty and very busy at thls
union of youth and age, but before the
purity of Angelina and the constancy ana
fame of Faliero all envy and mallce pe-
came paralyzed.
1t seemed as If there were no "eaN
Joints in the armor of Faliero and ms
bride for the shafts of the wicked to seek
out. All that they could find to say
against Marlno was to tell a story of his
youth.
1t was this: Once, when a young man.
he had been podesta of Treviso. Always
of a hot and ungovernable temper, he
had not agreed very well with the bishop
of the place.
Finally one day, when the bishop had'
as Marino thought Intentionally kept nm
waiting long time he, upon the appear
ance of his grace, boxed his grace's ears
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
...................................

had enshrouded her when she landed
at Venice now seemed to be gathering
more darkly around her.
As for Mariana she pointed hither
and thither like a wind vane ON a
squally day-fnally settling down to a
fidelity to her mistress
Marino awaited the decision of the
Council of the Forty in the Grand
Ducal Chamber. With him was his
nephew, Bertuccio. To him came a
messenger. a noble as was betting.
How now?" asked the Doge.
'rhe Forty do salute the Prince of
the Republic and entreat the accept
ance of their duty"
WELL well-what else? What is the
decision?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
A CL A S SIC
IN A P A G E
.tcopyright, 1913, by Irving King

<Copyright, 1918, by irving King All
rights reserved)
In the great hall of the Palace OIL the
Doges at Venice-that hall where the
portraits of all the Doges. are arranged
around-there is one vacant. space which
attracts more attention from the tourist
than all the portraits.
1t is the place where should have been'
in the regular order, the portrait OF Ma
rino Faliero. The Senate, after his treas
on, decreed this this space should forever
remain vacant-thereby giving the con-
spring Dodge fame which is not shared
by any of his predecessors or successors,
In writing 'Marino Faliero.' Byron did
not attempt to write an acting TRAGEDY.
He merely put the story Of Marino into
those glowing words which came so rapid
and so burning from his pen. With the
possible exception of "Sardanapalus'
''Marino Faliero" is the greatest ara
matte work that Byron ever wrote
His Cain" was more talked about pe-
cause of its impiety, and Manfred oe-
cause of its weirdness. But 'Marino RAJ
iero'' is a tragedy which lives with venice
and endures like that wonderful city
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
Awaiting the Decision

1t was resolved by the Council of
Forty that Steno should be arrested.
And he was arrested. Death only
could appease the wrath of the Doge.
The Doge expected this decision as a
matter of course. Angelina saw in
this determination of her lord to have
the life of Steno those ills of which
she had had forebodings.
Never since she had been the Duchess
had she been happy. The mist which
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
FOrebOdings

This continual success sof Marino, this
steady upward course with no haltinS
to it, this clear and cloudless sky which
was always bending above them-lfe was
too perfect, too full of glory and joy
and success.
why do you weep my child?" asked
Marino when, after he had announced to
Angelina his election to the Dogeship
he found her in tears.
II cannot tell" answered Angelina,
s'but somehow | fear to return to Venice.
I know you are called there to accept the
chief office in the state-called to the
greatest honors.
you, my lord, will wed the Adriatic
with the ring of the Doges. o, will that
marriage be as happy as ours has been?"
This she said in regard to the custom
which then prevailed for each new Doge,
upon his Inauguration, to throw from
the great state barge into the waves of
the Adriatic sea a ring, in token that
Venice married with the sea and was its
lord and master.
Marino cheered and comforted her
laughed at her silly fears and with 4
glittering train they set out for Venice
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
A Shadow Not to Be Mourned

That night; when Marino returned
home. Angelina was sitting up await
ing him.
my lord" said she, "do not let the
foolish affair of Steno so discomfort
YOU"
Leave me alone" said Marino.
Il am your companion and will not
leave you thus alone.
"Come, then, my child-forsive me-
Thou vert made for better fortunes
than to share with mine now darkling
in the the clouds to deep vale where
death sits robed in all his horrors.
"But when l am nothing let that
which / was be still sometimes name
on thy sweet lips. l shall be shadow
in thy fancy and would not have thee
mourn it,
But remember-but l must return
my child--the time is pressing" And
he abruptly left the room.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
The Tragedy's Last Act


At sunrise the next morning Marino
Paliero, Doge of Venice, appeared at
the head of the Giants Stairway wear
ing his Grand Ducal- robes and attend
ed by the Council and all the officers
of state.
The gates of the courtyard were
barred against the papulace which
clamored outside. Slowly Marino di-
vested himself of his insignia of Of
flee and then, lifting his hands to the
rising sun, cried OUT
Il speak to time and to eternity. Ye
elements into which l am soon to be
resolved. hearken to me-"
Then turning to the mobiles he ex-
claimed: amid thy many murders
think of mine. Ye den of drunkards--
drunk with the blood of Princes; &C.
henna of the waters. l devote thee to
the mineral gods"
He laid his head upon the block and
the executioner severed 1t from his
body at one stroke.
Angelina did not long survive him.
And Michel Steno, sent upon some dis
tant mission. died in foreign land
Next weeks one-page classic will be
THE Prairaie,' by JaJmesJ Fennimore
Cooper.
Copyright, 1918, by Irving Kingo
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
Rhymes With a Sting

Marino looked with disfavor upon the
frivolous Steno; he believed him to be
utterly unprincipled and. of a serious turn
of mind himself could not forgive the lev
tty Of the younger man.
And more WAS Faliero annoyed because
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
To Save Patrician Blood

At that hour the patrician Lioni was
lying upon his couch in this great
palace. He could not sleep. Some-
thing there seemed to be of unrest
among the Venetians which he could
not fathom.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
M:..hal StenO

Faliero was received most enthusias-
tically. He had not intrigued for the
position of Doge-he had been the free
choice of the oigarchy and he was the
beloved of the people, who knew in him a
protector and friend.
Among those who followed in the gilt
tering train of Marino Falero when he
made his progress from Rome to Venice
was one Michel Steno. a young man of
some % years, bold and pushing. dandy.
Z lbertine who had kept himself so with
in bounds that he was always of the very
best society-and the gayest-and held the
office of one of the three Capt. of the
council of forty.
No gallant in all Venice dressed quite
SO finely as Michel steno, no lover sang
from his gondola more touchingly to his
guitar beneath lady's window when
the full moon looked down between the
marble palaces upon the still lagoons.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20

as unruffled as ever Angelina was quite
content that Steno had been detected in
his crime and had been sentenced.
She and Mariana, in consultation,
agreed that the shame which Steno must
feel for his a1stasdly act would be quise
enough punishment for him. a months
confinement was. they thought about the
right thing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
.........................s........

the repairing of certain galleys had
not been carried out.
Barbano was angry with the worlmen
and when he, Israel, had tried to justify
them the patrician had hit him in the
face.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
Condemned to Death

spare his few years. she plead
He is traitor and has betrayed
the state" said sternly one of the coun-
Gil
But for him. replied Angelina,
there would have been no state to
betray And you now sit in Judgment
upon him. you who would have been
bending as galley slaves to Moslem
oar.
An injured husband brought tho
Gauls to Clusium and thence to Rome.
A wifes dishonor was the bane of
Troy. An obscene gesture cost Caligula
his life. A virgins wrongs brought
the Moors to Spain. And Steno's lue.
couched in two worthless lines. has
put in peril Venice.
But things like Steno must sting
and higher beings suffer. Proceed. pro-
ceed. I have that within me which
shall overmaster all"
While Angelina stood like a marble
statue, pale and cold, the council gave
judgment upon her husband. He was
the be beheaded the next morning upon
the Giants Stairway.
But when the sentence was pro-
nounced even the fortitude OF Anglo
lima gave way and she fell fainting to
the floor. Attendants bore her sense
less body to her chamber
Connecticut western news., 1913-07-03
What the Other Fellows Say.

The mistake of the New York Tribune in printing picture of the wrong George M. Curtis is nothing compared with that of the Saturday Evenlng Post which once labelled as Congressman Ebenezer ]. Hill" portrait of citizen taken just before he found rescue from fatal com plaint by purchasing a 5. bottle of some body's sarsparilla.-Hartford Times.
 An uncommon sight was witnessed on Bradford street Saturday when flock of sparrows chased fox terrier for several hundred yards along the street. The dog scampered from one side to the other, but the birds followed and pecked him until finally he sought refuge in a barn.-Pittsfeld Journal.
 Yesterday was another of Mayor Moore's busy days. He journeyed to Milford, Conn, with the volunteer fire men and marched in the parade attired time to present the diplomas to the high school graduates-Pittsfeld Eagle.
 Our horse editor reports that lady in a neighboring town in her hurry to start for church took from the closet what she supposed was her dolman, threw it over her arm and on arriving at church threw it over the back of the pew when she discovered she had her husbands trousers. Possibly the lady .'wears the trousers" in that family, in which case her mistake was not out of order.- Woodbury Reporter.
 It's remembered now that Daniel Web ster, when he was secretary of state in President Fillmore's time, used to go to market and buy the things for dinner. Possibly Secretary Bryan knew of that 'pr recedent," and then again there's a possibility that he didn't.-Hartford Courant.
 Summer half gone, and still no oil on state macadam in Ansonia. Was there ever greater delay, and was eyer delay more exasperating g?-Ansonia Sentinel.
 As they can't stop the Chicago wives from killing their husbands, it might be a good idea to get some needed revenue by regulating the evil on a. high license basis.-Hartford Post.
 From St. Louis. it is learned that the bubble cup is unsanitary. We will pres- ently reach the stage at which to get sanitary drink of water we will have to lie on our backs'in rain storm with our mouths open.-New Haven Union.
 Fifty people injured on Sunday ex- cursion train is not very cheerful re- port, but 1t is good deal better than forty injured and ten killed, or even forty-nine injured and one Killed Waterbury Republican.
 What is the use of temporarily depriv- ing automobilists who cause serious ac- cidents, of their licenses9 The Secretary of State returns them in few days. Is it Mir. Phillips way of constantly re- minding us that he is Secretary of State? Bristol Press.
Connecticut western news., 1913-07-03
The AutomobiIists' Governor.


 The Ansonia Sentinel, criticisiug the highway policy of Gov. Baldwin, says that the automobilists elected the gover- nor and thinks they have right to ex- pect something different of him.
 There was lot of political fubdub go- ing around about state highways last fall, and the governor was criticising the highway department on the stump, but this IS the first intimatlon that he had made contract with the automo- bilists that he was to do certain things for them in return to their support. Now that he seems to have broken the contract. it is to be hoped that we shall know more about the details of the agreement,
 It must be nice for the automobilists to oe able to elect their own governor, even if he does go back on them, because there will always be another election day, and they can ask the next candidate they decide to support for bond to en- sure performance of the contract.
 But inasmuch as the automobilists must have needed. in the last state elec- tion, the cooperation of at least TIC, 900 voters who are not automobilists, it may not be policy to advertise on this.
 Perhaps, the governor did not under stand the nature or importance of the agreement he was making. Or perhaps he remembered in time that he is the representative, not exclusively of few thousand automobilists, but of one hundred and seventy thousand other voters of the state.-W Waterbury Repub- lican.
Connecticut western news., 1913-07-03
THE DEADLY AUTO.

The New Haven Railroad has com piled table of "back-fire" statistics of casualties that will give the general pub lie material for serious reflection. The statement shows that the automobiles are killing more than the railroads. For example, it shows that in the six weeks, from April 1 to May 13, there were in the country 1898 automobile accidents of which record was made, resulting in 260 killed and 1572 injured, total of 1882 killed and injured. "1f the figures for this period were carried out for the year it would give 2340 per sons killed and 13,624 injured,sR total of dead and injured of 15,964." Citing the report of the Inter. State Commerce Commission as authority, the statement sets forth that in the entire year ending June 30, 1912, only 270 passengers were killed by all the railroads in the country and tetal, including employees and trespassers, of 1468. v
 In the New England states during the six weeks referred to 190 auto accidents killed 36, while on the New Haven road only 29 passengers have been killed in ten years.
 Concluding, the statement says "That railroad travel is safer than travel by automobile and that as an engine of destruction the locomotive is hardly to be compared with the motor car IS in dicated plainly by these figures. But while the railroad IS held strictly to &C., count for those whom it kills or malms the alarming increase of automobile fatalities shows only too clearly the im- munity which the reckless automobile driver today enjoys. It is beyond ques- tion that were he pursued by prosecut- ing officers with the same diligence as is the railroad there would be no such rec ord of people killed and injured as is revealed in this compilation.
 From which it seems plain that the auto of the species is more deadly than the rail-
Connecticut western news., 1913-07-03
Letters From the People
The "Potter House" :"

To the Editor of The News:
 In the Berkshire County Eagle of June 19. there was an item stating that the Potter house in New Marlboro was the home of Elihu Burritt. Permit me to correct the mistake. Elihu Burritt was in New Marlboro from 1881 to 1883 He worked in a shop in the eastern part of the village for Llnas Catlin. also in a brass foundry. His home was with Erastus Shelton near the foundry.
 The Potter house was built in 1841 and l842 by Leonard Potter. 1t was occupied by himself and family until his death in June, 1874. The family re- mained few years longer.
 The lumber used in the house was cut from six virgin pine trees which grew in Monterey on land owned by Danlel Brewer, (Mrs. Potter's father) He cut them and sawed them in a mill just below the Corashire school house. The chimneys were built by Hiram Hollister in the same year that he bpilt the chim- neys in the Williams house, now called the Bullard place. in this village.
 MRS. ESTHER POTTER WILLIAMS.
 Canaan, June 21.
Connecticut western news., 1913-07-03
What the Rain Did.

! A short time since the COW was sad, she scarce could raise her head begad Her hoofs were sore, her tail was limp, her mane and bangs had lost their crimp, and miles she trudged from grass to drink with scarcely strength enough to wink.
 The owner too, looked blue and glum and cursed the cattle business some; but since the rain the grass is tall, the COW can raise her head and bawl; her hide is sleek. no bones protrude, she prances like corn fed dude. Her owner, too.
 digs up the chink. and asks the boys to take drink. God bless the rain, the gentle rain; it makes a man feel young again. He feels like tossing up his hat and bowling like Democrat. Exchange.