The Denver Jewish news., 1919-04-30
Ih the flfteenth centnry, lived .Ahra.

source of revenue and hastened To his
iather with his proposition.
Your Noses" he stated, lis OF mar
say. 1t is the duty of every man to
marry n wife in his eighteenth ycnr; (;
but he who anticipates and marries
earlier, is following more laudable
courSe?''
True"
Il have long thought this matter
over. Israel, the tailor. has beauti-
ful daughter, Ruth She is as fair Us
Moses is dark; as short as he is
tall; +; as quiet as he is fiery. 1t is
truly as il Heaven had meant them
for each other. What say you:"
Il am willing"
MY fee is two per cent. of tile
dOwry, bestowed by both parties"
so be it. The law grants it yom +"
And so ii came to pass that Ruths
father had handsome ring made,
which lie presented TO Moses, snch
being the custom of the day. While
the ring was made Of heavy gold and
was richly ornamentcd. having fac
similc of the Temple of Jerusalem
worked out upon it, Moses suffered
agonics each time he put 1t on. The
prongs and projecting points of the
ornamentation dug into his flesh and
tore it till the blood ran. Nor did
the sprig of myrtle which was placed
inside the ring tend to the alienation
of his pain. Titfany's torerunner was
as yet unskilled in his art.
But Moses married Ruth and on the
very day of tht ceremony presented
her with an engagement ring. 1t was
on a Friday--a most suspicious day.
With the early dawn. Moses proceed
ed to the courtyard of the synagogue,
escorted by his father and male friends
and there awaited the coming OF his
betrothed. Over his garments he wore
his cowl or mourning sack which was
sprinklcd with ashes. Under her White
dress Ruth. too, wore her shrout!.
Re fruitful and multiply pro-
claimed the Rabbi, and Immediately
the witnesses set up much rejoicing.
babbling. singing. and dancing. while
Moses and Ruth sat and held in,nds.
till they were led home for the great
feast which was to follow.
Juditii's Romance.
Ruth's great. great. great grand
daughter. 1t was. in the seventeenth
century. who tasted the wine of
real romance. beautifully conceived
and concluded.
Tall. majestic. plant as n slender
stcmmcd lily. Judith was fit subject
for love and poetry. To her the young
Yehuda poured out the innermost
longings of his. soul in ten,lerly ad-
dressed billet-douN. 1t was not per
mitted that he chant orally % his
great passion.
Came finally the day of their mar
riage. and all Of Ychuda's friends turn
rtl ont in their utmost gayety To do
the occasion justice. Bedrcked IN fin
cry. escorted by jubilant crowds of
l,nrscnlcn and lance breakers the pro
cessiOn made its way thru The lew
islI quarters of the town. Laughing:
children dressed in holiday attire ran
before and threw flowers in J,ldith's
path. while the young men danced and
sang.
Returned from the synagog The
guests were hidden to n delicious feast
mt which wine and syrups flowed like
water. Fowl. fruits. dainty sweets.
were dispensed with lavish hniid
and offerings of money were made to
the poor. And then came the great
feature of the evening--tlc play.
Gabriel, the student. had been en-
gagged to write it. and splendid per-
formance he made of 1t. With many
an ailcgory. deftly and subily drawn.
he characterized the virtues of tie
newly welded pair. With fair words
he foretold the glorious future that
lay in store for them. The naihcns
danced and praneed for joy. while the
youths sang of Judith's charms:
"Thy breath is far swcetcr than
honey,
Thy radiance brigthens tn day.
Thy voice is cen softer ihan Tyre
note,
Yet hear it's echo alway
Thy wit is as pure as thy witchcry
And both in thy face are displayed.
Alas! Mid the maze of thy pleas
uunce,
From the path to thy heart / have
strayed."
And they lived happily ever after
wards
Marriage POmp Two Hundred Years