Year: 1879

PLEA FOR THEIR ABoLIsHMENT, AND THE
sUBsTITUrE-MR. DLENNERHAssETT's BILL
IN THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT.


From the London World.l


The air is musical with the sound of joy bells.
Tho young King of Spain has just led second bride
to the altar and the revelry which reigns in Madrid
awakens echoes in England We have Christmas
weather. bat the frosty atmosphere rings with the
melody of June madrigas and the voice the turtle
dove may metaphoricslly be said to heard in the
land. At the close Of last week two
marriages, in which not little interest was
felt by certain section of society, celebrated
in London. On Saturday well known barrister
became father-in-lsw. and the day previously the
same dignity was attained by the most successful
artist of the day. This q ceremony Of most
impressive and imposing character. Art literature
science. rank fashion. beauty. abundantly rep
resented while the nuptial ceremony was in prog
ress. When that the rite Of o wedding
breakfast was wisely pretermitted. and. by way Of
compensation. the mother of the bride threw open
the rooms of the family mansion" and entertained
her friends ut ball Of great magniicence. There
seems be prospect of this exceptional but most
member Of the House Of Commons is about to do
what he can toward abolishing the compulsory
and if Mr.. Bennerhsssetts bill passes into law a
blow will have been dealt at the institution Of
wedding breakfast, which has long since become
nuisance to all concerned Our social history
abounds in instances of the survival Of the unfttes
well rs OF the ittest. Marriages before
adopted by our torefathers for the simple reason
that there existed strong presumption that, after
noon, bride and bridegroom might both be unable
to walk straight the nuptal altar. In those prim
itive times the more hilarious spirits were in the
habit OF drinking themselves rs nearly possible
blind drunk before one o'clock on any holiday. by
way of doing 1t suitable reverence The earlier the
marriage the less likelihood Of ecclesiastical
scandal and the arrival of wedding party whose
members could not articulate plainly and could
barely stagger up the central aisle. The canonical
hours. from eight to noon, fixed centuries ago.
tempt to Introduce reform into soco- re lgious
life against which there is no sensible argument to
be urged.


TWILIGHT WEDDINGS.


The only object gained by the perpetuation Of the
present usage is the retention Of so-caed festvity
which is q wearness all who take part in 1t, and
which is utterly foreign to English dietary. One
might almost fancy that celebrating prefer
naturally dreary ball supper in the hours Of the early
morning There is sense OF dissipation without
its warmth. and excess without its generosity. A
consciousness Of the absurdity OF the whole thing
in the atmosphere to soften the pompous ceremony
or to tone down the salient ngles Of ridicule.
pie and champagne between the hours of twelve
and one. and humanity Of course pays the
penalty for doing 80. When the wedding party has
dispersed its members cannot divest themselves OF
q debauched feeling OF having been up all night. 1t
is not yet two o'clock in the afternoon. and the i'm
preston which every one takes away from the hy-
meneal festiviy is that it should at least be eleven
p. NJ. Wedding banquets OF some sort are not more
likely to drop into desuetude than the form Of
riage service which the Church has prescribed and
shall continue to have nuptal feasts OF sort
just we have public dinners and other national
calamities. But the attempt might we'll be made to
reduce the dimensions OF tho evil. From one point
of view il must be remembered that Mr.. Blenner-
hassetts bill for the abolition Of privilege
What il the privilege OF arbitrarily limited
order should be made the free OF tho Eng
lish people. In the country traditional charm Is
supposed to attach to weddings that take place in
the comparatively early summer morn; and there
be reason why these should be COM
pulsorily discontinued. Unless 1t be that marriage
IL lottery-and not human being can
forete whether those who vow to love. cherish and
obey each other may not be possessed by passions
OF mutual animosity before the year is out-:here
particular reason why Q wedding should be
strikingy repellent ceremony II 1t took place at
one O'Clock and there were . well served luncheon
immediately afterward, 1t would be much more toll
erable Perhaps the ideal style Of things would be
witnessed should IL be the fashion to solemnlze
weddings in something after the manner OF kettle
drums. Thus. II 1t were understood that the func-
tion itself would take place at five p. NJ in the draw
ing room OF the ladys parents, visitors might drop
in and disappear without the necessity of spelling
their days occupation. and the afternoon tea would
be welcome substitute ior the monstrous and un-
wholesome wedding breakfast. II society il wise It
will lend Mr.. Blennerhassett all the encouragement
1t in the conduct OF his measure and If it does
that the success Of the bill may be regarded
sured