Year: 1872




A SIBERIAN WEDDING You will like to
hear something ofa Siberian marriage. The
courtships are not long-a month is sometimes
the extent of the acquaintanceship. This in
some degree may be caused by the vast num-
Der of presents the bridegroom is going to
make, he never approaching the house EMPTY
handed. One of the gifts must, of necessity,
be shawl, the value depending on his means.
| once heard OF gentleman sending courier
express to England for one for his future bride.
No sooner has a gentleman made his proposal
to the parents of the young lady, and become
her accepted suitor, than he is introduced to
the whole of the relations of the family-ser-
wants as well; he is then looked upon as one OF
its members, and is henceforth permitted to
make his calls without being in full uniform.


On the eve of the wedding the young lady
assemblies her companions, when they all JOIN
in singing farewell to the maiden. The
bridegroom sends them vast quantities of bon
bons, and sometimes be sends a present to
each of the young ladies'; the bride also divides
among them little trinkets which she has worn.
Meanwhile the bridegroom gives dinner to
his bachelor friends, and takes his leave of
them. The dowry, for day or so before the
ceremony is spread out for the inspection OF
friends, who call to see it. The room in which
it is displayed looks like magazine. The
dresses are suspended on stands, and tables
covered with jewery. laees and linen, tied with
pink aud blue ribbon, &c. Before it is packed
to take to the brides own home, the priest
comes to bless the articles and sprinkle all with
holy water


He is usually admonished to be careful of
velvet dresses, &c. this he appears to under
stand, and, if sufficiently rewarded, IS most
sparing of the consecrated water L was told
when such was not the case he would spite
fully throw large quantity over the perishable
articles The bridegroom furnishes the
house but the bride provides the silver and
linen, as likewise a dozen shirts, a dressing
gown and pair of slippers for her future hus-
band. presume 1t is supposed that she, with
her own hands, spins the fax, and then weaves
it into cloth.


On the marriage day it is not permitted for
the bride and bridegroom to meet till they do
so at the church, the ceremony usually taking
also obliged to fast from the time Of rising on
the eventful day, until after their return from
church, with the exception of a cup of tea
without cream. AS soon as the bridegroom
and his party, have entered the sacred edifce,
the bridegroom drives off to announce the
iact to the. bride. The dress of the bride is
usually very beautiful it is full ball costume,
and always pure white, with veil and orange
blossoms. She is not allowed to do the slight
est thing for herself all her relations, and
even the merest acquaintance, provided they
are unmarried, are invited to assist IN the dress
ing of the bride, The shoes, which are OF
white satin, are put on by the youngest broth
cr or if there is no brother, by the nearest re-
ation, who places piece OF money ln one OF
them this is the femme de chambre. On
one side of the church are relations and friends
of the bridegroom, and on the opposite those
of the bride when the ceremony IS concluded
all return to the home Of the brides parents,
and are met by music.


Then the father and mother come forward
not the real parents, but couple chosen tor
the occasion, called Mere assise and Pere assls.
The young couple kueel to them, and receive
their bencdiction, being crossed three times
each with the image Of the Virgin and Child,
which atterward is pressed to- their lips; and
then the crossing is repeated with the bread. ln
the centre of which is silver salt cellar con-
tanning salt. This is repeated by both father
and mother to each of the newly married.
After this is over, they both rise, and, kissing
the hands of those who have blessed them, are
conducted into an inner apartment and seated
on a sofa, where they receive the congratua-
tions of the guests; their health being drunk IN
champagne, which is often declared to be ex-
cessively bitter, and is rendered sweet by the
bride and bridegroom embracing each other,


After drinking tea, the guests retire, and the
young couple, if they have another home to 60
to, do the same, preceded by some Of the mar
rcd relations of the bride, whose duty 1t Is to
livest her of her bridal dress, and in its stead
cothe her in muslin capote lined with silk
and dainty little cap to correspond Thus
equipped they sit taking tea and chatting, far
into the small hours Of the night; the poor
husband doing solitary duty by marching to
and fro in another apartment, waiting patiently
till the ladies choose to separate. .-Reco0ecttons
IF Tartar Steppes