THE ABOLITION OF BRIDESMAIDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1807, 5 April 1888, Page 2

THE ABOLITION OF BRIDESMAIDS

One of the notable features of fashion this year will, says a wttter Id the "Dally News," bathe gradual Usappaarance o£ bridesmaids from weddings. Nothing oan be prettier, la theory always and oooa* Bionally m reality, than a group o f white* clad maidens attending their frlat^ to the altar and illuminating the scene with their decorative presence. But under exiting arrangements, bridesmaids are a very ex. penßlve luxury. The bridegroom has not only to give eaoh of them a dainty costly present, bat he is expeoted to furnish them with bouquets as well. There h*i, of late, beon a tendenoy towards very tiny bridesmaids, whose tender age would naturally, redaoe the expenses of the presents m proportion to their years. Bat even these are disappearing m favor of small 80-cnllod pages, who know bo little of a page's dutieß that they alternately tread on the bride's train and trot after it, but who do not expect either jewellery or bouquets. The faot Is. that bridesmaids have, so to apeak, raised their terms to auoh an exalted height that human nature m the shape of exasperated bridegrooms, h&s begun to aok if they cannot be dispensed wltb . And this will certainly come about unless as m " Ruddlgore, " there should be established an organised brigade of bridesmaids ready with their services on every oooasion and anxious to " Hail the bridegroom" In consideration of a very trifling fee. There are rumours of sharp practice on the part of young ladies who love jewellery more than is meet, and have been rashly asked to " choose something " for themselves aa -the bride* groom's gift. Diamonds are like horses m one respect ; namely that, few people seem to be able to resist cheating about them, more or less. On the occasion of a recent wedding affairs asaomed another phase m connection with the bridesmaids' presents. Ten girls can hardly expeot to be of one mind on auoh a aubjeot, and the bridegroom unwittingly oast a veritable fireband among them by saying -ho would leave the oholoo to them. To alter the ■ simile, he thereby sowed dissension ■ among them and reaped oonf uslon and disaster. Oaly two of the tan were unanimous, and on the wedding day the brlda found herself shorn of four of her friends who had quarrelled Irretrievably. Bridesmaids have simply extinguished themsolves; it is more than possible that a hundred years hence tho soolal ohrontoler will be "reading up" their funotlons aod duties with a view to suggesting the revival of a pretty but obsolete old custom.