THE PRIMEVAL BRIDESMAID.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 179, 24 April 1908, Page 3

THE PRIMEVAL BRIDESMAID.

•jfMuch of the present-day wedding ceremony is .derived from ,'tho' quaint marria'ge.'customs', of olden times (says a writer whd - has been digging into tho. reoords of. past fashion). .7'lt is customary for the bridesmaids to ba dressed alike; and they.often wear somo ornament wj\ich has been presented to them by' the bridegroom. It. may be'that this is a survival, .like many' otter' wedding customs, of tile old marriage by capture, ; for in some countries tho girl-friends of, the bride will, not allow her to bo approached by . the bridegroom until he Has given them, presents, or,'.in reality, bribed them. Now,, like tippintT,. it is. riierely a custom, and must be folluxed; but originally, no doubt, the bridegroom and his''accomplice, the best-man, .might have found that what they could not .do.; by-force-'they might cncompass by bribery. ... ■ ' "A ;mu(f-chain is a thing which is very at.the present day; and this simpb arrangement, coupled with tho way .'in whicli .it is worn, may lead us along a very interesting line of research, which we may follow for a short time; If wo look .onco again at'' the muff, we shall seo that it is supported by a 'chain which: goes roilnd the back of the nock, allowing tho muff to rest against the front of the body. . • <"This is a primitive method of carrying a burden. Pedlars of old made use of it, and-it is still adopted by the hawkor, because, if tho hands can Kimairi free; while'a'modification of the same principle is seen when the strap takes the form of a baldric, - and passes over ono shoulder arid under the arm on the other -side.; In this way travellers carry their courior-bags, tlio school boy or girl supports his or her satchel, tlie_ fisherman his creel, and' the sportsman his field-glasses."'