WAR WEDDINGS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2839, 2 August 1916, Page 3

WAR WEDDINGS

ONE SIDE OF A VEXED QUESTION. "There's a war wedding most days now, to keep us busy," said tho old verger, as ho knocked out the ash from his pipe against a gravestone hard by. "War wedding!" I exclaimed; "why, 1. thought everyone was too busy to got married these stirring times!" "Don't you believe it," the old man chuckled, and his eyes twinkled. "Tho lads may be fighting und the girls busy workingfor them,, but it does not hinder tho love-making." And in corroboration of the truth of his words ho showed mo the church register, which bore witness to five weddings in that one little village during tho preceding week. "In the old days," ho continued, "i wedding made no end of a stir; but, bless you," he added, "they're all doing it now." "There was my young Toui now was married only yesterday," ho continued. "Before the war the two wero always quarrelling, till 'they fell out. But young Tom, ho conlo home six weeks ago with his head all bandaged up and his arm blown off; That did it," he.added, "and yesterday they were made man and wife in this very church." "And you think ,'it improbable that they'll quarrel now," I said, with a •smile. "They may have their little differences now and again, of course," ho agreed; "most folks do—but they've both'of tliem learned a lesson which will teach '•<m to bear and forbear." And while he reiterated with a sad insistence that "the tower wero built in Stephen's time," iand that "poor ' old Jones hung himself in the belfry seven year come next Friday," I pondered over what ho had said and realised the truth of his convictions that war undoubtedly is proving a great matchmaker. * * * * The din of battle is filling the air to-day, but above the martial din the sound of marriage bells peals gaily. Never before havo there been, so many weddings. ' Many of them 'have -been .hurried little ceremonies hastened by a brief respite from the trenches of tho bridegroom. Others have heralded the "joining up" of some brave lad in the near future. And behind 'the scenes of both, grim spectre at. the marriage feast, Tragedy, emphasised, by the ' outward courage and bravery of the dry-eyed war bride, has lurked. All of us who have witnessed those solemn ceremonies must have understood the sad thoughts and fears that lie hidden in tho heart of

the bride, who recognises that the grim und dreadful hand of warfare is hovering over her newly-made husband and may claim him. Perhaps it is this truth which prompts and urges forward the wedding day, for every woman- is proud of the man who is lighting, and feels that in sharing his name she shares his honours too. Certain it is that the clash of arms finds a quick response in the heart of woman. Every man, to the woman who loves him, is a hero. Resplendent in the uniform that proclaims him a soldier fighting for King and country, ho is thrice hero. Every woman is proud of her own soldier. ,-, The parting which seems so close lo the uniting harmony of tho war-wedding is robbed of much of its bitterness J>y the great pride that'reigns in the woman's heart, and undoubtedly will prove a worthy and solid basis of marriage. There is nothing like mutual suffering to bridge a gulf, and many a, couple whom war lias united might in peaceful times have drifted apart. Many a man might well hesitate in uncertainty until, suddenly faced with a parting that he knows full well may prove the final one, he finds now courage And many a woman has realised only too poignantly the depth of her love, while tho dreadful days of suspense drag heavily by as she waits for rews of some dear one. These long vigils must have revealed to many a woman a love of which she herself was ignorant. War must have rent many a veil asunderStanding in that quiet churchyard, it seemed incredible that so stern and fearful a havoc as war should be required to bring out this great truth in human nature. Yet time has proved that, out of strifo and conflict alone has great peace arisen; and out of bloodshed and sorrow a greater understanding has developed, a new- and brighter era drawned.—(T., in the "Daily Mail.")