ECCENTRIC WEDDINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4332, 6 February 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

ECCENTRIC WEDDINGS.

(From the Graphic.) Some three or four weeks ago the blissful serenity of the Yorkshire village of Horbury was somewhat rudely interrupted by certain grotesque proceedings in connection with “Nut’s Wedding Day.” The individual popularly known as “ Nut ” is a Horbury man, who follows the calling of boatman, and about three weeks previous to his marriage he’ began courting one of his female acquaintances, the “ askings ” as the banns are locally designated, being “ put up ” on the same day that the courtship began, and the wedding taking place on the morning following the third time of asking. So far there was nothing unusual in the proceedings, but a boatman's wedding, like those of more exalted personages, is not an every-day occurrence, and Nutt's friends determined that the traditional rites and ceremonies connected with such occasions should be faithfully observed. Accordingly at five o’clock on the morning of the wedding day, a number of musicians, accompanied by a large crowd of villagers, proceeded to the residence of the affianced couple, where they played several sacred airs. After this there' was a substantial breakfast, at which “ Nut,” hi* intended, and a large number of friends were present, the etiquette customary on such occasions being faithfully observed. Breakfast over, a commodious dray made its appearance in the street, the vehicle being provided with seats for the wedding party. Among the occupants of the dray were twelve men wearing cocked hats, and profusely adorned with paper stars, roses, and streamers. At the end of’ the dray was a large crimson banner, the horses drawing the vehicle being gaily caparisoned. In this style the wedding party proceeded to a public-house near the church, where they descended from the conveyance and walked to the sacred edifice. Here the wearers of the cocked hats, together with the bearer of the crimson banner, were refused admittance, and the wedding ceremony, despite several unseemly interruptions, was performed during their absence. Of the saturnalia which succeeded the return of the wedding party from the church, the less said the better ; it was not a thing of which the friends of the English working man could feel proud. _ encfc-ecoenmc weddings are not, however, of very unusual occurrence. There is scarcely a clergyman in any part of the United Kingdom, especially in the manufacturing districts, who cannot relate some curious incidents or observances in connection with certain weddings at which he officiated. Some few years ago a somewhat pisturesque procession might have been met in one of the most densely populated parts of the metropolis. It consisted of a dozen couples, headed by a newly-married pair, who were returning from the church in which the wedding ceremony had been performed. The members of the procession were ■ profusely adorned with artificial flowers, the men wearing garlands round their hats, while in front of the bride and bridegroom marched the father of the bride triumphantly carrying something like a small Maypole. Upon inquiry, it appeared that both husband and wife, as well as their friends, were artificial flower makers. On another occasion the clergyman was astonished at finding an old tin coffee-pot forming a prominent object in the wedding procession, which slowly marched down one of the aisles towards the chanceh Still more astonised was the worthy minister when, the wedding ceremony over, the whole of the party knelt dor’n, and with the antiquated coffee-pot in their midst, sang a hymn of thanksgiving. At first he began to entertain grave doubts respecting their sanity, but a few words of explanation speedily set his mind at rest. If appeared that after the death of the bridegroom's father, a man of most eccentric habits, no traces could be found of some money which he was known to have secretly saved. Unwilling to marry his sweetheart until he was enabled to provide a home for her, the son determined to proceed to America t® seek his fortune, and with that view began clearing out the lew articles of furniture left him by his father. Among these was an old coffee-pot, which he kicked contemptuously from him. In so doing the lid fell off, and a sovereign rolled out. This lead to an examination of the contents of the despised utensil, which was found to consist of bank notes and coin to the amount of nearly £2OO. Of course there was no more talk of going to America, and as for the coffee-pot, it became regarded as a treasured heirloom. The butcher fraternity were formerly notorious for the noisy manner in which they celebrated the wedding of one of their number, and there are many people who yet can remember the grotesque spectacle of a butcher’s wedding procession, headed by a score of stalwart butchers’ lads creating a most terrific din with the aid of cleavers and marrowbones. These processions have become things of the past, but the marrowbone and cleaver conconcerts are still performed in front of the residences of newly-married couples, to the frantic rage ,of all who reside within hearing of the unearthly noise. In the days when ironclads were unknown, and when England’s best bulwarks were her wooden walls, Jack loved to be married in the most unconventional manner possible. On one occasion the wedding party proceeded to the church, St. George s-in-the-East, on horseback, the bride and bridesmaids being attired in riding habits. Jack, be it observed, is extremely fond of horse riding, even at the present day, and seldom fails to display his love of equestrianism whenever a suitable opportunity presents itself. At another time the wedding procession was headed by a black fiddler, followed by a bluff-looking sailor carrying a Union Jack, the rear being formed of a numerous party of the bridegroom’s shipmates. As they left the church, after the ceremony, they made a halt in front of the building, and commenced singing “God save the King,” which was followed by “Kule Britannia,” and three rounds of hearty cheering, after which the party proceeded on its homeward way. The London dustmen were at one penod a rather numerous and powerful body, and the marriage of one of their body was celebrated in peculiar fashion, the now obsolete handbells used by them being caUed into active requisition. On one occasion a procession of dustcarts, filled with women and children attired in holiday clothing, and preceded by half a dozen instrumental performers, accompanied the bridal party on their way to church. But the use of bells in connection with marriage

celebration was not frequent in Ijaucaslnre, where campanology has long formed a popular form of amusement, and it is related of one newly-wedded campanologist that ho and his bride were nearly driven mad by the incessant sound of the bells rung by his friends on his wedding day* Bells at daybreak, bells at breakfast, bells at church, bells at dinner, bells at tea ; it was bells, bells, bells, nothing but bells, even after the midnight hour had struck, until he must have deemed himself the hero of Poe’s famous poem. Perhaps, however, the oddest wedding was that of a couple in the north of England, where the bride made her appearance in a dirty tattered gown, the bridegroom having, in a fit of passion, solemnly sworn that he would marry none but a beggar woman. Of course the unseemly raiment was discarded immediately after the ceremony ivas performed. -