Throwing Rice at Weddings.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 163, 31 July 1886, Page 5

Throwing Rice at Weddings.

The danger of the custom of throwing rice at weddings has just been exemplified. The vicar of St. James the Less, Bethnal Green, has for many years solemnised the ceremony of marriage free to those who chose to avail themselves of his kind ness. It is usual for the friends to wait outside and give the couples a reception with a shower of rice, and to such an extent has the practice grawn that the neighbouring- grocers keep parcel? ready packed for the occasion. The brides are generally protected by their veils ; the bridegrooms are less fortunate, and recently one of them received several grains in his eyes. When he raised hi 3 arm to shield himself a fresh fusillade was' opened upon him, and it was only when hestaggered back in pain that it dawned upon his friends that they had gjven him a reception with more vigour than discretion. After a vain attempt to clear his eyes he was led to a surgery adjacent, and he will now have to pass in a ward ot an hospital what would have been hie honeymoon. It appears that this is not by any means the iiret serious accident caused in this way. •

To THE Public— l, stheundw«igned, do this day make the following statement, in hopes that others who have gone ihrouKh. a similar affliction may profit thereby,:— For many months have I been sick ; so bad that-life'was a burden. The mental depression and>p}iysicalprostration wore something that cannot do described. Doctors and patent,medieines I'have tried without any relief, but'gettingjworae'all the time. ■ As a forlorn hope I> called ow'Dr". Speer, Palmerston Buildings,, Queen-stoeot..- .He examined me, and > asking a, qifoslion, gaye me every symptom T had. J< Said ho 'would treut me. From the fh'skte'aSp'oonfiil of'his medicine I felt relief, anddiavo /boen(conataijtly»gotting v better ever .since.,- cannot .express, my .gratitude^ ,The above statement. 1 1 m*akb " 'without any ~BOllcitatidhVaiid } l am willing tfo v verify the same {before a 1 JiP.-^ltespoojtfully.yourp, R,»ADAM(Mfe!I.' V)harlotte-street, Edou,;X,errac§. 3f f .-.>„; : \j.j^ ;