An Algerian Wedding.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 194, 12 March 1887, Page 7 (Supplement)

An Algerian Wedding.

A marriage celebration in Algeria ia an interesting relic of ancient cu6toins, The bridegroom goes to bring the bride, and the guests, assembled outside the house, will wait for hi? return, Soon tha sound of pipes is heard coming from the summit of some ne'uhbouring bill, and the marriage procession approaches the bridegroom's house. The pipers always come first in tbe> procession, then the bride, muffled up in a veil, riding a mule led by her lover. Then comes a bevy of gorgeously dressed damsels, sparkling with silver ornament?, after which the friends of the bride follow. Th& procession stops in front of the bridegroom'ehou3e, and the girl's friends Hoe both eidea of the pathway, The pipers march off on one side, while the bridegroom lifts the girl from the mule and holds her in bia arms. The girl's friends thereupon throw earth at the bridegroom, when he hurries forward and carries her over the threshold of his house. Those about the door beat him with olive branches, amid much laughter. In the evening, on such occasion?, the pipers and drummers are called in, and, tha women dance, two at a time, facing each other ; nor does a couple desist until, panting and exhausted, they step aeide to make room for another. The dance has great energy and movement, though the steps are email and changes of position slight, the dancers only circling round occasionally. But they swing their bodies about with an astonishing energy and suppleness. A leaves flutter beiovo the sale, to do they vibrate to the music ; they shake ; they shiver and tremble ; they extend quivering arms, wave veil-», and their minds eeem lost in the abandon and frenzy of (he dance, while the other women, looking on, encourage by their Ligh, piercing, trilling criea' wbioh add to the noiae of the pipes and drums.—' 1 Brooklyn Magazine."

The name of. a poem jus-fc received i» "Evermore to Thee I'm. Mute." If the poet will make an affidavit and attach it to the poem, we will then consider the amount it will be worth to us. The former manager of an un r ortunate local theatrical venture was negotiating for a certain dramatic attraction to fill the following week of dates. He received a telegram from the agent of the company* agreeing to come for SO per cent of the gross receipts. Although staggered at first by such unheard- of rerms, the Lowell manager recovered sufficiently to wire a reply la these words : " Cannot give you more than 65 per cent. Willing to &a ragged. Musft eat,"