A RUSSIAN WEDDING FEAST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1915, 14 February 1885, Page 2

A RUSSIAN WEDDING FEAST.

The banquet is ordered at some fashionable confeotioner's, Nothing is silver, crystal, flowers, and lustres laden with candles of the purest wax. The young married couple occupy seats about the middle of the table, the parents supporting them on both sides; the rest of the company take Beats according to the degree of relationship or rank. If they \Va'nt a grand dinner they ordor a S'febne'itaJ-'^'ditinejJ; r Svhrph"soßts $} njprp tjian an ordinary on?, '|t fhii dihnei;', so peered, the master pf ceremonies irivftos a real old pensipnetj-pff general,' who is 'fjjooivfid with, all the reverence duo to his rank, and seated, ii} file ftp pf honour. He is the first to drinl; the jjealth pf the young p.epple, and is always helped before anyone else. He neyer speaks unless it is absolutely necessary. He is there only for show, and he does his beat in return for the #4 paid him- He never refuses a single dish of all tho thirty qr more served on such occasions. As the last roast disappears from the table the ohampagno corks fly, tho glasses are filled to the brim, the music strikes up, and huzzas resound from all park But here comes the bride's father with glass in hand, going up to her bowing and making a most woeful face, saying that his wjne™ so bitter that he could not drink Itfuntjll she had sweetened, jt. After a great (JoaV'qf nge? and "gives her husband a' kiss.. ' Her father still pretends that his .wjno is fitter, and.it pemajns sp'till she has given her' husband three, kisse?.'" sjac}i k'fp'not pnljr swgejon hjs wjne, bijt is accompanied, with roars of laughter and qqrsty pi applaupe. After the dinner comes the ball and "the general's walk." They lead him through all tho rooms once every half hour; everybody salutes him aB he passes along, and he graciously replies by an inclination pf tj)§ head, At last, at 3 o'clock intl)eniprning,alltlie young girls and. those who dressed thg bride takq her away to undress W and put her to rest the men do the same by the husband, The next morning the house of tho nowly married couple is again filled with the crowds of tho evening before, The young wife is seated in a drawingroom on a sofa with a splendid tea servico boforeher. One after the other approaches her and Balute her. She then orders tea, coffee, or chocolate, according to the taste of the visitor,,, She is throned for the first time in all thy splendour as the pf the house. The m«( intimate friends remain tp spend the .day with'the young pair. '.'■'•