PREPARATIONS
FOR THE MARRIAGE.
"Cling to each other, concentrate your hopes in each other, and if
peevishness on either side arise, chase it away by a smile."
Shortly after the choice of a husband has been confirmed, preparations
for the civil marriage commence. Night and morning the bride is purified
with baths of choice herbs and flowers. During the fortnight prior to
the solemnity myrrh and choice spices are added to the baths, and the
hair, to which great attention is given, is combed with a comb that
emits a peculiar perfume, which retains its force for months, attracted
by the warmth of the head.
This comb is made out of one small part of the wood of a rare tree, the
rest of which has no particular virtue; so that from a whole tree, only
a single comb is obtained. Such combs are used solely for the brides,
and for every bride a fresh one is provided. The hair is combed down
loosely, the long hair hanging about the neck, shoulders, bosom, and
waist.
The marriage costume is generally purple and gold, the rich being
magnificently attired, and wearing beautiful jewels in the hair, on a
small turban worn on the crown of the head, on the bosom, waist, hands,
arms, and one of the feet, which is bare, while the other foot is
covered with what may be called a silk sock, bearing various
inscriptions, such as--
"May thy footsteps lead thee to virtue."
"May thy footsteps bring thee and thine to glory."
The bride is radiant with light and beauty; her face is not allowed to
be hidden, and her neck, shoulder, and bosom are left bare on one side.
The parties meet in a great public hall, and in presence of witnesses,
after stating their wish to be "doubled," _i.e._ married, sign a scroll,
which the friends present subscribe.
The names of the newly-married pair are written in large clear
characters, and affixed to the wall, that all passing by may see them.
The size and height of the hall are immense, but when after a certain
time the scrolls accumulate, they can easily be rolled and raised
higher, and with equal facility be lowered when this is requisite.
The civil ceremony over, we have feasting and rejoicing, and certain
observances not unlike what formerly took place in some of the marriages
among the more cultivated Eastern nations in your planet.
Seven young maidens wait at the bridegroom's house to receive the bride.
The room intended for the reception of the married pair is beautifully
arranged, various-coloured ornamental glass reflecting subdued tints on
the objects around.
On each side of the bridal couch is the figure of an angel holding a
scroll exhorting to wisdom, purity, love and truth. Hidden in the
drapery of the couch are self-playing instruments, whose soft music,
awakened by the agitation of the air, and accompanied by delicate
perfumes, sounds like the song of angels.
The bridesmaids undress the bride and throw over her a silver-gauze
transparent lace, which gives her a fairy-like, vapoury appearance, as
she reclines on the couch, with her long hair partly covering the
beautiful outline of her figure, and the bridesmaids strew flowers
around her.
When all is ready, the young maidens send to bid the bridegroom enter,
who, clad in a silken garment, is conducted by two friends to the
threshold of the bridal apartment. The seven maidens then chant a short
prayer, wishing the married couple all joy, and, each having kissed the
bride, depart.
The day of the civil marriage is one of unalloyed joy. In the selection
of the day even the elements are studied by men specially devoted to
meteorology, who, with perfect infallibility, can predict the weather
for a fortnight.
Three months after the birth of each child the marriage ceremony is
repeated, the same assembling of friends, the feasting, and the same
purification and adornment of the bride taking place as when the parties
were married.
No religious ceremony, with the exception of a short prayer, takes place
on the day of the civil marriage. The bride and bridegroom are supposed
to be too much engrossed with the thoughts of their coming joys to give
proper attention to prayers pronounced by others. The bride and
bridegroom, however, are each expected to pray in private as their own
hearts may prompt, and some days prior to the marriage a paper is given
to each, in which some of the leading responsibilities and
considerations are noted, to the end that, if necessary, their pious
thoughts may be directed into the right channel.
The religious ceremony takes place at a convenient period, when a year
has expired after the civil marriage, and we are justified in hoping
that the newly married pair, by their conduct to each other, have given
evidence that they are worthy of the blessings now to be solemnly
invoked. When the day arrives the bride is dressed in white without a
single jewel. Both she and the bridegroom prostrate themselves when
receiving the blessing. As the ceremony is supposed to be exclusively
religious, there is no feasting.
If the couple have had any serious dissension during the year the
religious ceremony is postponed, but great efforts are made to reconcile
the difference, and if these are successful the solemnity takes place.
When, on the other hand, a reconciliation cannot be effected, the law
insists on a separation of the parties, who, however, may be reconciled
at any time. As neither is allowed to marry again, polygamy is
forbidden, and as irregularities are out of the question, a
reconciliation can almost always be effected, unless, indeed, there is
some cause sufficiently grave to render a separation necessarily final.
Such causes are exceptional in the extreme.
* * * * *
The precautions taken in the selection of a husband and the watchfulness
of our system, prevent any great incompatibility of disposition, and the
existence of those evils which formerly were of daily occurrence.
Provision is made even for those accidents which sometimes occur after
marriage, and which of old had often led to disappointment and misery.
For example, when it happens that a child is still-born, or for some
reason must be put out of the way, neither the father nor mother is at
first made aware of the fact, but the loss is immediately supplied.
Every birth is instantly communicated by telegraph to the central
department, at whatever hour of night or day it may take place. The
number registered every instant is great, and the birth of twins is a
frequent occurrence. When a child is born dead, one of a pair of twins
is transferred to the mother, and placed in her arms. If she ask any
question the nurse and doctor answer her gently and kindly, but are not
allowed to mention the substitution.
It is not until the patient is completely re-established, and all is in
order, that she is informed of what has passed, and she has then the
option of retaining the child, or of allowing it to be taken back to its
own mother. Cases of premature birth, or of deformed infants now however
rarely occur, except as a consequence of accidents which cannot be
prevented.
Husband and wife are now really considered and treated as one. At places
of amusement, and in public conveyances, they pay for one only. In
calculating the number of persons present, we say, for example, "there
are 200 doubles, and 100 singles;" this with you would make 500--we
count them as 300 only.