A WEDDING IN "SACKCLOTH AND ASHES."

Auckland Star, Issue XXXVI, 21 October 1905, Page 11

A WEDDING IN "SACKCLOTH AND ASHES."

Throughout Eastern Russia the Peace Conference and the War are both quite ! out-sh»dowed in public interest by an extraordiuary libel action which is betng brought by she of the wealthiest men iv | Irkutsk against the "Viestcili:" newspaper. I the one and only exponent ot Yellow Jour- j nal'sm in the Czar's dominions. i The "Viestnik" ffainis that its series of articles (which dealt one by one with "The refined tastes of Siberia's parrena millionaires") are true in substance and in fact, but the millionaires claim that, even if true, the "Viestnik" has no right to chronicle their private doinps,. a»d so hold" them up to public ridicule. The following Es a typical extract from the "Viestnik'?" article on M. Lignrin, the well known millionaire mine owner of Irkutsk:— '•M. Ligurin lived so unhappily with his wife that he swore that none of his sous should ever, marry. Before bis death, however, he relented, and made a wril, sanctioning their marriage, under extraordinary conditions. 'As nothing but misery,* he said, 'resulted from most matrimonial alliances, festivities were unseemly. His sons must marry -with all the ritual of a funeral, otherwise tbey would not inherit his property. The wedding day must pass as sadly as possible.

"The marriage of his second sob, Luka, actually took place uTiaer these conditions. Biide and Bridesmaids were dressed in black and crepe, and carried mourning handkerchiefs. All persons invited were requested not to appear in colours. In the rear of the church was a choir of hired mourners, who wailed and sang melancholy mnsie as the wedded pair left the church. After the wedding the bridegroom donned a sackcloth apron and strewed his hair with a*hf"=

"Once- the actual wadding day was oassed, however, the newly-married pair "regarded themselves as absolved from thesfunereal restrictions. An Olgr 0 f merrymaking ud intempemnee beg» a „* laated a weeX. So ontragetMK, Indeed, were the festrrtUes that no. fewer than 17 ; person*, including the bridegroom, fell into the hands of the poUee."