COSTUMES AND CUSTOMS OF THE OLDEN TIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 265, 17 September 1864, Page 6

COSTUMES AND CUSTOMS OF THE OLDEN TIME.

Ouit neighbors across the water—over in Brooklyn have been getting up some rather quaint cercmoniea lately, the occasion being tho Fair in aid of the Sanitary Commission. One of the most successful and profitable adjuncts of the Fair has been tlio New England Kitchen. It was established to promote plain Ihing, high thinking, a consumption of pork and beans, and a revival of the spiiit of '76. To increase the sale of their pumpkin pics and other delicacies they have had several apple palings and quilting iVoHcs. As a natural result of such festive gatherings, two susceptible hearts were smitten with the tender passion, and they resolved to form a life-long alliance on the scene of their early love. Last evening was the time appo : nted for the interesting ceremony to take place. A limited number of the general public were invited to be present, at the moderate charge of three dollars each. The Kitchen was appropriately fixed up for the occasion. On the left side of the fire-place was a small platform. It was railed off and overshadowed by the Still's and Stripes, and under its folds tho happy couple were to be made man and wife. The lnide and bridegroom, together with a lar<*e cncle of friends and acquaintances, had como away " down East."' They were all attired in the costumes of tho last century. Among the dramatis persona; wo noticed "Widow Sindlcs, XTezekiah Lunkins, Prudence Billings, Aminidab Dunham, Cj ius Bradford, Deborah Edwards, Mrs. Deacon Giren, Elviia Sliirmins, Dr. Calomel, Grandma Downing, Squire Brown, Grandma Adams, Kuth Jenkins, Peggy Murray, and a number of others equally distinguished. Tho ladies' drosses were for lengih of age and shortness of waist. Tht-v were of a 1! fabrics —yellow, time i-tained muslin, hea\/ brocaded silks and coarse stiong ca'icoes. Mob caps, immacclafelv clean, and back combs in a forward state of development and high state of e.Mving, were much affected as ornaments foi tho head. The univeral absence of hoops was another notiecablo feature, and the appearance of the ladies made us think that the fashion in the days of orr great grandmother might have been with great piopiic-ty designated the meal sack style.

Shorts, buckler, powder, and ruffles were revived in tho gentlemen's dresses. They were resplendent in silk coats, nifiled shiits, powdered wigs, velvet tights, and white stockings. Tlie'r attire did not impress us with the same idea of antiquity as dig that of tho ladies. We have often seen something very similar in a person of tho happy possessor of a pair of splendid calves, while ho was clutching with desperate energy to a strap at the back of the carriage. Ike Downing—the orly runnr 'ng son of old Widow Downing—cut a gnat dash in a suit borrowed especially for tho oceasitn. The coat and smalls were of green China silk, the vest, which reached half-way to the knees, was of crimson silk, and all oi.iamentcd with lieaiv silver lace. The suit formerly belonged to Bcned'ct Arnold.

Shortly ihicr eight o'clock tho bridal procession foimcd, and Dr. Singer with tho majority of the guests, marched to the platfoim, and to the appropi ia to tune of " Invitation" sang the hyirn coimnencing

" Come, my beloved, haste away, Cut short tho hours of thy delay." The hint was promptly taken by the parties interested, and Dr. Jebediah Poundtext, tho officiating clergyman, led the way to the platfoim. He was followed by Jonathan Simpk>ns, the bridegroom, accompanied by Josiah AVatkins, as groomsman. Hiss Mehitable Jones, the yoi-ng and lovely bride, attired in a low-necked robe of white satin "" of a walking length and a striding width," was then led forward by her paients, Jchosaphat and Patience Jones ; they were accompanied by Hiss Jeiusha Skinner, as bridesmaid. The ceremony was very impressive, and was brought to a conclusion amid "the tears of the bride's parents and tho laughter of everybody else, by Jonathan saluting bis bride in duo and ancient form—on the lips. The same ceremony, we believe, was very gent-rally gone through with by all hands.

A nvmbcr of American cit'zcns of African descent handed round pieces of pound cakc, pumpkin pic, squash pie, coffee and cider. The benches were shortly afterwards put away, and the order to cltar the kitchen promptly obeyed. Dancing, after the, fashion of " ye ancient times," was then indulged in, and, we believe, kept up with spirit until closing tnne arrived. The wedding was a merry one ; may it result happily. It is likely to effect a great change in Brooklyn, as a number of unman led iadics of a certain ago are desirous of making the Xew England Kitchen a permanent institution.—Alta Califoniiu.