A RUSSIAN WEDDING FEAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 1731, 24 January 1885, Page 26

A RUSSIAN WEDDING FEAST.

The banquet is ordered at somo fashionable confectioner's. Nothing ia wanting— silver, crystal, flowers, and lustres laden with candlps of the purest w?>x. The young married pair occupy seats about the middle of the table, the parents supporting them on both aides, tha rest of the company lake seats nocording to the degree of relationship or rank. If they want a grand dinner they order a " general's " dinner, which costs £6 more than an ordinary one. At this dinner, so ordered, the master of ceremonfe* instep a rtfal Wd

general, who is raceived with all the reverence due to his rank and seated in the place of honour. He is the first to drink to the health of the young couplfl, and is always helped before anyone else. He never speaks unless it is absolutely necessary. He is there only for show, and he dcos his best, in return for the £4 paid him. He never refuses a single dish of all the 30 or more served on such occasions. As the last roasrt disappears from the table the ' champagne corkß fly, the glasses are filled to the brim, the music strikes up, and huzzas resound from all parts. 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 wine was so bitter that he couid not drink ifemntil she had sweetened it. After a great deal of pressing she rises and gives her husbajod a kiss ; her father s^ill pretends that his wine' is bitter, and it remains so t*ll she has given her husband three kisses ; eaoh kiss not only sweetens his wine but is accompanied with roars of laughter and bursts of applause. After the dinner comes the ball and the " general's walk." They lead him through all the rooms once every half hour ; everybody salutes him as hn passes along, and he graciously replies by an inclinat : on of the head. At last, at three o'clock in the morning, all the young girls and those who dressed the bride take her away to undress her and put her to -reat ; the men do the same by the husband. Tha next morning the house of the newly-married couple is again filled with the crowds of the evening before. The young wife is seated in a drawing room on a sofa with a splendid tea service before her. Ono after theafche* approaches her and salutes her. She tIKn offers tea, coffee, or chocolate, aocording to the taste of the vis^ tor. ' She is thronai for the firßt time in afltap' splendour aa the mistress of the house. They most intimate friends remain to spend the day with the young pair. — Brooklyn Eagle.