MARRIAGE MORNING MISHAPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 50

MARRIAGE MORNING MISHAPS.

If there is any occasion on which Dame Fortune Bhould refrain from frowning, it is aurely when a " happy pair " are about to be united in the bonds of holy matrimony. A mishap of any kind on this auspicious occa«ion is apt to' be regarded by the parties immediately concerned as an ill omen for their nnion, besides marring the enjoyment of the flay. Not long since a couple had the misfortune to be thrown out of their carriage when returning from church after the ceremony. Although they had been duly made one, the fcwo were rather badly injured; and the unfortunate pair were obliged to undergo a considerable amount of repair before they vrere well enough to arrange for the postponed marriage feast. However, their brief lojourn in the hospital made the subsequent Jioepitalitieß all the more enjoyable; and $hey have had nothing to complain of since V- -which is a great deal more than a good many couples can say. Silly superstition has been the cause of Snore than one wedding being abandoned, A. "curious instance of this kind happened a few jrearu ago, the parties concerned being very Vrell known to the writer. No doubt owing to nervousness caused by the importance of fhi occasion, the bride was so unfortunate as po break a looking-glass while dressing for Ihe ceremony.

She was so concerned at this mishap that ehe became qalfce hysterical, and declared that after such an omen she wonld on no account be married that day. Nothing would induce her to abandon this determination, and the consequence was that the bridegroom, feeling that he had been trifled with, never afforded her another opportunity of accompanying him to the altar. In fact, some time after he bestowed that honour on another, and ls3S superstitious, damsel. A still more remarkable and intenasly tragic marriage morning mishap, for which superstition was mainly responsible, occurred in Bohemia some 12 months back. A youthful couple were standing at the taper-lighted j altar awaiting the commencement of the service, when a taper on the side of the altar where the bride was standing suddenly went out. With a lond shriek of horror the girl fell senseless, into the arms of the bridegroom, who was likewise much upssr. at the incident of the light going out. Every effort was made to restore the bride to consciousness, bet without avail, and she expired at the altar rails. ! It is a snpersfcifcion of theßahemissn people that when a taper on either side of the albar ; goes out, it is a sure sign that the person '• standing on that side will shortly become the victim of some dire disaster. Hence j thi3 unfortunate bride's alarm which culminated in her death. The matter-of-fact American girl is seldom troubled by superstitions of this or any other kind— at any rato, so far aa her matrimonial matters are concerned. Whsn she consents to become a man's wife she means business, and nothing short of absolute disablement will prevent her from having the rash male duty secured. i Thu* the other day an enterprising trans- i Atlantic damsel went through the marriage ! ceremony under extremely painful circmn- | stances. Just as the minister was about; to I

commence a large pane of glass dropped from a skylight on to her head. That it was not a very light matter is clear from the fact that it knocked her eenseless to the ground ; but she was not to be turned from her purpose by even such a disaster as tbat. As soon as she had recovered consciousness and had. her head bound in bandages the ceremony of binding her lover to her in the bonds of wedlock was proceeded with and duly completed, according to law. A less serious misfortune, not without its comical aspect, happened recently to another American pair, their assembled friends being likewise victims. The ceremony had been duly performed, and the parties with their guests were about to sit down to the usual wedding feast, when a band ot 13 ravenous and villainous-looking tramps appeared on the scene. These gentry evidently meant mischief ; and as none of the guests had taken the precaution to come armed, they were totally at the mercy of their unexpected and unwelcome visitors. With a shout of " Hands up I " the latter at once proceeded to business, and after relieving tha unfortunate company of all their money and valuables, drove them all into an outhouse and locked them in. Leaving three of their number to keep guard over the prisoner*, the tramps returned to the banquet chamber and gorged themselves •with the good things intended for the invited guests. They then decamped with their booty, which included the bridegroom's coat, in one of the pockets of which reposed the marriage " lines." Owing to a cab accident, a couple were, two or three weeks since, an hour late in arriving at the church where they bad arranged to be married. And when they did arrive it was only to find that the clergyman had left, under the impression that for some reason or other the wedding had been postponed. Another minister was summoned in hot baste ; but, as if the bridal party had not already had disappointment enough, he did not put in an appearance until the legal hours for marrying and giving in marriage had expired. The twain could not, therefore, be made one until another day.