VISITING THE POOR PEASANTS 63 



The Russian wedding is a very important ceremony, 

 which may be performed either in the church or in the 

 house. In each case the bride and bridegroom are 

 endued with crowns, and exchange rings during the 

 religious celebration, which is preceded by a civil mar- 

 riage. The custom in some parts of Russia at least 

 is for the bride to start on the wedding journey in white, 

 and it is quite usual to see the whole wedding party at 

 the station. The bride wears her orange blossoms 

 and carries an enormous bouquet; the bridesmaids 

 appear in the most taking hats they can command. 



The first to enter the train is the bridegroom, who 

 has a blue frock-coat with brass buttons and a con- 

 spicuous knot of white ribbon. When he has in- 

 spected the location in the train he rejoins the party, 

 and the chief bridesmaid conducted by the best man, 

 goes in to verify matters. Then the bride is handed 

 in by the best man, and the whole party troop after 

 them. The conversation is continued until the last 

 moment, but neither confetti nor rice was employed 

 on any occasion that I have seen. I believe that the 

 evening is the favourite time for weddings, as it is in 

 many other countries. 



Concerning the guests at a breakfast he says: 



Russian meals have often been described, but the 

 reality is none the less interesting. One is asked to 

 form part of a gathering for a country lunch, or break- 

 fast, more properly. On arrival after a long drive 

 the guests are set down to an apparently sumptuous 



