272 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



MARRIAGES IN GREECE. 



The following curious particulars of a 

 Greek Marriage are from Miss Pardoe's 

 "City of the Sultan:"— 



A marriage in Greece is a truly interesting 

 ceremony ; and as such, deserves to be re- 

 corded. The preparations being now all 

 completed, the sounds of music announced the 

 arrival of the marriage train ; and we 

 hastened to a window to watch for its 

 approach. The procession was an interest- 

 ing one. The musicians were succeeded by 

 the bridegroom elect, walking between his 

 own father and the father of his bride; the 

 fair girl followed, accompanied by a couple 

 of her young companions ; and the two 

 mothers, attended by troops of friends, 

 closed the train. They were met at the 

 threshold by the archbishop and a party of 

 pr ests, who immediately commenced chant- 

 ing the marriage service ; and as they ascended 

 the stairs, showers of money were flung over 

 them from above. 



The centre of the great saloon was covered 

 by a Turkey carpet, on which stood a reading 

 desk, overlaid by a gold embroidered hand- 

 kerchief, and supporting a Bible, with the 

 two marriage rings ; the whole bright with the 

 profusion of silver money scattered over 

 them. The bridal party being then con- 

 ducted into this spacious saloon, the young 

 couple were placed upon the edge of the 

 carpet ; two nuptial crowns, formed of 

 flowers, ribbons, and gold thread, were 

 deposited on the reading desk ; and the 

 rector of the parish, in a robe of brocaded 

 yellow satin, fringed with silver, began a 

 prayer that was caught up at intervals by 

 the choral boys, and repeated in a wild chant. 

 At the conclusion of this prayer, which was 

 of considerable length, the attendant priest 

 flung over the archbishop his gorgeous vest- 

 ments of violet satin, embroidered with gold, 

 and girdled with tissue ; and advancing to the 

 reading desk, he took thence the two brilliant 

 diamond rings, with which he made the cross 

 three times, on the forehead, lips, and breast 

 of the contracting parties, and then placed 

 them in the hand of the godmother or brides- 

 maid, who, putting one upon the finger of 

 each, continued to hold them there while the 

 prelate read a portion of the Gospel ; after 

 which, she changed them three times, leaving 

 them ultimately in the possession of their 

 proper owners. 



The same ceremony having been gone 

 through with the nuptial crowns as had been 

 enacted with the rings, they were then placed 

 upon the heads of the young couple; and a 

 goblet of wine being presented to the arch- 

 bishop, he blessed it, put it to his lips, 

 handed it to the bride and bridegroom, and 

 then delivered it up to the godmother. 



The crowns were next changed three several 

 times, from the one head to the other; 

 and several wax candles being lighted, the 

 whole party walked in procession round the 

 carpet ; and then it was that the silver 

 showers fell thick and fast about them. 



"When the chanting ceased, the bride raised 

 the hand of her new-made husband to her 

 lips, after which, every relative and friend of 

 either party approached and kissed them on 

 the forehead. The archbishop cast off his 

 robes ; the children scrambled for the scattered 

 money ; the band in the outer hall burst into 

 an enlivening strain ; and such of the company 

 as were of sufficient rank to entitle them to 

 do so, followed the bride and the lady of the 

 house to an inner saloon. Liqueurs were 

 then offered, and subsequently coffee ; after 

 which, each married lady made a present to 

 the bride of some article of value, previously 

 to her departure for her home. 



These nuptial crowns are about a foot in 

 height, and shaped like a bee-hive ; on being 

 removed from the heads of the young couple, 

 they were carefully enveloped in a handker- 

 chief of colored gauze, and borne away to be 

 hung up in the chapel of the bridegroom's 

 house ; where they remain until^the death of 

 either of the parties, when the deceased is 

 crowned, for the second and last time, in the 

 open coffin in which she or he is borne to the 

 grave. 



IT MIGHT BE,— AND "WHY NOT?" 



Thehe is a voice within me, 



And 'tis so sweet a voice, 

 That its soft lispings win me 



Till tears start to mine eyes : 

 Deep from my soul it springeth, 



Like hidden melody ; 

 And evermore it singeth 



This song of songs to - me : — 

 " This world is full of beauty, 



As other worlds above ; 

 And if we did our duty, 



It might be full of love ! " 



Were truth an utter'd language, 



Angels might talk with" men, 

 And God-illumined earth should see 



The Golden Age again ; 

 For the leaf-tongues of the forest — 



The flower- lips of the sod — 

 The birds that hymn their raptures 



Into the ear of God — 

 And the sweet wind that bringeth 



The music of the sea, 

 Have each a voice that singeth 



The song of songs to me : — 

 " This world is full of beauty, 



As other worlds above ; 

 And if we did our duty, 



It might be full of love ! " 



