No Wedding Presents

"There was no displty of Kitts, although they have been pouring in for many weeks from the two continents." This significant statement appeared recently in a newspaper account of the rnarriage at New York citj of Baron de Vriere and Miss Annie Cutting. The bridegroom is a Belgian nobleman who has adopted a diplomatic career, and is connected with the legation of his country at Washington. He, or rather his father, possesses ampie fortune, and the bride is also froin an old and wealthy family. Naturally the nuraerous friends of the young folks desired to shower tböm with presents and presumably did so, but whether the shower was only a mild affair or a regular hail storm of gold and diamonds is something the general public cannot kuow, for "therc was no display of gifts," and consequently the society reporter obtained little information on the subject. A couple who plightecl their troth recently in tho Metropolitan church at Washington went even further thau the Baron and Baroness de Vriere. ïhey not only had no show of gifts, but they declined to receive them. People bidden to the wedding were surprised, and perhaps pleased, to read in the lower left hand corner of the card of invitation the words "no presents." The same sentiment actuating this course of conduct in connection with nuptials in high class American circles seems to have gained a foothold also in England, as wit ness the protest of The London Graphic, which declares that "the giving of such wedding presents resembles, in many of its aspects, the tipping of waiters and railway porters. Both habita aróse, in the first instance, from the activity of the most generous instincts of human nature, and both have grown by degrees to te a serious burden upou the shoulders of the impecunious. That we should give teapots and biscuit boxes, on the auspicious occasion of their marriage, to our brotliers and sisters, our nephews and niecfcs and our intímate personal friends is only right and proper. But why should we feel called upon to present articles of luxury which we cannot afford for our own use to brides and bridegrooms with whom we are only casually acquainted? They on their part do not particularly need our biscuit boxes, and we on ours ought to bo superior to the vanity of deBiring the consequent appearance of our names in the columns of fashionable newspapers." Even European royalty has set the seal of disapproval upon such displays at wedding receptions. The union of Prince Adolphus, of Schau mberg-Lippe, with Princess Victoria, of Prussia, brought out long descriptions of ulmost everything save the presents, which were not on view. The bride's trousseau particularly cauie under in.spection of the journalists, and it is learned that pink and red predomínate among the dresses, which are ornamented with the most costly embroidery, true lovers' knots beiug the favorite design. The princess, it is also learned, is fond of furs and feather trimming, having numerous boas and muis, besides some half dozen dainty little feather capes to wear in the eveniug. All her mantles are made in Berlin, together with the majority of her dresses, but some smart tailor costumes, evening gowus and lingerio date from England, while Paris supplies several graceful ten gowns and full dress toilets. The underclothing is exquisitely fine; some made of China silk and all trimmed with lace and ribbons. There are twelve dozen of each set of linen, marked with "V and the imperial crown. Lace Cchus and collarets abound, each with a jeweled pin as fastening, and the sprays of flowers for the hair and dress trimming are exquisitely natural; witness a trailof honeysuckle supporting a jeweled butterfly, a pink lily with a humming bird perched in lts cup, and a head dress of ostrich plumes hearing a flight of miniature swallows. Butterflies are the princess' favorite emblem, so they appear as enameled pins for the huir and ornamente of every description. Artistic parasol handles, buckles, clasps and bands; fans painted or embroidered by the best artists of the day, sachets for gloves and haudkerchiefs, trinkets for the dressing table, the writing desk and the work basket, complete the elabórate wedding outfit. Love is undoubtedly a divine passion, but when the giving of presents becomes one of its manifestations trouble is sometimes liable to follow, as in the case of a Cambridge lio stole "Bhorthand books to the valu. of L2" that he might get funda with whicu to buy a brooch for his sweetheart. Now he is in jail and the girl has jilted him, all of which goes to show that when the affection of a "beloved object" can only bo purchased by tributes of jewelry beyond one's means Bdch afïection is hardlv worth winning. Yet il, was with jewelry, earrings in particular, that the Roman bachelor in the days of the Caesars adorned his sweetheart and loadcd down his bride. The malden ot those tim4 whcn she became a wife received from lier lord and master a plain iron ring whjch she placed oa the fourth finger of her left hand. But this simple and Spartan symbol of wedlock was expected to be so amply supplemented with ear jewels tbat a satirist of the Augustan age declared: "If I ever have a daughter I ahall cut off her ears. Her mutilation will save me much gold." One of the most gorgeous nuptial affair3 knowii to history was that superinteuded in tlie latter part of the Thirtcenth century b}7 Marco Polo. This celebrated Venetian traveler with two relatives was sojourning at the court of Kublai Khan, tha great Asian ruler, when ambassadors arrived from the khan of Persia. ïhey brought news of the death of their master's wife. She had been well loved by her spouse, and when dying had exacted from him the promise that he would take for his next consort a woman of her own race -the Tartar. It was to select a partner for their lord that tho messengers had made their toilsome way to the foot of Kublai's throne. He was graciously pleased to send his "brother of the west" the Lady Kukachin, a royal bud of eighteen summers. He appointed for her escort a band of 600 men, who carried with them the fair bride'8 dowry, valued in modern money at $5,000,000. The three Polos took charge of the virgin and the treasure. Because of wars and rumors of wars they chose the sea route, and occupied two years in reaching Persia. On arrival they found that the prospectlve husband was dead, but his successor, evidently a man of taste, accepted the lovely Kukachin for a wife, and received her dowry. The Polos reached their home at Venice months afterward clothed in rags, but as their tattered garments were quilted with gems of fabulous value it is presumed that they lost nothing by their tour through Asia. Indeed, thereafter they ranked among the richest and most espected citizens of the republic. The modern Tartar is not so well off as were the chief subjects of Kublai Khan, but he has flocks and herds in abundance, and manages to get along without a treasury surplus, or even a moderate stock of spending money. When some young gallant woos liis daughter he shows the extent of his affection by the size of the "bunch of cattle" which he drives to the tent door of his prospective father-in-law. If the girl does not object to the suitor the gift of cattle is accepted. Then the maiden inounts a fleet horse bearing in front of her the carcass of a lamb. At a signal she bounds over the steppes pursuod by her would be husband. If he overtakes her - he generally does - she accompanies him to his tent and prepares the lamb for dinner. And thu3 the rover of the eastern plains catches his Tartar. In Sweden the peasautry have several harmless superstitions which militate against lavishness in gift making. A youth "must not present his intendod with a knife or scissors, for they will cut love; nor a handkerchief, for it will wipe away herinclination; nor shoes, forthey will lead her to walk ofï with another." On his wedding day the ccroom wears a shirt made by the bride. When he takes it off he never dons it again in life. It is laid aside for use as his shroud. If a maa should marry and lose several wives in succession the idea suggests itself that he might, in course of time, become rather overstocked with funeral robes. That scandalous graybeard, Mr. Punch, of London, declares that Mamase, so old men note, hath likened been Unto a public loost or common rout- Where those who aro without would faiu get in, And those that are within would fain get out. It has been the general understanding ín civilized communities that a bride and groom who receive presenta shall reciprócate when their gift making friends essay matrimony, and this is often a constant drain on sleuder purses. But if wedding gifts are not to be displayed, many who are actuated only by a vulgar spirit of ostentation will forbear from contributing to the household store of the uewly wed, and if the faint cry of "no presents" already on the air becomes the slogan of íashion, the Nineteenth century virgin may have less reason then eveí for inquiring Why don't the men propose, mamma?