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l l DRIGlN 0F :BEST MAN” BRIDEMAN’S DUTIES IN OLD- EN TIMES. â€"â€".’- He Gave the Bride Away and Passed the Cake and Cups. It may be a surprise to some peo- ple to know, says the London Globe, that the phrase “best man"-â€"the brid-egroom's nearest attendantâ€"is of Scottish origin. In the North, also, the principal bridesmaid used to be called the “best maid." Neither exâ€" pression has much to recommend it. It is a great pity. indeed, that “best man,” an inelegant and in itself meaningless phrase, should have so completely ousted from our common everyday speech the good old ~ Eng- lish name of “brideman” or “brides- man.” Another old name is "groomsman" and in days gone by the bridegroom was attended, . not by one friend, but by several, who Were known as the brideinen or ‘groomsmen. The term “best man” came into use, presumably, to indicate the one of these who took the lead in perâ€" forming their various duties and was in closest attendance on the brideâ€" groom. In recent years the custom of having groomsmen has been ocâ€" casionally revived, but it has not beecme general. At a fashionable wedding, four or five years ago, the bride was content with five brides- maids and two pages, whereas the bridegroom was supported by no fewâ€" er than nine groomsmen. But at the present time such an ar- ray has by no means the same mean- ing, nor are those attendant friends of so much use, as in days of old. The forerunner of the brideman was the brideleader, whose duty it was to bring the bride to the bridegroom. In most countries where the real or pretended capture of the bride was an essential part of the ceremony, and wherever traces of the very an- cient custom of bride capture existâ€" ed, the friend or friends of the bride- groom had the important office of capturing the lady and BRINGING HER TO HER LORD. In one of Dryden's plays there is the line:â€"“Betwixt her guards' she seemed by bridemen led," and Brand tells us that at many old English weddings the bridegroom was led to the church between two maids, and the bride by two young men, holding her by the arms as if unwilling. This was evidently a survival of the ldea of capture. The same idea, somewhat more disguised, can be traced in the cus- tom which was not. unknown at oldâ€" fashionéd weddings less than a. cenâ€" tury ago, in the North of England, and iuthe West of Scotland, of the bridegroom’s “best man”, escorting the bride to the church. It has been disputed, naturally, whether the groom’s nearest friend was chosen as escort with the idea. of protecting the lady from seizure by others, or whether he might be regarded as the leader in the act of capture. But whichever idea lay at the back of the practice, it was clearly a sur- vival connected with the custom of marriage by capture. Later, the bridemen had various functions to perform which have now become ob- solete. There was still a trace of the capture idea in the old duty at one time assigned to the brideman of giving the bride away. He led her to the church and then acted the part now filled by the lady’s father or other near male relative. In the old seventeenth century bal- lad of the “Golden Glove,” which used to be? a great favorite at rural gatherings in all parts of the counâ€" try in the old, unsophisticated days, before the melancholy monstrosities of the modern music hall had driven the genuine old English ballads and songs out of use and memoryâ€" in this ballad there are the lines which allude to the custom named:â€" ‘I thought you had been at the wedding," she cried, ' l ' "To Wait on the squire and give him his bride." And it has been pointed out that the same’custom may be hinted at in the marriage service rubricâ€"“The minister receiving the woman at her father's or friend’s hands." . Among the Shropshire peasantry in quite recent years something of the old custom seems to have pre- vailed. Miss Burne, in her delight- ful book on “Shropshire Folklore,” says that at weddings in humble life the bride’s father is seldom and her mother never present. As a rule the only companions to church of Lil: bride and groom are the best man and the bridesmaid. In such cir- cumstances it is obvious that the lady must be given away by her lov- er’s friend, on whose arm she has walked to church. ' LUCKY OMEN. A still more curious thing is that :it, is considered lucky, Miss Burke :tells us, for either the best man or the bridesmaid to be already marâ€" u'ied. “I have really seen," she” writes, "a married woman acting as ‘bridesmaid!’ " Less than twenty years ago a Newport newspaper,..deâ€" scribing a village Wedding, said that Jr. and Mrs. Soâ€"und-so, of -â€", “accompanied the happy couple and performed the ofllces of best man .and bridesmaid, respectively." . Another old function of the bride- .men. or ln‘idesquires, as they were ometimes called, was to carry the THIS BUTGHEB. IS ALL RIGHT HAD DIABETES BUT WAS CURâ€" ED BY DODD’S KIDNEY PILLS. Great Interest in the Case as People Realize what will Cure Diabetes will Cure any Kidney Disease. Toronto, Ont., Aug. 1.â€"â€"â€"(Special)â€"â€" ‘As the people learn to realize how much the general health depends on keeping the kidneys right, and how many diseases are the direct result of bad kidney action every verified cure of a severe kidney disease is received with interest. For that reason the case of 'A. W. Holman, the wellâ€"known butcher of 193% Mutual street this city, is well worthy of attention. Mr. Holman had Diabetes. Now he is a well man. Dodd’s Kidney Pills cured it. Asked concerning his case, Mr. Hol- man said :â€" “Yes, I had Diabetes for six years. I tried all kinds of remedies but to no use. My attention was called to Dodd’s Kidney Pills by an adver- tisement and I began to use them. I only used six boxes when I Was completely cured." 'As it is conceded that what will cure Diabetes will cure any Kidney Disease it must be admitted that Dodd’s Kidney Pills will cure any Kidney Disease. bowl, or cup. was handed round at a wedding, so that the friends might drink the health of the new1y~married pairâ€"a kind of lovingâ€"cup ceremony. But before the proceedings had reached this pleasant point, it had been the duty of the bridemen to lift the bride over the threshold. This is an ancient and widespread cus- tom, the meaning of which has causâ€" ed much sheading of ink. In the west of Scotland, of old, says Mr. Napier, in his book on the folklore of that region, “the threshold of the house was disenchanted by charms, and by anointing it with certain unctuous perfumes, but as it was considered unlucky for the wife to tread upon the threshold on first entering her house, she was lifted over it and seated upon a piece of wood, a symbol of domestic indus- try.” The custom is not confined to European peoples, for a somewhat analogous practice exists in China, where the bride is carried into the house by a matron, and at the door is lifted over a pan of charcoal. Apart from marriage, even in this country, there are folk who are care-â€" ful on entering a house to step over and not on the flhreshold. There is a world of lore, indeed, surrounding the subject of the threshold into which we cannot here enter. The modern best man may feel thankful. that his duties are not so onerous as those of his predecessors of long ago; nor need he trouble to be on his guard, against unlucky omens, or on the watch to propitate* the uncertain goddess, Fate. .._â€"¢.,_â€"â€"â€" DUKE CYRIL’S ROMANCE . Him :{saotn'edoxaeaj JO Joanian Marry in Royal Family. A romantic errand will bring the widowed Duchess of Saxeâ€"Coburgâ€"' who will be better remembered as the Duchess of Edinburghâ€"to England soon on a brief visit to her brotherâ€" inâ€"law, King Edward, after an ab- sence of three years from England. It is understood that the purport of her Royal and Imperial I-Iighness’ visit is to obtain the sanction of King Edward to the engagement of her daughter, Princess Victoria, forâ€" merly the wife of the Grand Duke of Hesse, to the Grand Duke Cyril of Russia. The Grand Duke Cyril, who had so miraculous an escape from the Rusâ€" sian battleship Petropavlovsk when she was blown up by a. Japanese mine before Port Arthur, is the hero of royal love story, of which the Princess is the heroine. She is his first cousin, and he fell in love with ‘her when he was sixteen and she was two months younger. The attachment, however, was view- ed with disfavor by relations on both, sides, and a year later the Princess was married to the Grand Duke Er- nest Louis of Hesse. , It was an unfortunate match, for the parties to it were diametrically opposed in temperament and tastes, and had apparently no point in comâ€" men. The marriage took place in 1894; in 1901, it was dissolved an the ground of irreconcilable mutual anti- pathy. The only issue of the union was the little Princess Elizabeth, who so pathetically fell a victim to cholera last year. i After the divorce the Grand 'Duke Cyril renewed his suit. Then the Czar intervened. Grave reasons, both religious and social, he said,l forbade the marriage which the Grand Duke Cyril sought. The Czarina is a sister of the Grand Duke Ernest of Hesse, Prinâ€" cess Victoria's former husband; and the G and Duke Cyril may one day succeed to the Russian throne. Moreâ€" over. the Russian church prohibits a marriage, either of the parties to which‘ has been divorced. The Grand Duke Cyril declared that he would marry the Princess even though he. lost all his rights and property. but to this sacrifice the = ‘I\.\"-Iv Runs!" rainâ€"a4 to cover-int. cake and'the bl‘iflle‘bowir- ’ll-‘z-i “.2222...” More than half the battle in cleaning greasy dishes is in the soap you use. If it's Sunlight Soap it’s the best: ' an Then came the death of her little daughter, on which the Princess dismissed her lover and refused to see any one, and the Grand Duke Cyril went to the front.’ When he came back wounded it was to find that the Czar had with- drawn his opposition to the union, and he hurried on with the good news to Coburg. All that now remains to complete this love story is the acquiescence of King Edward, for the consent of the Sovereign in Council is imperative in the case of all marriages of Princes and Princesses of his family. DOWN OF BIRDS’ SCALPS. A basket recently changed hands in California. which took the squaw who made it three years to complete. It was in the form of a fancy work- basket, entirely covered with the down of woodpeckers’ scalps, among iwhich were a number of hanging loops of strung beads, and around i‘the rim an upright row of little black quails’ plumes. Altogether there Were eighty plumes, which re- quired the sacrifice of as many quails, and at least 150 woodpeckers had been robbed to furnish the beauâ€" tiful scarlet nap for the outside. It Ewas originally purchased from the sauaw who designed it for $25, yet it Was sold not very long ago for $1625. How’s This We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for any case of Caturrh that cannot be cured by Hall's Catarrh Cure. F. J. CHENEY & 00.. Toledo, 0. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly honorable in all business transactions, and financially able to carry out any obligations made by his firm. WALDING. KINNAN 6:.MARVIN. Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, 0. Hall's 'L'atarrh Cure is taken internal- ly, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Testi- monials sent free. Price, 75c. per bottle. Sold b all Dru gists. Take Hall's amily Pi ls for consti- potion. A rather pompous orator rose on one occasion to make an extended speech at an electioneering meeting. He began in this rather sententious fashion, “Mr. Chairman, I have lived long enough " “Hear, hear," yelled a number of the audience, and such a storm of laughter broke. out that the aspirant. for political hon- ors was forced to resume his seat. Mind's Llnlmenl Cums filnhlherl; Edithâ€"“Tell me frankly, George, if you were a rich man, do you think [you would ' ask me to marry you?” Georgeâ€""I don’t think it would be {necessary. Edith; in that case you Ewould probably do the asking." Keen Mlnard‘s Llnlmeni in he House. "Then you have no sympathy for ithe deserving poor)" said the charâ€" litv worker. “Me?” retorted the self- lmade man. “Why, sir, I have no- thing but sympathy.” $50.00 TO CALIFORNIA 'AND BE- TURN. Via the Chicago, Union Pacific and Northâ€"Western line from Chicago, Aug. 15 to Sept. 10. Choico of routes going and returning. Corres~ pondingly low rates from all points in Canada. Two trains a day from Chicago through without change. Daily and personally conducted tour- ist car excursions. Write for itinerâ€" ary and full particulars regarding special train leaving Chicago August 18 and 25. B. 1-1. Bennett, 2 King st. east, Toronto, Ont. I Young Wife (just home from the cooking school)â€""I feel so encour- aged! I was complimented on my progress toâ€"day. But poor Miss Smith! I am really sorry for her. She triedhard, but she doesn’t seem to get on at all.” Young Husbandâ€"â€" “You must remember, my dear, that Miss Smith has no one to practise on I, i, Flies Carry . Contagion some” is Wilson’s . lily Pads. ._ * Cu, ,4? . 5;? kill the flies and disease germs too. filiad been members for twenty years. ' Jew ‘7’fie/fléfl/{Zg «I 4/ BETTER QUALITY ; CAN BE HAD IN Pails, Wash Basins, nuk Pans, 8w {'39 P. n. nous & 00., Mo... "ISLAND CITY” HOUSE AND FLOOR PAINTS Wlll Dry in 8 Hours. On sale at all Hardware Dealers real, Toronto, Vancouver. w? Potatoes, Poultry, Eggs, Bu‘t Let. us have your consignment of fer, Apples any of these articles and we will get you good prices. lTHE DAWSON oommusslom co, Limited cor, Wont Market and Oolhome It... TORONTO. HAUNTS or FISH AND Gan/LBJ â€". Attractions for Sportsmen on the Line of the Grand Trunk. The Grand Trunk Railway Company has issued a, handsome publication, .profusely illustrated with hall-tone 'engraviugs, descriptive of the many attractive localities for sportsmen on their line of railway. Many of the regions reached by the Grand, Trunk seem to have been specially prepared for the Idelectation of mankind, and where for a, brief period the cares of business are cast aside and life is given up to enjoyment. Not only do the "Highlands of Ontario" present unrivalled facilities for both hunting, fishing and camping, but the 30,000 Islands of the Georgian Bay. Thou- sand Islands and St. Lawrence Riv- er, Rideau River and Lakes, Lake St. ‘ John, and the many attractivo lo~ calities in Maine and New Hampâ€" shire, present equal opportunities for health, pleasure and sport. All thesei localities are reached by the Grand Trunk Railway System. and on Abstracts 0f Ontario, Michigan, Que- bec, New Hampshire and Maine fish and game laws are inserted in the publication for the guidance of sportsmen. The Grand Trunk Rail- way has also issued descriptive il- lustrated matter for each district sep- arately, which are sent free on ap- | trains unequalled on the continent. ‘ milllonaof mothers for their children whllo teething. | plication to the agents of the Com-I pany and to Mr. J. D. McDonald. District Passenger Agent. G. ’1‘. 11.. Union Station. Toronto. _m_.+____..-.. “Ah,” said the tourist who was visiting the enterprising South Amâ€" erican Republic. “so you are the insurgents, I presume?" "No, sir,” replied the commander, "We were inâ€" surgents last week. We are the ad- ministration now.” W I was Cured of a severe cold by MINARD'S LINIMENT. Oxford, N. S. R. F. HJEWSON. I was Cured of a terrible sprain by MINARD'S LINIMENT. FRED COULSON. Yarmouth, N. S. Y.A.A.C. I Was Cured of Black Erysipelas \by MINARD'S LINIMENT. Ingersville. J. w. RUGGLES. OLD-AG E PENSIONS. The British Consul at Calais, I France, tells in his annual report, of' an effort to deal with oldâ€"age pen- sions. Twenty-three years ago M. Ch'atelus formed a society, the rules for membership being a monthly payâ€"l ment of a franc, all the funds to be invested, and at the end of twenty years the interest on capital to be; equally divided among members, andf in each succeeding year those who to receive their equal share of this? interest. The present rate of pen-i x lsion is $72 per year. The member-! I l i ship now stands at 347,951, with a capital of over $7,500,000. Sunflowcls make good fuel. The stalks when dry are as hard as wood, and make a good fire, and the seed-l heads. with the seed in, burn bet- Lm: than coal. BUC H AN A N ’S UNLOADING OUTFIT Works well'botl‘a on . . stacks and In. burns. '1: unloads all kinds of hay and grain either »';, loose orln sheaves. ' Send forcataloguo to BUflNA 00.. Ingersoll, Ont. FEATH ER DYEIN G Clonal-flood Curling and Kid Glou- oleonod Then on a not by pout, lo per 01. the best place in BRITISH AMERIGAN Will“: 60- ION!!!“ ,‘ ,« It happened on Sunday night. They were sitting, not so far apart, on the sofa. “Love is intoxicating, is it not?" he asked. “It certainly is," was her coy reply; “but there is no law that. I know ofvwhich proâ€" hibits a person from indulging in it on Sunday.” .__a-.â€" For Over Slxty Years Mus. Wmnow'a Soo'rmuo Syn or has been used by IlSoothes the child. softens the gums. alloys pain. pure: wind colic, regulate. tlie‘ltomnch and bowels. end)! the best remedy for Di rrh Twanty-flve cents a bobble Sold b’drugglaw 1 ran out. the world. Be sure and ask for “ Mas. WINHLO w's Soo’rumo SYRUP." 22â€"0: Augustusâ€"“Darling Wilhelmina, gjust one word. Will you be mine?" Wilhelminaâ€"“You must ask papa." Augustusâ€"“What’s the use of that? I’ve asked no end of papas, and they I), all said ‘no. ; Mlnanl's Linlmenl Is used by Physicians “You complain of the expense of a. ‘typewriter. Why don’t you have your wife do it?" “I can’t dictate to 'my wife.” ‘ â€"_ Lover’s Y-Z (Wise Head) Disinfect- :ant Soap Powder is a boon to any 5home. It disinfect: and cleans at. the same time. I Publisherâ€"“This work of yours .isn't as good as it used to be." Auâ€" thorâ€"“It doesn't need to be. I've got a reputation now." | Mlnard’s Linlmsnl for sale everywhere 1 Distinguished Artistâ€"“Perhaps if you come here you will get a better Ilight on the picture. This studio is inot .nearly large enough." Fair .' 7isi.tor (desirous to understand)â€" WWI I “Yes, yes, I know. One can’t get ‘far enough. away from your pic.- tures!” Summer Colds You should cure that cold at once. It is notenly making you feel miserable, but it is doing you harm. Take Shiloh’s » Consumption Cure $22.5“ ' It is guaranteed to cure you. Your money refunded mil; doesn't. At all druggists, 250., 500. and $1.00 a bottle. 403 ISSUE N0 . 3 1~~04. .‘ .a.;"\;‘-L'c -â€"â€"â€"â€"_.“,\-m§crv:»7; “M ‘ ‘ f â€" r ‘ I ,4 . “hwy v Jana-kw , ' "mm" ‘ 1.1;, :11}