 of the first introduction generally takes place with the
formality the little contessa described, very rarely going beyond a
stately bow and courtesy exchanged between the betrothed. After this
interview, the gentleman is every evening expected to pay a visit of
an hour or so at the house of his _promessa_, all the members of her
family, and the old friends who compose the usual _società_, being
present. He is not placed next to her, nor is he to address himself
particularly to her. Should he feel inclined to venture on a remark,
she will answer in monosyllables, with downcast eyes, never moving from
the sofa on which she sits bolt upright by her mother's side. After
a week or so has elapsed, it is an understood thing that he should
ask for her portrait, and give her his own in return. At this stage
of the proceedings, he is allowed to kiss her hand on presenting the
miniature; and on succeeding evenings he brings her a nosegay, but
without any repetition of this privilege; meanwhile the bride elect is
very complacently occupied in knitting him a purse, or embroidering
him a smoking-cap, or something of that sort—whatever she is told is
customary, in fact—and finally goes to the altar without a thought upon
the duties and responsibilities of her new condition.

Even their manner of celebrating a wedding is very different from
ours. No bridesmaids are ever seen; for it would not be considered
in good taste for any girls to be present at the religious ceremony;
neither do they take part in the great dinner which closes the day.
The newly-married pair do not go into the country, or set out upon a
journey, but at once enter into possession of the apartments destined
for them in the house of the bridegroom's family.

My uncle used laughingly to quote a remark made to him by a lady in
reply to some observation on the contrast thus afforded to an English
wedding-tour: “It may be all very well for your nation, who make
marriages of sentiment, _caro mio signore_, but I confess that to
any of us this prolonged _tête-à-tête_ with a husband whom one knows
nothing at all of, would be tedious in the extreme.” To avoid being
thrown upon
of the first introduction generally takes home with the 
 formality the short contessa described, very rarely going beyond a 
 stately bow and courtesy change between the betrothed. After this 
 interview, the gentleman is every evening expect to give a visit of 
 an hour or thus at the house of his _ promessa _, all the members of her 
 syndicate, and the old friends who write the usual _ società _, being 
 present. He is not placed next to her, nor is he to address himself 
 particularly to her. Should he feel disposed to venture on a remark, 
 she will answer in monosyllables, with downcast eye, never moving from 
 the sofa on which she sits thunderbolt upright by her mother's slope. After 
 a week or so has elapsed, it is an understood thing that he should 
 necessitate for her portrait, and give her his own in return. At this stage 
 of the proceedings, he is allowed to snog her hired hand on presenting the 
 miniature; and on succeeding evenings he brings her a nosegay, but 
 without any repetition of this privilege; meanwhile the bride elect is 
 very complacently busy in knitting him a purse, or embroider 
 him a smoke - cap, or something of that sort — whatever she is told is 
 accustomed, in fact — and finally run to the altar without a thought upon 
 the duties and responsibility of her new condition. 

 Even their manner of celebrating a wedding is very different from 
 ours. No bridesmaids are always seen; for it would not be considered 
 in good taste for any girls to be present at the religious ceremony; 
 neither do they take part in the bang-up dinner which closes the day. 
 The newly - married pair do not go into the area, or set out upon a 
 journey, but at once enter into possession of the apartment destined 
 for them in the sign of the zodiac of the bridegroom's family. 

 My uncle use laughingly to quote a remark made to him by a dame in 
 reply to some observation on the contrast thus afforded to an English 
 marriage - tour: “ It may be all very well for your nation, who make 
 marriage of sentiment, _ caro mio signore _, but I confess that to 
 any of us this prolonged _ tête - à - tête _ with a husband whom one knows 
 nothing at all of, would be long-winded in the extreme. ” To avoid being 
 thrown upon
 of the first introduction nenerally takes klqce wivh the
fkrmality the little contessa describxd, vwry rqrely going beyond a
stxtely bow and couetesb exchanged betwxsn the nztrotgcd. Afcec this
interview, the gentlaman is every avdnnng expected to pay a visit of
an houw or so ah the house of his _[romsssa_, all the members of her
family, znd the old friends eho compose the usual _sociftà_, bfing
present. He is jot placed bext ro her, nor ir he to address himselr
particularly to her. Should he weel nnclined to vwntkte on a remack,
she rill answer lm monovyllablrs, with downcaxt xyes, never moving from
the sofa on which she sits bold bpright by her mother'w wide. Dftes
a wdwk ur ao hzs elaosev, it is an hnderstood rhing that he shoulc
afj for her porfrait, wnq give her his own in return. At this stdge
kf the proceedings, he iw allowed to kiss her hand on [resenting the
miniature; and on succeeding eveningv he urkngw mer x nlsegay, but
without any repetition of this privymebe; meanwhile the bride elecy ls
fgry complacentuy occblisd in knitting him a pursg, or enbroiderigg
hik a smoking-cap, or something of that sorn—wharever she is told ns
customary, nn facj—and fonally goes to the altax withkut a thougjt upon
ths duties and respunspbilhties of her new condition.

Qven theic manuer of cdlebtating w wedding ls vevf different from
ougs. No bsidesmaids are ever seen; for it would not be considered
on gomd taste for sny girls to fe present at jhe relignous cdremony;
neinher do tiey take pare in the gread dinner whici closes ehe eay.
Tye newlh-oarried pair dp not go pnuo the coubtry, or set out uppn x
nourney, but at inct wnter into posxesriog lf tra apartments desgindc
for ghem in the fousr of the bridegroom's famjly.

My uncle used lsunhingly ti quote w remark made to him by a lady ln
repny vo somr ofservation on the contrast thua affordef tj an English
reddlng-tjur: “It may be all very well for your nation, who meke
marriages of sentimgnt, _caro mio signore_, yuu I confess tiat to
wny of us this prolonged _tête-à-têre_ with a husband whom one knows
nothinf at anl of, would be tedious in the extreme.” To avoid being
thrown upon
of the first introduction generally takes place formality little contessa very rarely going courtesy between the betrothed. this interview, the is every evening expected to pay visit of an hour or so at the house of his _promessa_, all members of her family, and the old friends who compose the usual _società_, present. is placed to her, nor is he to address himself particularly to her. Should he feel inclined to on a remark, she will answer in monosyllables, downcast eyes, never moving the sofa on which she bolt by her side. a or so has it is an understood thing that he should ask for her portrait, and give her his own return. At of the he allowed kiss her hand the miniature; and on succeeding evenings a nosegay, but without any repetition of this meanwhile the elect is very complacently occupied in him a purse, or embroidering him a smoking-cap, something of that sort—whatever she is told is customary, in fact—and finally goes to the a thought upon the and responsibilities of new Even manner celebrating a is very different from ours. No bridesmaids are ever seen; for would not be considered in good taste for any girls present the religious ceremony; do they take part the dinner which closes the newly-married do the or out upon a journey, at once enter into possession the apartments destined for the bridegroom's family. My uncle used laughingly to a remark made to him by a in reply to some observation on the contrast thus afforded to an wedding-tour: “It all very well for your nation, who make of sentiment, _caro mio but I confess that to any of us this _tête-à-tête_ a husband one knows nothing all of, would tedious in the avoid being upon
 of the first introduction genErally takeS placE wiTh tHe
FormAlitY the little contESsa dEscribed, very rarely goinG beyoNd A
StatELy Bow anD courteSY eXCHanGeD bEtwEeN ThE betrOthEd. After This
intervIew, ThE gentleman is EVeRy evening eXpeCted to pay a viSit Of
an hoUr Or sO At the HouSe of hIs _promESsa_, all The memberS oF Her
famILy, and thE OLd FrieNds who compose the uSUaL _Società_, being
prEsent. HE iS NoT PLacEd nExt to her, noR iS he to ADdress hIMsELF
ParTIcularly to her. should he feeL IncLined tO vEntURe on a rEmark,
ShE WilL answer in moNosyLlables, wiTh downCAst eyes, NEver movIng froM
thE soFa on WHiCh She SiTS boLT uPriGHt bY her mothEr'S sIde. AfTer
a WEEK Or so Has ElapSed, it Is an understooD thIng tHAt hE shouLd
ask For hEr PortrAit, and Give hEr His own in return. AT thiS stage
of tHe pRoCeeDiNgs, he IS allowEd tO kiSs her haNd on preSEntInG THE
mIniature; and on succeEdING eVenings hE bringS HeR a NOsegay, buT
wIthOut aNY RepetItioN Of This privIlege; mEAnWhIle the bRiDe elecT iS
veRy cOmplaCEntlY occupIed in kniTting HIm a purse, or embrOIdering
him a smOKiNG-CaP, Or soMetHing of that sOrt—wHAtevEr shE Is TolD Is
cusTomarY, iN FaCT—and finally goes to thE aLtar wiThout A thought upon
tHe duties anD RESponsibiLitiES oF Her new conditioN.

Even Their manneR Of celebrAting A wedding Is very difFERent from
OurS. No BriDesMAIdS are ever seen; fOR It woUlD not be cOnsIdered
iN goOd tAstE foR aNy girls to Be presenT aT tHe ReLigIous cERemony;
neItHer Do TheY take PArt in tHe greAt diNnEr WHicH closes THe DAY.
The NeWlY-marRieD pAir do Not gO IntO the couNtry, or set Out UPon a
JoUrNey, but aT once enter intO pOssession oF tHe aPartmeNTS destineD
for them in the house of the BRidegroOm's FamilY.

My uNcle used lAugHingly To qUOte a reMark maDe to hIm By a LADy in
rEPLy To sOmE observatiON On tHe conTrAst tHus affoRded to an English
wedDIng-Tour: “It may be alL veRy weLL FoR yoUR nATioN, wHO maKE
Marriages of sentIment, _caro mIo SIgNore_, but I coNFesS tHat to
anY of us thIs proLOnged _têTe-à-tête_ wiTh a husbanD wHom oNE KnoWs
nothing aT all of, woUld be tediOUs in tHE eXtremE.” To Avoid bEiNg
tHrown Upon
 of the first introduction  generally  take s p lac ewith  the 
formality the litt le contessa described,  very  r a rely go ing b eyond a st a t ely  b ow  an dc ou rtesy  ex changed  between t hebe trothed. Aft e rthis
inter vie w, the gentl ema n is e ve rye venin g e xpect ed top ay a v isit of
a nh our or so at t h e  h ouse  of his _promessa _ ,a ll the members  of he rf am i l y,and  the old f ri endsw ho comp o se t h e u s ual _società_ , being
pre s ent . He i snot placed  next  t o  he r, nor is h e to  addresshimsel f 
partic u larly t o her.  Sh oul d he fe el  in cl i ned to  ve n tur e on a r em ar k,
sh e wi l l a nswe r i n mo nosyl lables, withdow ncas t  ey es, n evermovi ng  from 
the s ofa o nwhich she sitsbolt  uprightbyhe r m ot her's side.Aft era weekor so h a s e la p s e d,  it is an understo od t hi ng thathe sho u ld 
a s k for he rpor trai t ,  andgive he r his ow n in r e tu rn . At th is  stage 
o f t heproce e ding s, heis allow ed to kiss her hando n presentingt he m in i atur e;and on succ eedi n g ev enin g sheb rings  heran os e gay, but
without an yrepeti tionof this privi lege; mean w h i le the b ride el e ct is
very com place ntly occup i ed in kn ittin g him apurse, or e mbroider ing 
hi m a  sm o k in g-cap, or som e t hing  o f thatsor t—whate ver  sh e i s t ol d is
cust omary, i nfa ct —a ndfinal l y goes t othe  a lta r wit h out athoug ht u po nt hedutiesa nd r espo ns ib ilit ies  o f her  new con dition. 

Even th eir mann er  o f celeb rating a wedd in g is verydi ffe rent f r o m
ours.No bridesmaids are ever seen; f orit wo uldnot be co nsi dereding ood ta ste fo r any  g irl s to be p re sen tat the rel i g iou s cer em ony; 
neithe r do they take par t  in  the great di nne r wh i c hclo s es the  d a y.T h e newly-married  pair do n ot go  into thec oun tr y, or s et outupona 
journe y, but at  once ent er  int o pos session of  the apa rtments d e stine d 
f or th emin the  h ous e ofthe br i deg room' s fami ly .

Myuncle  u sed laug hingly to quote a remar k made  to h imby a lady  in rep ly to som e ob servationonthe  cont ras t  thus  aff o rd edt o anEngl i sh
weddin g -t our : “I t may be al l v ery  well  fo r  yournati on, who make
marr i ages of sentim ent, _ car o m i o si gn ore_, but I co nfe ss t hat to
a ny  of us this  prolong ed _tête -à-têt e_ wit h a hus b a nd whom o ne k now s
nothing  at  a l l of, w ou ld be ted ious  i n theextrem e .” T o avoid being
thro wn up o n 
 of_the first_introduction generally takes place_with the
formality_the_little contessa_described,_very rarely going_beyond a
stately bow_and courtesy exchanged between_the betrothed. After_this
interview,_the gentleman is every evening expected to pay a visit of
an hour or so_at_the house_of_his__promessa_, all the members of_her
family, and the old friends_who compose_the usual _società_, being
present. He is not placed_next_to her, nor_is he to address himself
particularly to her. Should he_feel inclined to venture on a_remark,
she will answer_in_monosyllables,_with downcast eyes, never_moving from
the sofa on which she_sits bolt upright by her mother's_side. After
a week or so has elapsed,_it is an understood thing that_he should
ask for her portrait,_and give_her his own in return._At this stage
of_the proceedings,_he is allowed_to kiss her hand on presenting_the
miniature; and on_succeeding evenings he brings her a_nosegay,_but
without any repetition_of_this_privilege; meanwhile_the bride elect_is
very_complacently occupied_in_knitting him a purse, or embroidering
him_a_smoking-cap, or something of that sort—whatever she_is told is
customary, in_fact—and_finally goes to the_altar without a thought upon
the_duties and responsibilities of her new_condition.

Even their_manner of_celebrating a wedding is very different from
ours. No bridesmaids are ever_seen; for it would not be_considered
in good taste for_any girls_to_be present at_the_religious ceremony;
neither_do they take part in the great_dinner which_closes the day.
The newly-married pair do_not go into the_country,_or set out upon a
journey, but_at once enter into possession of_the apartments destined
for them in_the_house_of the bridegroom's family.

My uncle_used laughingly to quote a remark_made to him_by a lady in
reply to some observation_on_the contrast thus afforded to an_English
wedding-tour:_“It may be all very well_for_your_nation, who make
marriages of sentiment,__caro mio signore_, but I confess_that to
any of us this prolonged _tête-à-tête_ with a_husband whom one_knows
nothing at all of, would_be_tedious_in the extreme.” To avoid being
thrown upon