"<All things that pass, Are woman's looking glass."
A Notable Russian Wedding.
Whilst great issues are developing in other parts of the world, the wheel of life in Shanghai seems to run smoothly on, the only cog that appears to vary in it to any noticeable degree being the social On Wednesday afternoon there was witnessed for the first time in Shangh: a ceremonious Russian wedding, and a very interesting and impressive ceremony it proved to be. The bride was Miss Alexandra Dessino, eldest daughter of Major-General Dessino, Russian Military Agent in China, and the bridegroom was Sub-Lieutenant Basile Altfater, son. of the Council of Em a recent addition to the numerous Churches of Shanghai, was beautifully decorated with flowers for the occasion, and was taxed to its utmost to accommodate the large number of friends who were in attendance, amongst whom were Mr. Pavlow, the Russisn Minister for Corea, the whole of the Consular Body, the commander of the Askold and his wife, Mrs. Gramatchikoff, Commander and Mrs. Golovitzein of the Mandjour, and the commander of the Grosovoi with his wife Mrs. Brootzin, and Lady Bredon and her daughter. 'The service was fully choral, the music being sung by male voices' only. So harmonious was: the rendering of the anthems, hymns, and responses, that the absence of instrumental music was hardly noticeable. The religious service was conducted by Father Simeon, assisted by " second priest, both of whom were attired in picturesque surplices of cloth of silver.
Previous to the arrival of the wedding party the numerous candles in four great silver candelabra wore lighted, and two cup, a length ing rings were front of the alter steps. Whilst waiting the arrival of the bride the choir sang an anthem, a beautiful hymn being sung as she entered the Church, preceded by her young brother, Master Constantine Dessino, who, dressed in white, acted as the bearer of the ikon. Bride and bridegroom took their position in front of a silken-covered lectern, beside which stood the priests, the rest of the bridal party standing behind the bride and bridegroom. A lighted candle, tied with white satin ribbon and a little posy of orange blossom, was handed by one of the priests to both bride and bridegroom, and was held in their hands throughout the ceremony, The marriage, although announced to take place at four o'clock, did not oommence till nearly five o'clock, the marriage party being delayed by the private ceremony of the blessing the brid bridegroom by their respect parents, which takes place residence, previous to the reli many.
The first of the unusually large wodding party to arrive was the bridegroom, who was in the effective uniform worn by Russian naval officers. Next came the godfathers and godmothers. Mr. Kleiménow, the Russian Consul-General for Shanghai, was sponsor for the bride, Rear-Admiral Reitzenstoin, acting in a like capacity for the bridegroom. Mrs. Dessino was godmother to the latter, Mrs. Ostroverkhow, wife of the Russian Consul-General at Hankow, standing for the bride. Mrs. Dessino was in pink silk, veiled entirely in white guipure point Lace, with'which she wore a wide-trimmed hat of white straw, trimmed with white chiffon, ostrich plumes, and pink roses. Mrs. Ostroverkhow wxs also in white, worn over & faint shade of yellow, her bat being composed of white chiffon, ostrich plumes, and pink roses. Both carried lovely shower bouquets of maguificent La France roses and asparagus ferns, tied with long strands of pink ribbon.
The bride, who was accompanied by her father, wore a gown of thick white satin, the perfectly plain skirt being embroidered at intervals, with a design of blossoms and foliage in heavy white silk thread. The becomingly fashioned bodice was made with a yoke set about General Altfater, who is a member of with a bertha of exquisitely wrought The picturesque Brussels point lace.. The long Court little Russian Mission Church, which is train was attached to the yoke, and was made of white satin embroidered to match the skirt, and all round with a flounce of Brussels point of the same beautiful design as the bertha. Rassian brides, Iam told, are not sup-to wear jewels of any description, and the only gold allowed is a coin in the shoe. The bridal veil was exceedingly long, and was made of fine white tulle fastened by a wreath of orange blossom. The bridesmaids were Miss Ostroverkhow and Miss Kitaeff, girl friends of the bride, and her two sisters, Misses Kate and Zina Dessino, who all wore dainty white frocks of soft white silk, inserted with lace. Their hats were also white, and were trimmed with ostrich feathers. Eight Russian officers acted as groomsvutenants Bruns, Baron Mirbab, Alramoviteh, Kitkin, and Medvedeff.
One of the priests intoned in a magnificent deep-toned voice the first part of the service, the choir singing in wonder-fol harmony the beautiful responses. After many long prayers and addresses, the bride and bridegroom were each given a wedding ring, and later on.in the service the crowns wore brought forward by the priests and handed to two of the groomsman, who held them " few inches above the heads of the bride and bri groom. As this position was retained till the end of the ceremony, which lasted another half-hour, the assistance of the other groomsman was required, each in turn holding the crowns aloft. One of the priests then intoned what soamed to be a wonderfully impassioned supplication, and after several further orations, the little golden chalice hi who sipped the contents three times, the bride afterwards doing the same, as a symbol that they would each share all the future joys and sorrows of I The next part of the service was the most impressive of all, and was emblematical of the insolubility of the marriage tie.- The priest clasped the hands of the bridge and bridegroom together, and swathed them with the length of lk, and after placing his hand on theirs and covering all with the end of his stole, he led them three times round the contre of the Church, followed by three grooms-men, two of whom still held the crowns above the heads of the bridegroom and bride, whilst the third carried the latter's train. The crowns were then taken away, and the service terminated after the bride and bridegroom had each kissed a gold crucifix presented by the priest. The happy couple were then congratulated and kissed by the rest of the bri party, and afterwards wont tothe German Church, of which the bridegroom is a member, to receive a blessing from the Protestant clergyman. A large reception was held at the Russian Consulate on the Burd, at which a very large number of residents were present, and later in th: evening a dinner party of a private character took place.
An Interesting Comi< Event.
'The Horse and Pony Show which is announced to take place on the 20th has every promise of attaining avena greater Saccess than that of last year. no small amount of which was due to the enterize shown by lady competitors. Indeed the Ladies' Driving Competition was one of the most interesting and creditable events on the programme and will, no doubt, prove to be even more so this"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.