The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-08 00:00:00

An Aztec Wedding.

The London public will perhaps remember two
extraordinary children who, some 14 years since,
were exhibited under the auspices of Mr. Anderson,
known as the Wizard of the North, and who were
then described as being specimens of an ancient In-
dian race that still survived amongst the ruined
cities of
,Central America. The story then told was
that one of those cities, " Ixamaya," still remained
intact, but was so jealously guarded by its inhabi-
tants that it was almost impossible fur any stranger
to approach it. A Spaniard named Velasquez, how-
ever, ventured within the lines, and at great risk of
life and limb bore off two children, to whom he gave
Spanish Christian and surnames. He brought his
prize to New York, when he handed them over to
Mr. Morris, who has been their proprietor and
guardian ever since. On the occasion of their first
exhibition in England, Mr. Morris, being too much
occupied to come over himself, intrusted them to
Professor Anderson, who represented them to be
brother and sister—a statement which it is now un-
derstood was entirely without foundation. These
children excited a great deal of curiosity and much
discussion amongst the learned in ethnology, but
no one ventured to give a decided opinion as to
whether, as was asserted for them, they might be
accepted as specimens of an ancient but newly dis-
covered race, or whether they were merely abortive
births, such as occasionally happen in every coun-
try. Since then Mr. Morris has himself travelled
with his interesting little charges through most of
the great cities of Europe and America, and shows
approving testimonials from persons of the highest
distinction in more than one continental city. In
St. Petersburg especially the Aztecs attracted ex-
traordinary notice, and received written testimony
to that effect from members of the imperial family.
Everywhere the same discussions were raised amongst
the savans as to their origin and race, and every-
where with the some conclusive results. What they
are, whether accidental births, or the last remnants
of some ancient and sacred race which had for ages
been preserved by the priests of Central America to
serve as a sort of living idols for their worship, still
remains a mystery—a circumstance which of course
will only serve to heighten the curiosity of the British
public should Mr. Morris determine upon exhi-
biting them in London. So far as we could learn
he has brought them over for the purpose of having
them joined in holy wedlock, they now being both
of marriageable age, and accordingly the legal cere-
mony was performed yesterday morning, by the
registrar, in the vestry-room of St. George's, 1-lan-
over-square. In order to give all proper eclat to
the wedding, the preparation of the bride's trousseau
was entrusted to the house of Howell and James, in
Regent-street. The dress was of the richest white
satin, trimmed with the costliest of lace, and the
jewels of the purest water. The little lady seemed
to be' absolutely enchanted with her sparkling neck-
' lace, her solitaire ear-rings, and her bracelets of
emeralds and brilliants. 'We were informed the
trousseau cost close upon £2,000, and, considering
its completeness, we should bereluctant to pronounce
it dear at the money. The bridegroom wore plain
evening dress, but was most demonstrative in his
examination and exhibition of a splendid gold watch
with which he had been presented for the interesting
occasion. During the ceremony he deported him-
self most judiciously—for a bridegroom, examined
the certificate which the registrar handed to him at
its conclusion most carefully, and then, with much
impressiveness, presented the bride with her " mar-
riage lines." They are both much grown since their
last visit to this country, but still far below either
in stature or bulk anything else that we have ever
seen in the shape of either savage or civilised hu-
manity. Their heads are not bigger than would be
that of an English child of a month old, and their
figures are in proportion. The female is well formed,
and has a not unpleasing countenance, but the man
is a most extraordinary looking individual. The
type of countenance in both is decidedly antique,
but whether Assyrian, Egyptian, or Central Ameri-
can we must leave to Professor Owen and the An-
thropological Society t 9 decide. There never was
anything like them exhibited in London except
themselves on the occasion of their first visit, and
whatever attraction they then offered for the curious
must be increased tenfold now when they present
themselves under such altered circumstances, and
in full and complete maturity. After the marriage
ceremony the bride, bridegroom, and a party of their
friends adjourned to Willis's Rooms, King-street,
St. James's, for the wedding breakfast, when some
appropriate speeches were made, and all sorts of
good wishes were expressed for the interesting
couple.