Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-03-14

hi.o's "sseinblsd early in ~. evening
The doos were closed agains, all mar
q. .rsd persons, and even unmarried NJ ihr
nIher sex. Thea commenced tho ceTe-
.wosy .of weaving the bridal wreath. -.
We Erued airing around the sm,l,p2
Con-sdine. The myrtle leaves were
Produced and laid 'ii her lap; and all
were sr"n bus, in forming III. garland
sh- wasio wear on her nupt,al sv. --ihore
al us, who had not our ingers enpinyrd,
making good use Of our tongues IN dis
pa'mg the arrangement oi every separate
jeaf. The wreath was soon completed, f.,
and passed from hand ~ hand, and ad
mirrd, and carefully concealed, before
the ireverent eyes of nan cOa'd destroy
iis charm by 4 single look. A basket of
flowers, amongst which were hidden a
couple Of sprigs Of my,Ils, was then
rmpilrd upon the cen,r"-iablc. The
doors were thro~D open, ard the gentle
men permitted Ia enter. The whoi,
company consisted of unmarried persons
No waichtul papns, or anxt"us maums,
or prudish aunis, ,narred the Rayety with
their reproacbIul glaDc"s; unrestrhiDcd
oitTttVeHt luIfU 'DF ppu'.
We commenced our amuse emcnis by
crowdin2 around the table, aud every
one srizing in turn a handful uf flowers
from the heap before Us. The two, VIM
we're fortunate enou2h 10 gain pnss-ssion
OF the m, 'ile spriYs, ~ere supposed tn be
the next hidr aud bridrgroom One
spria was found by n bnShiul lnl" gul,
T., l,,.
ed remarkably d.tirisnt III the qualu,
which was her greatest charm. L","
delights m contrasts, y"u know, and
though they Were strangers until then, the
happy confidence established between
ihrm before they separated, gave ~
goOt cause TO believe ibat the ny rite
sprig's omen might prove II true one. -
The rest "t the evening was spent IN II
variety ofamusing games, aud concluded
with dancing.
Cnnradin.'- Brau'igam is n merchant
oi high stauding, ant has n number at
friends IN the cty. Ia walking 'hrou2 h
The streets on the day appointed l"r the
nnpiiais, ] "bsrrsed bright c"lorcd flags
floating gaily from the windows %! al
most every house we passed. Surprising
them suspended IN honor of some pnhIr
festival, we stopped m old woman wh"
was carrying basket oi apples, and
asked her ii she know the meaning Of ali
these banners. She lo"krd nj us in
surprise, aud demanded whether IL was
pnss,hle that we did not know that
Franirin Conradine R--was To. br
married to Heri ---- that evening ! -
The hags were suspended from the wan
drws oi the bridcaroom's friends, 10 br
aure! A marriage take p!ncr, and The
whole city not know il The old woman
could not find words to express aer as-
tooishment At our ignorance.
The. ceremony WAS 10 be performed NJ
NIX M the evening As oar cnrriagf
stopped be."fs the brides ph,rrnn! man.
sion, We perceived every window Iltn.
minated. The Who'll. interior of the
house was decorated with gnilanGJ oi
n,S-rs, Ies'""n- of evergreens, and
branchrs OF laurel, so that IT lookrd
thr"v2 hont like II woodland bnwcr for th.
fairies, rather than stone habdatlon for
some very saaSan,,ai in"kiug m"rthls -
The guests were assembled tn" clergy
man entered the room; and Conradinr
was led in by her bridegroom, attended
b. b'id"am,ilS and grno,ns'neo, much ~
The same sty le as is customary IN Amerl-
cR.
A., matter of course, all brides blush
ldtlr, aud ,rembie II great deal, and
Conialinr blu-hrd and ,reuhlrd ~ much
ns any of her predecessors. All brides,
too. look beautiful and interesting, and
few could look more Interesting, aDd
fewer NJ brau'iiul ns our far irirnd -
Her dress was of dazzling whIlrn"ss
md she was a;iired with almost studied
simplicity neither ribbon, nor lace, nor
Jewel, nor m ornament except brace
let of her father aud mothers hair, was
v,glble. She wore no veil, but htr tan
and flowing hair sufficiently shr"uded
her glowing cheeks the myrtle wreath,
woven by virgin fingers, alone encrcled
her hend. The ceremony was shnr: !;
but the most impressive ever Witnessed.
The silence was profound every word
uttered, whether by minister, bride o.
bridegroom, seemed 10 saue directly
from the heart Of the speaker; and the
whole company joined IN prayer tor the
happiness Of the wly married couple
A. snon az the last hsnedic'ion was con-
cludrd, The bride was embraced by her
husband, parents, and friends ia turn
But the hearty manner IN which many
salutrd her, and the nairete with which
she received their congratulations, wns
quite disronrerting To her American
guests. What contrast to the brides at
their own country, who receive the com
f,iimenis of their most inllnntc friends
with frigid how, or coldly extend the
tips of their iugers' 10 be very lightly
epclosed within the offered hands OF their
guests
But if we were surprised at these cx-
hibiiions Of warmth, how shocked We
must have bpenio perceive that the bride
did Mt, as at home, station herself AT one
end of the apartment, aud remain ~ Im.
movable as n statue 10 receive The de-
vnirs of whoever chose To approach her
throughout the evening Quite tn
contrary Conladinr entered with ~
much life and ease into the spirit oi thu