Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-07-24
)ND WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA JULY 81. 1880.
Marriage without COurtslaip.
, ROMANCE WITHOUT FICTION.

Marriage without COurtsllip.
A ROMANCE WITHOUT FICTION.
Wonderous are the ways of Providence.
and singular are the doings of man, es.
peciallv in these latter davS Of progress.
The gigantic strides of science, levelling
in It's track prejudice and ignorance, ma
king "ancient goods uncou,h." has pre-
pared the human mind 10 combat the eX-
preston Of the wise man. that there is
.no,hiny new under the sun" Nothing
new. forsoo,h, Well. if there is really
nothing new. old customs sometimes ap-
pear before us in a strange carb-a very
coat of many colors ..I, is not meet that
man should be a!one..-from the very
| foundation Of the world woman was pl ced
in it to love, cherish and comfort man
In pursuance of this divine gift of God.
the custom ofcourtShip and marriage was
introduced. and this present day wisdom
sanctions the former while law binds the
latter. Courtship and marriage, in all
civilized countries. present the same phase
in the abstract but the successful issue of
matrimonial negotiation we are about to
chronicle, possesses spice OF romance
altogether ou: of the ordinary manner of
every day. having cleaned the facts from
authentic and reliable sources.
About three years ago. the Rev. r. s.
M'Clav. of Concord. Franklin county.
Pa. late Of Get,ysburg.) received call
on the Board of Foreign Missions connect
ed with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
TO visi, China and take the gospel to the
benic GIFTED Celestials of the central flowerv
land. M'Clay was young ardent, and en-
thusiastic, and most willingly embraced
the high and holy duty assigned him.
In due time he arrived i'll China. and
was stationed at Fan Chua. some seven
hundred miles in the interior from Hong
Kong.
There he studied the native language
and commenced his labor of love anon g
the Celestals with the most flatterng sue
cess. Still there was something wanting z
"a void in the heart to be filled-he sigh
ed for that best solace to man. either in
veal or woe-a WIFE. How to get one
was an intricate question to solve. There
were no American ladies there from whom
he could make Il choice and as for Chi
nese wife. the laws Of the land forbade il,
neither did his inclination desire it. What
then was to be donel fertile magina.
ton can accomplish wonders-a firm de-
termination can surmount difficulties that
would "o'ertop old Pelion - lie wrote to
the Board of Missions on the subiect-he
wrote in pathe,c--we might say poetic
strains. Of his lonely condition for the
want of one on whom he could bestow his
affections, and who would be the partner
Of his joys and sorrows through life. and
ended by asking that the Board send him
a young lady who would be willing TO be.
come his wife--agreeably to his directions.
,,x,t, l. ,,t,, n
lara,ion TO be filed up by the lady ac-
ceptng the proposition.
This was novel proposition. but the
Board was Of the opinion that it was just
one, and proceeded with due diligence to
search for the object desired, and strange
to say success crowned their effort.
Sometime previous to the receipt OF NJ
Clay letter. young lady. Miss Henrietta
Sperry. Of Brooklyn, n. Y, made appli-
cation to the Board to be sent missiona-
ry to China, but was refused on accoun,
of being unmarried. To her the applica-
ton of M'Clay was shown; she at once
filled up the blank apple alton, and cor
respondence ensued which ended in her
leaving New FORK in company with num-
Der Of other missionaries. on the 10Th ol
March last on the ship Tartar. for Hong
Kong. where she will be met by Mr.. NJ
CLAW. and the nuptial ceremony will be
solemnZed.
The ladv's personal attractions have
been described 10 US. by one who had the
pleasure of seeing her previous to taking
sail on her mission of love. She is des-
cribed as being beautiful and fascinating
in her appearance and possessed Of tina,
charm of loveliness which should adorn
every female character-a well cultivated
mind. stored with the richest gifts Of knowl-
edge from the fountain of education, and
a moral refinement which will bear with i,
the Jewel Of a bright inheritance beyond
the confines Of time.
She is now on the dark blue sea where
''the hollow oak" her home must be for at
least half a year Who SO dead 10 all
feeling as not to admire such heroism?-
young and lovely girl, forsaking home.
friends. and all the dearest ties Of earth to
travel thousands Of miles over the stormy
billows TO dwell perhaps forever amor Y the
heathens. for the double purpose of afford
ing consolation to a servant of God, and
aid in spreading the light among those
who walk in darkness. is at once moral
and sublime undertaking. requiring de-
gree Of devo,edness and firmness that will
compare favorably with the self denial of
:he Spartan woman Of old Heaven send
propitious gales 10 wait the Tartar TO her
/ destination. Who can doubt but that d
union formed under such circumstances
must be happy one!
The Wool Clip Of 1850.
/ The shipments of Wool from Cincinna-
ii this season. to lst July. amount to 1854
bales and Il. 500 lbs ayainst 9I3 bales