The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-05-08
PAYABLE IN ADVANCE.
WHOLE NUMBER 2O9
Wedding in Quaker High Life.

took very much the from and expression Of
"Who aoould be Qunkercss ,'
For some time back double marriage
between parties high in the Quaker world
has been on the tapis and this eighth lav Of
| the fourth month WAS the one set down for
the Accomplishment of their purpose' So
mt halfpast 10 o'clock this morning. the
Friends llrcting House, in Orchard street
was thronge'l, but more by the worlds peo-
| pie than by the Friends. There quarters Of
the house were occupied by ladies whose
diminn;ve bonncts, ,rcmcn,lnu> hoods, and
elegant mantes con'r.s,cd strangely with
the sober drab "tixings" of the few staid old
Qnak"resses who occupied some Of the ben
ches in the place where the pulpit is in
other meeting houses. /, was queer Quak-
cr's meeting, and we warran: there was more
talking and gossiping done i'll a half hours
time than the old meeting house ever heard
! before.
On some Qonchcs elevated one above an
other, at the pnl pit end of the church, sat the
ministers and the elderly ladies Of the meet
ing in full Quaker costume. On the lowest
bench sat the parents of the parties to be
married, and when the house was 50 full it
could no more, the two bridal parties an
pcarcd in quick succession, and sat down on
the lowest benches between the old folks.
The first bride had six bridesmaids, dressed
in white silk and tarentan, very plain but
very elegant, all with good sized hoops.
! The groomSmon were in full dress, as 'sworld's
folks" The bride herself was roLed in
white satin, edged with crninc, and wore
an elegant little hat, with rose -co!orcd ruclc:
The second bride had only two maids, in
white. She wore white silk whit! mantle
and hood, anal white lace vcll-rch and
simple at the same time. The bricgrooms
were both dressed in the convintional black,
and when I'LL had been seated silence grad
ually took the place of an animated chatter.
| For q half hour every one sat still and
looked straight into the faces Of two brides,
who endured the ordeal with wonderful pa
t'encc. AT length Friend Dickcrson, the
minister, knclt down Immediately behind
the first bride. All the congregation, or
the audience. AS the minister called iircm,-
stood up, while Friend Dickcrson pray ed.
F|lhcn all sat down again, anil then there was
more staring for about ten minutes
At last, as iflhev could stand it no longer,
the first couple stood up, and, cIaspin@ hands,
addressed each other few words, which
could not be heard except bv those immcdi-
atcly near them. They said something
about "good husbanl," glowing and Gailhfnt
wife" and then sat down again Two
Friends, in black, next brought 4 table, where
on was roll of parchment, IN ink.stand
and pens, and the newly married pair signed,
sometliing-a.tcr which the table was car
ried again. The Clerk OF the meeting next
mounted the highest Of the elevated benches,
and, in Il loud voice read the parchment
which set fortl. that Henry Laurence and
Caroline White, Of the city Of New York,
having agreed to marry together, and no
impcdmcnt appearing, dc, &c, &c. they
had risen i'll open meeting, promised, &c,
DC, &c, and signed their names to the con-
tract the eighth day Of the fourth month,
The first couple were thus married.
The second couple then rose and went
through the same formula, but even those
nearest 10 them could only see their lips
move, and heard no sound. However, When
| their parchment was read. it set forI, that
Richard J.. Nicholson, of Philadelphia, and
Elizabeth Van I1ocscn OF this city, had
married together, in the same manner as
the first couple. a II SCI. down again, not I,
trace Of emotion WAS visible on the face of
any Friend. After a few moments. a very
benevolent looking Quaker gentleman, ilr
the highest bench rose and requested the
audience to be seat while the p:,rtics went
out The newly married retired with their
trains, and the buzz Of voices that followed
was all the more striking from the previous
silence. 1t was fashionable Quaker we'd
ding and such a one rs is not often seen
Friends Meeting Houses Boston Times.
| ----------so . Ss-----
| How TIE MEANING OF WoRDs CHANGE.
In Shakspeares time the word n,iscre-.
ant meant simply an upbeliever Talbot CALI
ing Joan OF Arc a miScrcant intimated only
that she had fallen from faith: influence.
among the earlier English poets, meant on
| ~ that power over mortals which planets
were supposed TO exercise. NephcW, as
used by llooke, Shakespeare and others of
tho Ezabcthen era, denoted grand-chil-
dren and other linca descendants. Rindiy
fruits, as use.l in the Iitany, also simply
denoted the natural fruits, or those whiclt
the earth according to his kind, should
bring forth The word Girl was Mt one
time applied indiscriu,inately to young per-
sons OF either sex. Until the reign Of
] Charles The First, theaword, dcre meant any
|, UUlu Ol WiIatcSc 'oiZp. ~ uTtOIG uenOtc0
the length Of a. furrow, or a f0rrow long,
Also, the iEords ..yyard, peck. sanas gallon,
were ONCE ef.a vague, unsettleslstIse and
only, at a, later date, ,and in obedisSce to tlia
latte, GreqRirements Of, commerce anu social
life, were they used TO denote exact measure,
Tlietarm meat, nowapplcabe to flesh only,
WAS onee.applied to all food. Ba6fed (de.
feated) was applied in tho. days of chivairy
10 a recreapt knight, who was either in per.
son, oreffigy, hung up by the heels, s,.his es.
! cutcl,aon botte.l, His spear broken, and hitB-
self or Ills ;efigy subjected to all sorts Of
indigniies. ~rs
1'psRsEykRE.-How many, young men in
ourHlsnd are wishing and singing to begreat,
who nevertheless, viii pass away in obscuri-
ty.Ei And thereasop is a simple one aud
.seon told. They failed in perseverance:
There are two principles, which if We poss.
ess, Swe may siiSsecd in sny Undertaking.
They asAindastry. and perseverance. 30