Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-06-15
The First wedding.

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us and our patrons.
The First wedding.
A correspondent who witnessed the we'd
ding of Countess Bodisco, in Washington
last week, gives the following reminiscen
ces of her first marriage:
remember the Countess when she wa
school girl in Georgetown-the sweet an(
lovely Harriet Williams, the favorite Queer
Of every May day. Her father, worthy
merchant of that ancient and respectable
burgh, gave her every advantage Of educa
ton: but she was as simple, artless and un
affected as the daughter of an humble clt
zen could be. Her personal loneliness was
something rich and rare, when the SIX
teerth summer shone on her bright eyes
Her form was model for sculptor, Sc
delicate and roundly shaped-a dream O
beauty seldom realized on earth. The
Count Bodisco first saw her among hel
school companions; and was at once con
quered. He was old but in excellent pres
ervation, and when made up--as he always
was when he appeared before, not only com
pany, but his most intima4e frlends-he
made good figure in the most agreeable
society, and was highly acceptable, not on
ly in the saloons Of the fashionable, but i'll
all well bred circles His good nature and
intelligence commended him also to eminent
men Of all political parties One Of his
earliest and kindest friends was Henry
Clay for whose talents and geniaIity he had
an unbounded admiration. Indeed, he
loved the great statesman and orator to a
degree rather uncommon among men. But
there was really a strong tincture of re-
mantle sensibility about the excellent old
Count. He was fond of simple pleasure.
and pure and innocent enjoyments. The
attachment Of children to him was extraor-
binary, and could only have been concilia-
ted by that genuine benevolence and ten
derness of heart which beamed from his
couutenance and gushed out in his cordial
voice He woed and won the affections of
the most beautiful girl that had ever been
seen in metropolitan circles. His old dip
lomatic colleagues laughed-some good ma
tured ladies sneered-the beau monde won
dered but he had his own taste, and he
made the sweet, young, blooming Harriet
Williams his wife.
It was splendid wedding, becoming the
representative of the Emperor of all the
Russias, but tasteful, chaste and elegant in
all it's appointments. Henry Clay gave
away the bride. This was in compliance
with the particular request of the Count,
although her father, Mr.. Brooke Williams,
was present. Mr.. Buchanan was the prin-
cipal groomsman, and Jessie Benton Mrs.
Fremont) first bridesmaid The festivities
were in the highest style Of that hospitality
for which Count Bodisco was so long famous
among us. He was devoted. some would
say doting husband and she was loving,
attentive, and in every respect exemplary
and happy wife, the light of his munifcent
home, the ornament Of his social circle, the
companion and friend of his life, and the
chief soace of his last hours
What world we live in What a
change from the scene in which | saw that
bright and beautiful girl give away her
first love, radiant then as The morning star
just above the horizon! What strange al
iteration had time wrought in few short
years! Here was the magnificent matron,
on whose face I could yet discern the Inca
ments that in earlier days filled all hearts
with tenderness, and even some of that
peach like bloom which was the browning
grace of her girlish complexion. And be-
side her was gallant cavalier, in the full
vigor Of manhood, bearing names consecra-
ted by associations Of history and romance
the Douglas, the Gordon and the Scott
Who will say that reality has not its ro-
nance?