Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-06-12
The First Wedding.

A correspondent who witnessed the wedding
OF Countess Bodisco in Washington last week,
gives the following "reminiscences of her first
marriage:
remember the Countess when she was a
school girl in Georgetown-the sweet and lovely
harriet Williams, the favorite queen of every
M ay day. Her father, worthy merchant OF
That ancient and respectable burgh, gave her
every advantage of education; but she was as
simple, artless and unaffected as the daughter
of an humble citizen could be. Her personal
loveliness was something rich and rare, when
the sixteenth summer shone on her bright eyes.
Her form was model for sculptor, so delicate
and roundly shaped-a dream of beauty seldom
realized on earth. The Count BeGisco first saw
her among her school companions, and was at
once conquered He was old, but in excellent
preservation, and when made up-as he always
was whenever he appeared before, not only
company, but his most intimate triends-he
made good figure in the most agreeable So
clety, and was highly acceptable, not only in
the saloons of the fashionable, but in all well
bred circles. His good nature and intelligence
commended him also to eminent men of all polit-
cal parties. One of his earliest and kindest
friends was Henry Clay, for whose talents and
geniality ne had an unbounded admiration
Indeed, he loved the great statesman and or
ator to degree rather uncommon among men.
But there was really strong tncture Of ro-
mantle sensibility about the excellent old Count
He was fond of simple pleasure, and pure and
innocent enjOyments. The attachment of chill
dren to him was extraordinary, and could only
have been conciliated by that genuine benevo-
lence and tenderness of heart which beamed
from his couDtenance and gushed out in his
cordial voice. He wooed and won the affections
of the most beautiful girl that had ever been
seen in metropolitan circles. His old diplomatic
colleagues lsughed-some good-natnred ladies
sneered-the beau monde wondered. but he had
his own taste, ana he made the sweet young
blooming Harriet Williams his wife.
Ii was splendid wedding, becoming the rep
resentatve of the Emperor of all the Russias,
but tasteful, chaste and elegant in ali its APP
pointments. Henry Clay gave away the bride.
This was 10 compliance with the particular re
quest of the Count, although her father, Mr.
Brooke Williams, was present. Mr. Buchanan
was the principal groomsnan, and Jessie Ben
ton (Mrs FremonO first bridesmaid. The tes-
Invites were 10 the highest style of that hospital
ity for which Count Bodisco was so long famous
among Us. He was devoted, some would say
doting husband, and she was a loving, atten-
tive, aud in every respect exemplary and ha. ply
wife, the light ot his mnnlicenJ home, the or
nanent OF his socis' clscle, the companion and
friend of his life, and tue chle solaee Of In,
last hours.
What world We live in What 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 hori-
zon! What strange alteration had time wrought
in few short years Here WAS the maguif
cent matron, on whose face | could yet discern
the lineaments that in earlier days filled al
hearts with tenderness, and even some of thai
peach-like bloom which was the browning grace
of her girlish complexion. And beside her was
gallant cavalier, in the full vigor of manhood
bearing names consecrated by associations O
history and romance-the Douglas, the Gordon
and the Scott. Who will say that reality ha:
not its romance9