The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-30


train is borne up by the Lady Edith Somerset.
All note the grace of her inclination as she
bends her head in respect to the Queen, when
well within the choir. She is followed by her
mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, whose
train is borne by the Lady Geraldine Somer-
set And then, touching all hearts, come the
children of the Queen = little fair-haired
Princess Beatrice, led by her graceful sisters,
Princess Helena and Louisa, and little Leo
pold and Arthur, hand in hand in Highland
dress, looking about them with the happy un-
constrainedness of childhood No wonder
the Queens heart, already moved perhaps by
the noble music of Beethoven, is sadly stirred
at the sight of these fatherless ones, and that
for the first time since she has entered her
closet a visible trace of sorrow is observable
on that firmly sustained face. The shadow is
lighted up again by smile Of motherly greet
ing as the fair young Princess of Hesse ad-
vances in her yet tender and innocent beauty
by the side Of her husband, Prince Louis,
with her traln-bearer and attendant, followed
at as short an interval as her trailing train of
purple velvet viii allow. by the Princess Roy
al of Prussia, leading her fair-haired little son,
in highland garb, like his little English uncles.
Her train of velvet, covered with magnificent
lace, and bordered with ermine, is borne by
Countess of Bruhl, and the procession is con-
cluded by the royal suite.
GNlhANCE Of IaE hAff1 fAih.
Again the notes of drums and trumpets
swell into the stately sounds Of the royal bands
and the organ laundering out Mendelsshon's
March, from "Athalia," the youthful bride
groom enters the choir, and bows deeply to
the Queen. He wears the robes of the Garter
over generals uniform, and is supported by
his brother-in-law, the Crown Pridce of Prus-
sia, and the reigning Duke of e-Coburg,
who outshines all the foreign royalty and no.
bility Of the show in his thew and snew, in
his free and gallant bearing, and liz the manly
beauty of his bronzed face. The Prince has
taken his seat on the hdut pas, with his sup
porters little behind him. He has answered
his mothers smile of recognition with smile.
As he sits, IL is easy to see, by the frequent
turn Of his head, and his glances toward the
nave, that he like all others, is impatient for
her who is to come next-the crown and flow
er of this array of rank and splendor. He
has not long to wait. 1t wants quarter to
one when again the sound OF drums and trum-
pets has passed into the nave, and a hum of
expectation makes itself audible, and to the
massive strains of Handels ma -ch.from "Jo-
seph" comes the procession of the bride. Pale
in her maiden modesty, under the light shade
Of the bridal wreath and the cloud of her
white veil. her bridal nosegay Of white azal-
eas and lilies of the valley, the Princess Alex
andra moves along. and pausing, makes her
ItcptCtiul ftNtItDCt 10 the tyuttn, taxes
her seat in front of the altar, and then uprises
the Chorale, the composition of the Prince
Consort:
''This day, with joyful heart and voice.
To Heaven be raised a nations prayer;
Almighty Father, degn to grant
Thy blessing to the welded pair;
So shall no cloud of sorrow dim
The sunshine of their earthly days,
But happiness in endless round,
Shall still encompass all their ways''
Distinguishable among all the voices of the
singers is the wonderful organ Of Jenny Lind.
THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.
As the solemn chant ended the Prelates ad-
vanced TO the communion rails, and the Pri-
mate commenced the service with the usual
formula, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered to-
gether here In the sight of God and in the
face OF his congregation to join together this
man and this woman in holy matrimony."
There Is a solemn pause after that adjuration,
in which they are charged to answer if there
was any impeachment to their marriage, and
then, after moment, the Primate passed on
to "Wilt thou, Albert Edward, have this wo-
man TO thy welded vile, to live together after
Gods ordinance in the holy estate Of matr-
mony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her. hon
or and keep her in sickness and in health;
and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto
her, so long We both shall iive?r
To this the Prince rather bowed than res
ponded, his utterance was so indistinct. To
the same question, "Wilt thou, Alexandra
Caroline Maria, have this man to thy welded
husband?" the reply was just audible, but
nothing more, though, as usual, every ear was
strained TO catch it.
But TO the words--"l take the, Alexandra,
10 my welded wife, to have and TO hold from
this day forward, for better for worse, for rich
er for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love
and to cherish, till death do US part according
to Gods holy ordinance; and thereto plight
thee my troth," the Prince repeated clearly,
word for word, after his Grace, though now,
again, when IL was the turn OF the young bride,
she could be heard only 10 answer almost in
audibly, her cheeks were sufiused with GRIM
son flush, and she seemed very nervous.
To the question, who giyeth this woman
TO be married to this man." the royal father
of the bride only bowed and moved towards
the Princess who was removing her glove hur-
riedly. Then the Primate joined their hands,
and in clear, soft voice, firmly and deliber-
ately repeated the words: with this ring 1
thee wed, with my body thee worship, and
with all my worldly goods | thee endow; in
the name of the Father, Of the Son, and Of
the Holy Ghost. Amen" Then they rose,
while the Primate Joined their hands and said
the final words, "Those whom God hath joined
together, let no man put asunder"
The bride and bridegroom next Joined hands,
and, turning TO the Queen, gave more nod of
kindly friendship than bow of state, which
the Queen returned in kind. In another minute
the Queen, giving similar greeting to the
Princess, quilted the closet, aud the whole pa
geant went pouring in a gorgeous stream of
colors OF waving plumes and flaming jewels, out
of the choir.