The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-20
mouldings, and the surface was about half
the height of the chancel rail.

the height of the chancel rail.
POPULAR AGTrATIoNs.
The arrival at the church of Rev. Mr..
Wiley, one of the officiating clergymen,
caused great excitement in the congre-
cation, and everybody rose to get better
view OF the expected couple. But the
alarm proved false. The flutter was, how
ever, renewed when Rev. Dr. Taylor, Rev.
Mr.. Wiley and two other clergymen en-
tered the chancel in clerical robes and
took their seats, awaiting the arrival of the
man and woman soon to be Joined in the
bonds. The Organist then striking up q
lively strain, the audience, like the indi-
vidual spoken of by the ancient mariner,
became excited:
The wedding guest here beat his breast.
He heard the loud bassoon"
rHE ARRIVAL.
But now the excitement became more
decided. They had actually arrived. La
dies mounted on the seats of the pews and
gentlemen stood on tiptoe. Of course,
the little bridal party were so small, that
they could not be seen excepting by those
who occupied the end seats of the middle
isle; but as they emerged into the open
space before the chancel, exclamations of
delight and astonishment filed the house.
as when one of Edge s most brilliant pieces
OF pyrotechnic art burst in its full efful-
gence upon the admiring spectators gaze.
Commodore Mutt led the way, gallantly
escorting most tiny bit of feminity-the
bridesmaid, little Miss Warren the sister
OF the bride. Next came Tom Thumb,
gallant and gay, with his little bride upon
his arm; and then came the relative and
friends, and were seated in the front pews
THE CEREMONY.
In the meantime, the four tiny speci-
mems of humanity ascended the little plat
form, while, without any delay, the offici-
ating clergyman, Rev. Mr.. Wiley, began to
read the marriage service.
And here, be it known, that however
farcical and absurd the whole affair may
have appeared hitherto, from the moment
that the words, "We are gathered toge-
ther here in the sight of God and in the
face OF this company, to join together this
man and woman in holy matrimony"-
from the moment we say, that these
words were said, everything was quiet and
reverent, and the entire service was list
ened to amid the most profound attention.
The bridegroom repeated with clearness
and distinctness the words set apart for
him, and the bride-who was ssgiven
away" by her father, tall and very re-
spectacle looking old gentleman-also ap-
peared to be perfectly familiar with her
part of the routine. Both bride and
groom went through the ceremony with
perfect ease and self-possession, but yet
manifested an earnest seriousness, which
showed to them, at least, it was no farce.
The slightest levity on their part would
have made the affair repulsive; but this
was carefully avoided.
They were dressed most charmingly-
the bride completely enveloped in mag
nifcent veil, which fell over rich white
silk dress, never looked so well, while the
little bridesmaid, in white dress, clotted
with tufts ofpink lace, and with pink roses
in her hair, attracted nearly as much at
tentiOn. This little lady, now sixteen
years old, is as much smaller than the
bride as Commodore Mutt is compared
with Tom Thumb.
Commodore Mutt, by the way, wore
very solemn expression of cOuntenance
during the service, but performed his part
in very elegant style. None of the par
ticipators in this novel affair appeared at
all alarmed or agitated. There was no
weeping, no fainting, none of the senti-
mental excitement customary on such oc-
casiOns. Rev. DR.. Taylor pronounced the
benediction. The service was otherwise
affectively read by Rev. Mr.. Wiley.
THE DEPARTURE
After the ceremony, the little creatures
marched down the middle aisles, entered a
carriage, and were driven down Broadway
to the Metropolitan Hotel. The carriage
was surrounded at once by the eager crowd
now numbering about 5000 persons
but by the aid of the police was not de-
tanned. At the hotel, during the after
noon, MIR. and Mrs. Stratton held recep-
ton, and exhibited their bridal presents.
AT three O'Clock the bridal party left the
reception room, and retired to their pri-
vate parlor, when the company soon after
dispersed Upon leaving the hotel the
guests were supplied with wedding cake,
over two thousand boxes being thus dis
tributed. In a parlor adjoining that used
for the reception were exhibited the bridal
presents. The jewelry and silverware
were displayed in glass cases.
Last night, at 10 O'Clock, the New York
Excelsior Band serenaded the bridal party
at the Metropolitan, when Mr.. Stratton ap-
peared upon the balcony and made the fol.
lowing speech to the large assemblage in
front of the Hotel:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-I thank you
most sincerely for this, and many other
tokens of kindness showered upon me to-
day. After being, for more than twenty
years before the public, little expected
at this late day to attract so much atten-
ton. Indeed if had not become fami-
IL man I shOnld never haua known how