Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-05-07
THE FIRST WEDDING,

THE FIRST WEDDING.
A great many years ago-long be-
fore it had entered into the mind of
man to build the Tower OF Babel, or
lay out the city Of Buffalo, or do
many other foolish and wicked
things--there dwelt in a distant land
a gentleman called Adam, whose sur
name was Firstman, who became en-
amored of beautiful young lady
known as Eve B. Guiled. His at
tentions appear to have been accept
ed and reciprocated by the young
lady, and she became convinced that
he was ''the only man whom she
could ever love-" if we may Judge
by the following communication
which she made to John Milton,
who followed the rather singular vo-
cation of advertising things ''lost
and found upon her Fathers es-
tate: Confirmed then / resolved
Adam shall share with me in bliss or
woe; so dear love him, that with
him all death 1 could endure, with
out him live no life"
This being equivalent to the mod
est declaration that the lady is will
ling that her lover should begin to
"pay her board" arrangements were
Immediately made 70 have the union
consummated, and in the absence of
any official clergyman, the ceremony
was performed in the most simple
and unostentatious manner, in the
beautiful garden of Eden. The
auspicious moment having arrived,
the groom took the white and little
hand of his bride, unadorned even
by a plain gold ring, and, affection
ately imprinting upon it kiss, rev.
erently said: "This is now bone of
my bone, and the flesh of my flesh,
therefore shall man leave his father
and mother and cleave unto his wife,
and they shall be one flesh" No
cards. Thus was joined in the holy
bonds of wedlock the first couple of
which we have any knowledge
There was no "rotund, spectacled"
father-in law, no interested mother
in law, with her legendary smelling
bottle, and no dear unmarried aunt
present.
Nor was the ubiquitous jenkins
there to "write up the affair."" so the
readers Of the Daily Post Diluvian
could not take IN, with their coffee
and cakes, next morning, detailed
account of what was done, and said,
and worn, at the wedding, much to
the regret, doubtless, Of the jolly
Post Diluvians. But Jenkins, had
he been there, would have found it
difficult to get up sensation article,
for there was an entire absence of
all obtrusive display and reckless ex-
travagance upon the occasion re-
freshing to contemplate. The outfit
of the groom was plain and simple,
perhaps the most noticeable thing
about it being the absence of the
"dress coat" prescribed on such oc-
casions by our "best society" The
bridal costume was marked by per-
feet simplicity and the absence of
all expensive and extravagant adern-
ments. There must have been some
thing very becoming in this costume,
as certain ladies in fashionable life,
at the present day, initiate il as close
lxya rncotllo IsF,,n AAnoo :,
Dispensing with the practice new
SO prevalent, of indulging in a we'd
ding tour, and not caring to publicly
proclaim themselves as newly-mar-
ried by the occupation of the bridal
chambers in the hotels and on steam
boats, the happy couple settled
quietly down to enjoy the cares of
married life in the Garden of Eden,
and were noted for their plain and
unpretending manner in living
They kept no carriage, hired no
opera-box, gave no costly entertain
ments, but contented themselves with
the simple, inexpensive and satlsfac-
tory pleasures of enjoyments Incl
dent to their circumstances and sur
roundings. Adam was good hus
band; he spent his evenings land a
good many of his days) at home; he
had no business engagements "down
street. after dark, nor did he belong
to club. He spent his evenings at
home with his wife, whom he never
humilated by coming home late
o'nights with a"brick in his hat" and
very ambiguous dialect. He did
not even "color meerschaum," but
retained in his cheeks the color which
else had been transmitted in deeper
hue to the bowl of the pipe. His
sleep was undisturbed by the effects
of dissipation or the nightmares of
the stock market; hence was calm
and refreshing. Undoubtedly he was
an early riser and loved "the dewy
morn"--as we are sure he did "the
gentle Eve" Eve was, doubtless, a
very beautiful woman. Milton testi-
fies that 'grace was in her steps,
heaven in her eyes, in every gesture
dignity and love-" She deserved,
if any of her sex ever did, the credit
of caring little for the Establishments
of dress. Her tastes and habits were
eminently domestic, and for her in
truth there was no place like home.
Her amusements were few; she
cared little for an opera or ball, but
she probably attended the matinees
of natures songsters in the open air,
where ushers, programmes and re-