New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-26

The Gorgeous Wedding OF Dr. DE M ortie
and ssiss Downing. AT Wash'ngton-
Grandeur Among the Colored People
Costly Presents.
Washington Dispst. to New York Herald
The long anticipated matrimonial affair
in high colored circles came off this evening,
and was, all in all, q very fine affair. 1t was
originally intended that the ceremony should
be pe rformed at St. Johns Episcopal Church,
the parents being of the Episcopal faith.
The invitations, to the number OF hve nun
dred, were sent out, and all the arrange
ments were perfected to comply with the
original programme. It was now discovered,
however. that canon of the Church pro-
hibited the marriage within its walls OF
person who had been divorced. 1t appears
that the groom had been married, and had
procured a divorce in Chicago, ne being a
citizen Of Illinois. Owing to this lmpedi-
ment unexpectedly presenting ltseii, IL was
which was to have the services per-
formed at the parents residence, &C
cordiug to the ceremonies OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop j.
N, Brown. of the African Methodist Church,
was invited to officiste. AS early as half
past seven O'Clock quite crowd OF women
and children assembled in front of the resi-
dence OF Mr.. Downing to witness the
guests as they arrived. Although the hour
liked was eight O'Clock, it was fully half an
hour after that time before the ceremony
begun. About one hundred ladies and gen.
tlemen, the elite of colored fashion aud high
life, were assembled in the front parlor.
Among the more prominent persons present
were Senator Harris, of Louisiana; Senator
Revels of Mississippi Jacob Dorsey, of
Philadelphia; Fred Douglass, Professor
Wilson, cashier of the Freedmen's Savings
Bank; Rev. Sella Martin, DIR. Purvis, Henry
johnson and Charles Smith. The bridal
party now entered the room, the bride rest
ing upon the arm of her father, the groom
supporting the brides mother. The grooms
and the bridesmaids came after in the fol-
loving order: W. Ferguson, with Miss Il. M.
Downing; c. L. Mitchell, with Miss K. 6.
Jacobs.
The bridal party arranged themselves at
one end of the parlor, Bishop Brown facing
them. The guests gathered around. The
ceremony was then performed. This being
finished, the usual interchange of civilities
passed A string band engaged for the oc-
casion WAS missing, and did not put in an
appearance until an hour after the marriage |
had ended and the visitors had begun to |
arrive. |
The bride, Miss Cordelia Downing, |
daughter of George T. Downing, of the well |
known caterer, is a young lady twenty-one |
years of age, petite in figure, and of more |
than Ordinary beauty. Her wedding toilet |
consisted of heavy MORE antique, round |
point lace, and train three yards in length, |
white veil, head-dress of orange blossoms, |
diamonds and pearls. The bridesmaids |
wore white tarlatan pulled, white satin |
paniers, and pearl ornaments. The groom, |
Mark r. De Mortie, was born in Virginia, |
of colored parents of French descent. He |
is at present engaged in business in Rich |
mond, Virginia, where he is one of the own. |
ers of mandatory OF oil OF sassafras, and |
in Chicago, Illinois, where he is OF the firm |
OF John /. Jones & Co., real estate brokers. |
Mr.. De Mortie is about thirty five years Of |
age, of fine figure, and peculiarly intelligent
and pleasant face.
The array of presents was large, and some |
were very costly and elegant, useful and or
nsmental. very fine ring, with twelve |
diamonds, epcircling large ruby, was the |
gift of the groom; also ring with cluster
of nine diamonds, from MIR. Washington,
brother-in-law to the bride; ring with
solitary pearl, from Senior Percy, Of Cuba
another ring from Senior Melendez, with five
diamonds; from Mrs. Kate Brown, a set of
silver dessert spoons, butter knife and mus
tard spoons; from Saidee Y. Williams. of
Yonkers, N. Y, two napkin rings; Mrs.
stand for carver and fork; Mrs. }.
G. Evans, of New York, beautiful evening
fan; Mr.. Bishop, OF Annapolis, butter
butter knives; Miss Rebecca Downing, a
cream lade; Miss Georgiana Downing, q su.
gar spoon; Thomas Downing, napkin ring;
Mrs. P. A. Williams, cheese knife; Mrs.
Proctor silver castor; Miss Lyons, small
stand of frosted glass; I. p. Saunders,
of Hartford. Connecticut, set OF corals; z.
II. B. Saunders, of Hartford, fruit ladle,
very handsome; W. I. Mitchell, Of Hart.
ford. bronze vases; Miss Tott, beautiful
pincushion Mr.. and Mrs. George Washing
ton, Jr., pickle fork; Mr.. LIE Barnes, bouquet
vases; Madame Daubet, set of onyx and
gold pins and ear rings; Senator Revels. two
heavy napkin rings; MIR. and Mrs. White,
set of saltcelars; Thomas s. Boston, sugar
spoon; Euhie Watson, of New York, set of
tea spoons; Madame Jebert, tortoise shell
and pearl; Marie Boynton, Of New Orleans,
pair of very elegant Chinese vases; Mr.. and
Mrs. Daniel Brooks, butter knife; Miss Es-
lex, sugar spoon, and Mr.. and Mrs. O'Fake,
sugar spoon; Mr.. Chsrmock, tea spoons;
silver cake basket; MI. Montague, two
silver candlesticks; Mr.. and Mrs. Glover, of
ostOn, work box.
In addition to those mentioned George I.
Downing and lady, the parents of the bride,
g ave full set of china, containing the
BRIDES initial. A very fine assortment of
ces was also presented. After some min
otes passed in conversation the guests re.
tired to an elaborate supper, prepared in al
ceiling being made up of American flags.
After supper, the music having arrived,
dancing fol o wed and was kept up well into
the morning. The couple will remain at
The parents residence for several days,
when they will visit New York and Chicago,
spend the summer at Newport, Rhode
Island, and next winter at Richmond, Vir.
,inia.
The Tribune ON Mcfarland