Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-09

.ss...ss-"....s.s.....".
At half past seven o'clock last evening
the crowds of well dressed and enthusiast
tic persons who had assembled in the vicin-
ity of the Academy doors, was really extra
ordinary. There was a crush of setins and
velvets, marvellous combination of per-
fumes and torrent of small talk.
"What will she wear, wonder?" asked
one young lady who evidently believed that
marrying and giving in marriage was the
chief business of life.
"What kind of a fellow is the bride.
groom; is he solid?" remarked an excited
dry goods clerk.
81 suppose Mr.. Talmage will give them
bis blessing and send them home in truck
at the Expense cfIthe church" suggested an
individual whose irreverence was only ex-
celled by the blooming glare of his red
scarf
And here let it be understood that an ad-
vertisement had been inserted for some
days,in which it was stated that any respec-
table couple who wished to be married free
of cost and in costume of a hundred years
ago, on the stage of the Brooklyn Academy
of Music, would be provided with the nee
the managers Of the Tabernacle,
free. To this advertisement there were
tifty-two answers, and it was necessary,
Notwithstanding the desire for notoriety
always to be found among a free and
enlightened American puoIic, to select
one couple. The happy twain who
drew the lucky number were Jas, Willitts
and Minnie Willetts, at Stanford, Conn.,,
who held until last night the relation of
cousins. Costumes supposed to represent
the New England of one hundred years
ago, but which in reality were suggestive of
every land under the sun for fifty years ante
cedent TO the battle New Orleans were loaned
by masked ball cestumer, who was de-
cidedly anxious TO have his name printed
ia the Herald, but who must, for obvious
reasons, remain forever in obscurity. For
one hour the happy couple were to be gid
ed with the efulgence of borrowed plumes,
and then they were to relapse into their nor
NAL and bucolc Connecticut apparel.
The doors Of the Academy, which has q
very handsome interior, swung open and
displayed the stage, decorated as it would
have been in Athens or Alexandria 1.5O0
years ago, for the games that were to fol-
low. The crowds of Well-dressed men and
women and boys and girls swarmed in and
took their seats. A burst Of music, wild
and triumphant, broke from the brazen in
struments in ths orchestra, and a dead
silence followed for moment, only TO be
succeeded by the half-whispared gossip, so
dear TO all feminine hearts.
Then solemnly up the main aisle-shall
it be called an aisle under the circumstan-
ces-proceeded heterogeneous procession
of about thirty persons clad in the costumes
of hundred years gone by. First came
the bridegroom, raw country lad Of TWEEN
ty years, in a blue velvet coat trimmed
with silver binding, white satin vest
edged with gold and small gilt buttons, and
white silk stockings and smalls. His hair
was powdered la Louis Quinze, and he
wore a queue and black velvet shoes,
with buckles. From his throat depended
a lace handkerchief, such as the elder
Adams, most perfect gentleman Of his
time, might have worn. Then came the
bride in a gorgeous pearl satin dress
trimmed in all the fsnciful trickeries of the
Palsis Royale, and loOped up with orna-
ments. 4 point lace veil covered her love-
" shoulders, and her dark brown hair was
powdered to the consistency of the summit
Of Mount Blanc on wintry day. Her fair
hands were encased il borrowed white kids,
and she wore the white high-heeled shoes
Of the Regency. "Isn't she sweet" cried a
hundred voices. Following her came the
best men and the bridesmaids-ths former
having their hair powdered and wearing
White silk stockings and breeches, buckles
on their shoes and laughter in their
eyes, and the bridesmaids wearing
Dolly Warden and Vatican dresses loop
ed up, their hair powdered la Pompadour,
and their fine shoulders adorned with
salmon-colored aud white crepe shawls.
The coiffures were surrounded by large
horn combs, such as our great-grandmoth-
ers wore, and the entire party wore look
of blissful and eager expectiOn. The names
of the ladies and gentlemen attendant on
the bride and bridegroom, who followed
them arm-in- arm, were as follows: Mr.. E.
Latham and Mrs. McFsrlane, Mr.. W. II.
Haws and Mrs. w. II. Haws, Mr.. DeF0r-
est VOORHEES, and Mrs. Clark, NJ. d. Seeley
and Miss Matilda HAwxhurt,- delicious
aud blooming blonde; Mr.. and Mrs. Wen
dover, Mr.. and Mrs. Nichols, Mr.. Ames
and Miss Sukey Clark, Mr.. Henry Latham
and Miss Stoutenburg, Mr.. A. G. Jones
and Mrs. Waller and Mr.. and Mrs. Paul
Stout. Mrs. Clark was most distin-
guished for conversational ability, and Mr..
Jones for gallant and knightly bear
ing, although his armor did not fit
him vel. As the happy party reached the
base of the stage, at the end of the passage,
the orchestra struck up Mendelssohn's mag
nifieent "Wedding March" and the bride
groom and bride, followed by all their at
PENDANTS, mounted the stage and formed q
wide semi-circle, extending nearly the whole
width of the proscenium, the bride and
bridegroom remaining IN the centre, faced
by the brilliant audience. Rev. Dewitt
Talmage assembled the stage, a pale, nervous
and intelligent-lOokiDg man, and silence
having been obtained, the bride aud BRIDE
groon, at a signal made them by the pastor,
advanced alone from the semi-circle and
stood before Mr.. Talmaga, who was
ready to marry them. Mr.. Talmage,
who necessarily had bis back to
the audience and was dressed in
plain black clothes, began the marriage ser
vice of the Presbyterian Church in low
tone, and the responses we're made IN an
indistinct manner by the happy couple, who
were married without ring, according 20
the Presbyterian fashion. "For better OIL
for worse, until death doth you part" whis
pered Mr.. Talmage, and then, not feeling
himself, from his deep emotion, equal tt
the task, be said to an cid gentleman with
white whiskers, "Mr. Latham, please kiss
the bride for me-" The old gentlemai
rushed forward with the agility Of noun
tain goat and smacked the bride, and al
J the bridal attendants shook hands, seYera