The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-26
The Power of the Imagination


The regular Washington correspondent of
the Evening Post sent us despatch yester-
day morning SAYING that all newspaper
men''were to be excluded from the White
House and its grounds during the wedding
ceremony OF the Presidents daughter. La
Ter IN the day we received despatch from the
Associated Press, which, from its style, we
imagined was written by court reporter
lhs morning Journals. all of which print long
accounts OF the wedding, repeat the assertion
ol our correspondents az to the exclusion of
reporters, with one exception, the Herald,
whlch, as matter of course, saws: ssUnusu-
81 precautions had been taken IT, prevent the
auhisslon OF representatives of the press i'm
washington, and your correspondent was the
only Journalist present." 1t appears from
another passage in the Herald despatch that
this young man was present-if he was pres
ent-under the special charge of Senator
Cameron. The Times, however, confirms
the report of our correspondent in an editori-
al paragraph, in which it suggests that the
Associated Press despatch was wholly ilnagi-
nary. Under all this cumulative evidence it
seems just to assume that everv account of
the wedding published is wholly fictitious,
except in so far as the names of persons ave
concerned. The reports, therefore, may be
spoken of without disrespect to the young
couple (who deserve sympathy for the pub
lustration of the powers OF the journalistic
imagination, when inflamed by the spirit of
"Jenkinsism.'
The piece de resistance of this feast of fam
cy is the general press despatch. One would
imagine that the writer had never seen a
flower, nor gentleman in evening dress.
He tells us thai the ''Aowers, with their fra
GRANGE, added to the charm OF the interest
ing OCCASION" and that "there was nothing
IN ha Qf IN
groom, which was, of course, in the
latest style, with the conventional
white necktie'' Tie ''latrst style'' is
very happy phrase. 1t was among the
wedding presents, however, That this writer
found topics worthy Of his pen. Two finger
rings, he says, "are probably worth. $1,000
each," and lace pocket handkerchief, he
assures us, is of the Largest sze," 'such as
sell for $780," After this the mind is pre-
pared for anything, and no one is astonished
to read a full list of the shops where these
goods were bought.
The special correspondents serve the dain-
tiest of the feast. The Tribune says that
1.-THE ceremony was impressive, aud to the
President and Mrs. Grant appeared most
touching. To the bride and groom it ap-
peared simply as a matter of ceremony (sic),
having no particular significance" The writer
ofthis despatch touches the stars in hunkey
impudence, however, when he asserts that
lit was a souice of regret and surprise (sic)
that none of the relatives of Mr. Sartoris
were present, and, so far as known, they sent
no present to the BRIDE
The Times is satisfied with description of
the accuracy with which the little daugh-
tiers of Marshal Sharpe, OF this city, and Col
lector Casey, Of New Orleans, threw two
slippers at the pair as they left the Presi-
dents house, ''one striking the bride and the
other her husband" Throwing the slipper
is an old English usage, and therefore the
| description is not out OF place.
The World shows its lealty, as is its Gus
tom, in alliterative phrase. Diamonds were
| thick as dew" it says, which sounds well,
| even if the phrase is somewhat ambiguous
| The ''long eight-button gloves Of the brides
| maids, how ever, awakened its highest ad-
| miration.
The Her0lfs account is the best of all, and
is written in the pCeIicaT VEN. III raKeS up
the reader, so to speak, before breakfast, and
does not drop him until the bells OF Wash
ington have stopped ringing in honor Of the
event." 1t says that before the arrival OF
the bridal pair "a delightful murmur of con-
versation was maintained by the ladies, coca
sionally broken by zephyr Of laughter that
served to ripple the mumuriDg waves and
melt out with musical echo" Nevertheless,
it says, Senator Logan stood around with
his hands in his pockets and a scowl shadow
ing his dark features" perhaps because he at
that moment caught sight of the Herald re-
porter In this account the bearing of the
President and his wife is described more at
length than by the Tribune. 1.-The Presi-
dent" we are told, ''looked steadfastly at
the floor, while Mrs Grant held her
TWO youthful sons by the hand and
heroically struggled to suppress the
mingled feelings of emotion that naturally
agitated the maternal breast" The family
picture is further adorned by the remark that
Erred Grant gazed at the officiating clergy
| man just as you would expect 10 see him gaze
| if engaged in charging an enemy's battery"
| As the young man never has charged an
enemy's battery" this may be regarded as
the apotheosis of the imagination.
If we may be permitted to make a sugges-
tion; we should say that none OF these writers
fully improved their opportunities. There
are other articles of clothing usually worn OF
such occasions beside those mentioned. Why
distinction? If ''eight-button gloves" are
important, why not the size OF the shoes?
And surely we ought TO have been told how
many times a minute Logan breathed while
he was showing. So long as the whole histo-
ry is imaginary, why not have given us all
the particulars?
The Creatures of the effete despotsms' of
Europe will have fine time when these SIM
pie aud judcious accounts of this republican
wedding reach their shores. They will dis
Germ therein the pure spirit of democratic in
stitutions, and may learn therefrom what
wealth OF culture and good breeding we pos
sess. We bespeak for Mr.. Sartoris and his
wife the consideration of the foreign press
when they speak Of this latest blossoming of
Jenkinsism.-N. Y. Post.