Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-28

WASHINGTON, May p.
Your correspondent regrets that a
chain of unfortunate circumstances
compels him to apologize for being
unable to give a succinct and de-
tailed account of the most interest
ing wedding that ever took place
within the walls of the White
House.
In the first place, the immaculate
dress suit, ordered from New York
for the occasion, failed to put in an
appearance in time; secondly, the
odor of the presidents veto,"
haunted everything so tenaciously
about the White House, that it OPP
pressed our Western nostrils; and
thirdly, Mr.. sartoris and your cores
pondent, differed upon the question
of the Geneva award, and standing
upon our dignity, We refused to COM
promise American independence by
accepting any favor from "JOhnny
Bull.n On account of this series OF
concentrations, the BEE was de-
prived of its full share of sweetsthat
usually follow its persevering and
indOmitable energy.
However, it is only necessary to
say that without compromising it
self the "BEE" obtained all the in
formation desired concerning the
interesting event. The wedding
was intended to be strictly private,
and but very few WashingtOnians
were invited. The larger portion of
guests were from other cities; and
the members of Congress shared
with the rest in the way of prohibit
ton, with but a few isolated eXcep-
tons. The entire newspaper fra
ternity were s'taboOed," but never
theless, there were at least a half
dozen reporters on hand, who hal
surreptitiously managed to get hold
of invitations and attended as in
vited guests, in full dress, white kid
gloves, and lavender ties. Who
ever heard of euchering the press,
and this attempt of the President
at seclusiveness, resulted in utter
failure. The White House was dec
grated most gorgeously with flow
ers, the windows at each end of the
east room containing flower pots to
the ceiling, the centre of the room
hanging frola the ceiling vas a
large and beautiful bell made en-
tirely of flowers, and presented by
New York friends. Under the bell
was a raised dais, upon which the
ceremony was performed. A large
space opposite the grand entrance
to the room was divided off by
stringing across the room white
satin ribbons, and theinvited guests
were restricted behind these barriers.
At ii o'clock the bridal party
was ushered into the east room pre-
ceded by the bridesmaids, who
stepped to each side, and the Presi-
dent with his daughter on his arm
marched down the centre followed
by Mrs, Grant and the younger
children. Col. Fred Grant and MI.
Sartoris then stepped upon the
raised dais, and the Rev. MI.
Tiffany of the Metropolitan Method
list Church, performed the marriage
ceremony.
Mrs. Grant looked upon the scene
with struggling emotions; and
clutched the hands of her young sons
as a partial relief, to the feelings
that fill a loving mothers heart
upon such occasions. The sOon-to-
be bride, unmindful of the serious
importance. of the step she was tax
ing, was animated and happy. The
father with that Impenentrable look
and expressionless face, bent his
eyes to the floor. Mr.. Sartoris,
with the ease and abandon of an
English snob, received the bride
from her fathers arm, with an air
of victory-a sense of English
proves.
Col. Fred Grant tried to look the
soldier, under the conscious of i'm
pending danger. Sartoris followed
the officiating divine in q clear, au-
dible tongue, and betrayed no hes
itation, and made but n mistake.
When the minister said. "Nilt thou
take this woman to be thy welded
wife," SartOris replied, ~ do"
Using the wrong verb in this con-
nection. Several young ladies, in
innate friends of Nellie, were moved
to tears, and the impressiveness of
the ceremony, with the attendant
surroundings, made the scene one
unusually affecting. There is no
question but that this separation
and exile as 1t were from home, of
this cherished and lovely daughter,
is a serious blow, and crushing
event to both General and Mrs.
Grant. 1t is said that when Sartoris
first proposed this matter to General
Grant, he would consider it favora-
bly, only upon the condition that he
(Sartoris) should become an Ameri-
can citizen, and reside here i'm Amer
lea. This Sartoris agreed to and
purchased large landed interests in
the West, and made preparatory ar
engagements to make America his
home, but the sudden decease of his
brother made it necessary for him