The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-03-04
Special Correspondence of The Wing.
AN OLD BACHELOR's LETTER MARRIAGE OF
EX GOV. GRooME-A BRILLIANT ASSEM-
BLAGE IN CHRIsT's CHURCH.

AN OLD BACHELoR's LETTER MARRIAGE OF
! EX GOV. GRooME-A BRILLIANT ASSEM-
| BLAGE IN CHRIsT's CHURCH.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 90, 1875.
EDITOR CECIL Although welded
to my bachelor habits instead of to a wife,
and watching anxiously the multiplying
gray hairs that betoken the sober period of
discretion, still | am not growing old in
feeling, and can still enter with enthusi-
asm into the joys that inspire younger
hearts. Like most of my class, have too
long specialized upon matrimouy, until l
fear the period of profitable investment has
passed, never to return. l have not made
the final venture, having been restrained
therefrom simply by the want of courage
to look a woman in the face, and ask the
dreaded question. Although not a fool
who spurns Hymen's gentle powers, yet |
am of Il procrastinating turn in serious
matters, and am given to contemplation
only of matrimony, lest an error of mo-
ment of my life might not find atonement
in the daily penance of the balance thereof.
share, however, in the amiable weakness
of the gentler sex, in that | confess a pas
sion for weddings in which others are made
happy, and am not churlish withai, nor
covetous even of the joys | am not des
tined to share. Nor have | sympathy to
waste on the antiquated bachelor, who,
when asked if he had seen his friend mar
ried. replied, that he took no pleasure in
| witnessing executions, although he had
once seen a man hung. On the contrary.
never miss the opportunity to witness the
wedding of a friend OF an acquaintance,
hoping thereby to gain wisdom by the ex-
ample, and therefore awaited myself of the
invitation given me, and from a quiet nook
! in Christ's Church, on Tuesday evening, |
witnessed with interest the wedding of my
friend Elk Gov. Groome. | was one of the
earliest in the church. AS sat in my soil
tary corner, SO sensibly impressed was
with the loneliness of my position, that
verify believe. had Il willing woman of
even ordinary attractions approached me at
that moment, there would have been two
weddings celebrated instead of one. Four
very affable gentlemen, Messrs. Seilman,
Mackall White and Thomas, acted the
usher to perfection, and showed to the
most eligible seats, scores of the pretty
girls for which Baltimore is celebrated. |
thought fer a moment it would be delight
full to be an usher, but my mudeSty checked
the reflection, and my personal awkward
ness confirmed the rebuke. Score after
score, group after group, poured into the
church, all faces wearing pleasant ex
preston of anticipated pleasure. Chat
ting pleasantly, but in subdued tones suited
to the sacred edifice, the young and smiling
faces around me, formed charming tableaux
| of hope and happiness. A pretty girl came
and sat down beside me. She scarcely no
ticed me, doubtless supposng me mar
ried man, but | could not manage my
tongue, and ventured to suggest "that
getting married must be pleasant thing,
and what interest ladies seem to take in
it." Casting an inquirng look at me, she
pleasantly replied. You 3 ould know all
about it," Should know Was it an
appeal to my experience. Or suggestion
for my future benefit? Neither meaning
satisfied me, as the answer seemed to i'm
ply that d" looked " what really was not.
Feeling discouraged by my attempt at con-
versation, rs the girl evidently treated me
in a manner far too fatherly to please me,
had almost overlooked the fact that the
church was already nearly filled to its
capacity with the representatives of Balti-
more's best society. Looking at my watch
| found the hour half past seven, when a
stir indicated the arrival Of the bridal
party Mrs. John c. Groome, mother of
the Governor, attended by Mr.. Samuel
Groome of Philadelphia, Mrs. Kennard,
sister of the bride, with Mr.. Wright, of
Easton, followed by Mr.. and Mrs. Albert
Constable. Col. and Mrs. Clinton McCul-
Tough, and Miss Pierce, Senator and Mrs.
Knight. Mrs. DR.. Black, of New Castle,
attended by Gen. Andrew Pennington,
with other prominet relatives of the Ex-
Governor, passed up the aisle of the church
and occupied reserved seats near the chan
GEL Very soon they were followed by the
happy parties themselves, the organ play
ing Mendellsohn's wedding march, and the
lights of the church in fullest blaze, Miss
Alice L. Edmondson, daughter of the late
Col. Horace Edmondson, Of Baltimore,
leaning upon the arm of the Elk Governor.
All brides look pretty, but it is no flattery
of Miss Edmondson. to say that she is
handsome blonde, and was richly attired
in white-corded silk, with orange blossoms
and tulle veil The Groome looked as he
always does, happy, hale and hearty, and
| thought the highest compliment could
pay him. would be, were the father of
daughter, | know no man to whose keep
ing | would sooner trust her happiness.
Miss Nelson, of Howard county, with his
Honor Mayor Latrobe, attended as brides
maid and groomsman. The impressive
ceremony conducted by the Rev. William
Kirkus, assisted by the Right Rev. Bishop
Lay, of the Easton Diocese, being over,
the happy couple passing from the church.
were driven to Raruum's Hotel, where they
were to dine with their immediate fami
lies.
The conclusion of the ceremony was the
signal for the large assembly to dispense.
One agreeable feature of this cannot but
notice, the absence of 1.-THE curious" crowd
who, in large cities. have a chronic habit
of intruding upon all such occasions. The
large audience present was mainly COM
posed of the friends and society arquaint
ances of the parties, who gave evidence of
their gentility and good manners by an
entire absence Of the disagreeable stare )"
so frequently directed at the flor the mo-
ment unhappy bride, thus compelled to
run the gauntlet of 30 many pairs of pry
ing eyes. The ceremony was certainly a
pleasing one, unmarried by a sensation, or
disagreeable incident.
Remaining in my seat until the church
was nearly emptied, went back to the
loneliness and darkness of my bachelor
quarters, to rumnate upon matrimOny in
| general, aud to shower upon the Ex-Gov-
ernor and his bride, my friendly benedic-
| tionS. BACH.
Elkt0n Public School.