Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-31
s Brilliant Wedding.


of Adams Express, and Lieutenant Charles
RidgcIy Barnett, of the Udited States Army,
10 holy wedlock Without exception, it was
an occasion that surpassed 10 brilliancy, taste
and dislinction any social event that Baltimore
society has known in many years. Fifty splen-
did weddings might occur, 70 expenses and
pains hight be spared and the most notable
people of the nation might attend, but 10 not
one might SO mary happy circumstances con
spirc to bring about the graceful. unpreten.
tiou9, aud yet stately effect of the wedding last
night. The livcIiest anxiety was manifested to
get cards OF Invitation to this Interesting nup'
tial ceremony, and even the streets outside the
church were blocked with fashionable throDgs,
while on side streets the carriages were drawn
up in lines BY dozens. 1t is not so much to be
wondered at that those who swept jublantly
into the church with their cards OF Invitation
were esteemed favored beings by the non in.
vited. If there be faith in folklore tho day
was suspicious, for they say:
Monday for wealth.
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday best day Of all.
Thursday Tor crosses,
Friday fer losses,
Saturday DO luck at all.
The scene within the church was brilliant
beyond description. Not only was every seat
| taken in be galleries above and the pews be.
low, but every aisle was closely crowded and
| rows OF chairs were placed 10 front of the chan
eel. The seats 10 the middle aisle were re-
served for special guests, Who came 10 full re-
caption dress All the lights of the picturesque
| Gothic cdGce were agoW, and . low nurmur
of expectation mingled with the fatter Of fans
| and the rustic Of silks. Previous to the entry
| of the party, the organ kept up soft prelude.
In the tiers Of the gallery aud the seats of the
side aises lovely faces, under marvellous bon
nets Of satin and rich garolure Of various col
ors, and above muffrrs of lace, or swausdoWn,
or fur, looked eagerly toward the door or scan'
ned the parti dressed couples that came in con-
tinualIy.
Among those occupying places Of preference
NAV be instanced General Van Vlet (whosc
long snow white hair and beard and brilliant
uniform made him a conspicuous persouage):
| Mr.. Craig, of the Uoited States Signal Office;
H. B. Pant, President of the Southern Ex-
press; MIR. and Mrs S. Nj. FELTON,. of Philadel
phis; Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Mcpherson; Col.
f. H. Warner, United States Army; Mr. aud
Mrs. Giingham, Of Philadelphia Mrs. Lowry,
of New York. Mrs. Eccleston and Mrs. Har
per, of Germantown, Pa. General McCool,
United States Army; General Barry, the CON-
mandant. and other officers Of Fort McHenry;
DR.. aud Mrs. Helmutt, of NeH York; MIR.
VIM. Y. Walters, Mr. and Mrs. K. Stockett
Matthews, Mr.. g. q. Fulton and daughters,
Mrs. David L. Bartlett, General Audenreid,
| United States Army; Mr.. aud Mrs. Walter B.
Brooks, Mrs. Mccormick, tho Misses Lucy
aod Ruby Mccormick, Miss May Brooks, Hon.
John l.. Thomas, Collector of the Port; Mr.,
and Mra Is. L. Newcomer, Judge Bond. Mis-:
Shields, Of Chicago. and Miss May Taylor, Of
| Virginia.
The toilets Of the ladies were marvels oil
taste and elegance. White satin was the rule,
with real flowers to relieve them, and rosebuds
and lilies of the valley were the faVOrite head
dress. Some Of the young ladies wore opera
c0aks OF itch colors aud Gne fabric thrown over
their shoulders while in church. Some OF tic
most beautiful young ladies of Baltimore soci
city were present; but it remained for the thirty
or forty army othcers-gcnera!s. colonies and ST
Ohio their brilliant uniforms, with sword:
and sashes and Glitterlug yellow cpaulettcs and
algrettes aud scarlet stripes, to give martha
and picturesque air 10 the assemblage. Nov
there was hutler, add the whisper went al
over the church in a second :-"Thcre arc Mr.
and Mrs. Hayes"
President lIsyoa and his party, who came
from Washington in \ special train, numbered
iorty.onc persons. The President and Mrs
Hayes came Up the aisle in the easiest and mos
unprcteDding fashion imaginable, and Wher
they took seats commenced to chat With those
Oh the seat 10 the rear oil them. They were
daughter, Miss Sherman. lie was in full uni
form. including broad yellow sash across the
shoulder ending 10 tasscIs Amoog those who
occupied seats near the President were Post
master General KY and Mrs Key, Assistan
Postmaster General Tyner and Mrs. Tyner
Senator Blaine, Senator Window and Mrs
Window, Comptroller Of the Treasury KNOX
and Mrs. knox, ex Vice President Schuyler
Co(ax and Mrs. Collax, and Hon. Marshal
Jewell and Mrs. and Miss Jewell who came al
the way from Connecticut to attend the wed
ding. at little after half past S O'Clock thu
bridal procession entered, and as they passed
the doors choir of forty voices broke into the
stirring strains Of the wedding chorus from
"Lohengrin." There were six groomsmen. al
officers of the army 10 full uniform, including
sword and scarlet plumcd hat. There were six
bridesmaids, all in satin, With long, flowing
trains deckcd with flowers and lace in charming
protusion. Tho procession moved slowly tt
the rhytbmica music. The groom escorted
Mrs. Shoemaker, while the bride walked with
her father. AS the party reached the chaDce
the groomsmen moved 10 line on one side and
the bridesmaids in another opposite.
The effect VS. peculiarly enjoying and pleas
ant to the eye. The 2roomsnen were Licutcn
aut E. w. Bass, OF the Uoicd States Eogiu
GERS; Lieutenant John Mcclellan. Lieutena OF
W. II. Coffin, General D. D. Johnson, Licutcn
ant A. l.. Morton and Lieutenant 3. h. Rob
erts I'll Of the Fifth United States Artillery.
The bridesmaids we're Miss Merriam Shoemaker.
Miss Blanche Shoemaker, Miss Emma Me-
Cormck, Miss Nellie Shoemaker, Miss Mary
| Brandt and Miss Matthews.
Rev. DR.. Randolph assisted Rev. DR.. Ecces-
| ton IL the ceremony. A somewhat quaint
feature Of the bridal party was the presence il
it of "od Nanny Oracle" the colored nurse,
who nursed Mrs. Shoemaker when girl, and
| has since nu7sed her daughters, and is now
nursing her grandchildren. Mamma Oracle
carried Mrs. Shoenakcr's trail on her wedding
daV and Inuat do tho Same for hnr dang hfara