Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-03
NO. 3.
Mistellanfuus.
A NOTABLE LONDON WEDDING.
A BRAVE WINS THE FAIR.

Radiant with happiness were Millais and
his daughter Effie Grey as they came up
the aisle of st. Peters last Friday morn.
ing, the twenty-first birthday of the bride.
Passing along amid friendly faces, the
6ther. without the smallest misgiving.
handed over his daughter to Lieutenant
James, one of the heroes of Ulundi. to be
loved and cherished till death should them
part. To family so united and Affection
ate as the Millais marriage conveyed no
idea of parting; on the contrary, it was
simply the addition of new member to
the group-one in every way worthy OF
their confidence. on whom they were con-
ferring the right to love and honor their
daughter. Thus gayly. even mcrrily. the
wedding procession fell in before His
Grace the Archbishop of York, and the
Hon. MIR. Byng. Six young maidens fol-
lowed the bride, the last two Of whom
were the most diminutive bridesmaids
ever brought to their little knees before
an altar.
They were arrayed in white satin, with
ruby-colored velvet trimmings and hats to
match The brides dress was white
point. consistently with which the veil was
three magnificent diamond stars presented
to her by Sir Henry James, NJ. p, no re-
lation but an old friend of the family.
On her neck hung the diamond pendant
given by her mother-in-law, Lady James.
The bridegroom looked not less cheerful
than the bride His father. the Lord JUS
tice. while beaming on the world, no
doubt found his thoughts occasionally
wandering from the present gay scene,
where his son was surrounded by every
thing suggestive of life, to that far other
and still recent scene on the battlefield
in Zululand. with not little sense
of thankfulncss for his safety. In
stead of the conventional breakfast a ball
was given in the evening. From the mar
bic fountain on the staircase to the lofty
studio boudoir drawing-room, supper
room and back to the fountain again, oil
was beautiful. In deep recess, with
back ground of red Genoese velvet, stands
Michael Angeles statue Of Leda and the
Swan.
A mysterious light falls on it from
lamp above. The divan encircling this
gem of Roman art is the favorite haunt
for stray couples, and not less beautiful
than the cold antique were the living
groups below. Flowers were in great
profnsion; Mr.. Henry Irving sent in some
hampers full the night before, and from
many parts of France they came pouring
in. The decorations of the wedding cake
were of zeal white flowers, even to the
"tracery,n which was exquisitely minute.
1t was delightful to see the keen apprecia-
ton shcwn by Millais for the kindness of
those friends who came forward to do hon.
or to the occasion. For the most part cell
ebrites to the the world, here they were
the natural domestic intimates Of the
well-loved II. A. Warm OF heart himself,
the manifest affection i'm which he and his
are held by persons of all ranks touched
him deeply. The presents numbered
about three hundred, many costly, all in
good taste taken collectively no mean
expression of the respect and esteem in
which the two families are held.
Among the minor episodes of the we'd
ding ceremony were The uuaccountable
m odest Of Mr.. William Black and the
somewhat indecorous, not to say ill-man-
nered. character of the notice bestowed
on and not wholly enjoyed by Mrs. Lang
try. It may be mildly remarked that the
seats in St. Peters Church were obvious
ly intended for quite another use than to
be employed as elevated perchcs for pec-
pie to ascend, in order that from such
coigns of vantage they might gaze with
fragrant curiosity on wholly inoffensive
private gentlewOman who had come on
the like errand with themselves.
| live now in hope to witness the early
discontinue of that guilty Of that ghastly
and spasmodic inflictiOn the wedding
breakfast. The Millais have c0urageously
laid the axe 10 the root Of that prcposter-
Gus tree. Which trust will speedily utter
ly cease to cumber our social ground. Il
was a charming substitute they rendered
for it-a ball that sparkled with a brillian-
cy Of quite exceptional radiance. 1t was
a field-night of what has come to be called
professional beauties All the rival
queens were in the arena; and some dis
passionately critical and impartial OBJ
servers had ample confirmation Of the view
they have consistently held. that there ex-
lists much greater and sweeter beauty out
side than inside the, pale Of the conven-
tional and accepted beauties. Prettier
roses lurk under the foliage of private life
than the blooms that faunt the sun and
challenge admiration as il it were their
right, Still the universally recognized
beauties were charming: Mrs. Langtry,
in palest possible pink, trimmed with
black, looking Immensely well; MRS. Z.
West, with a bouquet like o'clock tea
table. quite the biggest ever saw; Mrs.
Wheeler, Mrs Macintosh and Lady Wal
ter Campbell, perhaps the hadsomest Of
all.
| Mr.. Millais's studio was turned into
ballroom, and it must he admitted that .
beautiful studio makes delightful ball.
room. Iill long after midnight the rooms
were too crowded for much dancing; but.
indeed, in throng so varied, so composed
Of notabilities Of every kind, SO brilliantly
kaleidoscopici in its many sided picturesque
ness, it must have been felt BY most hat
| it was q waste Of time to dance. You may
dance any night. Not twice in lifetime
will you see 50 noteworthy m assemblage
as that which thronged Mrs. Millais's re-
ception rooms on the night Of Friday last.
Nor is given to many men the good for
tune to slay brace Of Zulus ipso nsassa,
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