Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-25

Hitches ut the Altar.
From Chambers Journal.
recent hitch at the altar occurred at a FASH
ionable English watering place. large party
had assembled in one Of the churches there to
witness the nuptials Of the niece of prominent
citizen, when 1t was discovered at the last mo-
ment that the Registrar, who had the license In
his pocket, had not arrived. At the suggestion
| of the officiating clergyman. the ceremony was
delayed for short time, while one Of the party
went in search Of the Grant Registrar His
Office was the first place visited; but he had
gone out and nothing was known of his where
abouts. Thence the messenger repaired i'm hot
haste to his residence which happened to be
some distance ont of town; and meanwhile the
party at the chapel becoming impatient other
scouts were dispatched in various directions.
At length it was ascertained that the worthy
Registrar had left town by an early train. and
as it was impossible that he could return i'm
time, the wedding had to be postponed till the
| following day. The nitch, it appeared, had oc-
CURED through the Registrar having received
no ntimatiOn of the day and hour of the in
tended marriage
FckIeness, on the part Of both grooms and
brides, has been a fruitful source of bitches at
the altar. There is story told of rustic swain
who when asked whether he would take his
partner to be his welded wife, replied. with
shameful indecisiOn: Eyes, I'm willin'. but I'd
much sight rather have her sister," An equally re-
markabie instance, which must be authentic, is
narrated by Bathgate minister. In this case,
hitch had occurred at the outset, through the
absence of witnesses and the bride herself had
surmOunted the Difficulty by going for two
friends. one OF them being her cousin, a bloom
ing lass, somewhat younger than herself. When,
at length, the parties had been properly ar
ranged. and the minister was about to proceed
with the ceremony the bridegroom suddenly
said: ''Wad We bide wee, sir?" .'Oh what is
it nOw?" asked the exasperated clergyman
"Weel, replied the vacillating groom, 81 was
Just gaun to say that if it wad be the same to
you. wad rather haze that ane' pointing to the
bridesmaid. "A most extraordinary statement
to make at this stage; am afraid it's too late to
talk of such thing now" rs it," returned the
bridegroom, in tone of calm resignation to the
inevitable ''Weei, then, sir. We maun just gang
The gentleman who 80 inopportunely declared
his preference for the sis ter of his bride is only
one of many who have made similarly eccentric
replies to the all important question. One
nasty individual, on being asked if he would
take the lady by his side to be his wife. testify
responded: I'm course will; that's what came
here for. On recent occasion an &c centric
bridegroom. when interrOgated i'm the usual
fashion as to the acceptance of his bride per-
sisted III responding, to the confusion and be-
Wliterment of the officiating clergyman: Yes.
for fortnight:' a declaration which was the oc-
casion of no little trouble and perplexity though
the difficulty was ultimately overcome.
\ certain famous African explorer was once
the victim of one of those extremely distressing
bitches which amount to the complete and final
separation of those who would otherwise have
been united for better for worse He had
fallen deeply in love with a young Greek
maiden whom he met in Crete. He afterward
declared that never before nor since. had he
behed so sweet and beautiful creature. Hay
ing sought out the American consul. he revealed
to him the state Of his heart. The consul who
had himself married Greek lady. babe him not
despair. took him forthwith to the house of his
lnamorata, and presented him to her mother
who was widow. The negotiations were con-
Quoted successfully; at the end of a week he was
all accepted lover; and in fortnight. the day
for the wedding had arrived. All this while he
had seen the young lady once day. always in
the presence of her mother: and on the day be-
fore the intended marriage he had been permitted
for the first time to take her hind and to
imprint upon it a chaste salute. The hour ap-
pointed for the wedding found the bridegroom
dressed for the ceremony and awaiting the
happy moment. There enter to him at this
juncture three Greeks, whom he has never seen
before and an Interpreter, who introduces them
as brothers of the bride-elect. They produce a
parchment. which the interpreter explains. 1t
is deed of settlement which binds the BRIDE
groom 10 pay so much year to the mother and
to each brother, and so much to his wife and to
disburse the first installments on the spot In
vain the unlucity traveller explains that he is
worth nothing. and cannot pay. The brothers
look da@gers, the interpreter irowns. and. the
scene closes with the arrival of the consul. who
with difficulty gets his prOtege out of the
clutches of his iniportunate wOuid-be relations
and ships him off to Athens. He never saw his
beautiful Grecian maid again.
We will conclude with "a case in which some
what serious obstacle to the celebration of a
marriage was removed at the eleventh hour by
the Intervention of benefcient flash of clerical
jealousy. In a western Scottish town one eve
nlnG. there We're so MANY marriages that ali I'M
fortunate couple who had arranged to be united
IL the minister's house, We're unable to procure
u cab to convey them thitber till long past
the hour appointed; and when at last they stood
at the door of the manse and rang the bell. it
was approaching midnight. A loud and some
what indignant voice presently responded
from a bedroom window upstairs. demand
ing to know who was there. The stua-
ton was briefly explained; but the voice
that of the Rev. Mr.. W, minister
OF fhe first charge of the Abbey church-proved
memorable. Il can't help it," was the ultima
tum received; ''you. must go home and come
back Tomorrow" "Oh, Mr.. W. We ken we
Gamma gang hame without bein married. struck
in i female voice. But what would you have
me do? Call up the whole house because of
your bun@lng:" ''Could you no daet over the
window, sir!" Nonsense; it is impossible"
Ion, ye mcht. sir; We ken we attend the Abby
on your day, and no on Mr.. B-'s" This final
stroke OF policy proved irresistible. for between
Mr.. W and Mir. B. minister of the second
charge of the same church, there subsisted
good deal of professional jealousy The win
dow was put down. the gas lighted. the door
opened, and the marriage of the triumphant
dipIomatists duly solemnized.