Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-01
ARRIED BY SIGNS.
An Interesting Wedding OF Deaf
Mutss in a Brooklyn Church

n iuii'urSss wolutng or unusual In,
terest took place last evening at st.
Luke's Episcopal church, on Clinton
avenue, near Fulton street, the con-
tracing parties being deaf mutes.
The announcement of the fact thai
deaf mutes would be married had the
OF gathering n large company, who
packed the church long before
the hour stated for the cere-
nony. The bride was Miss Leonora
Q Gray, youngest daughter of Mrs.
Elizabeth M. Gray, of this city, anu
is a graduate of the high class of the
New York institute for Deaf Mutes,
and has for years been a decided fav.
orite Ia deaf mute society of this ci sy.
The groom was Mr.. John w. Pratt,
of Middietown, Conn, who Is a grad.
uate of the American asylum at Hart.
ford, Conn, which was the first insti.
tuition of Its kind ever organized in
the United Ssates. Curiosity prompted
a number of gueots to attend the GER.
emonY, but those who expected any
great variation from the regulation
evening marriage service were com,
PEELED to go away disappointed. As
at any wedding upon entering
the church, ushers were in at.
tendance, but instead of being deaf
and dumb, as some of the guests ex.
pected to find them, they were entire.
ly the opposite. Tnere were, however,
among the company a number of deaf
mutes, and while the ushers uere
unfamiliar with tho sign language,
whenever q person entered the church
and began a mysterious movement of
the fingers, he was immediately
escorted to a front seat Irrespective Of
his relationship. A party of four
fashionable sttired young ladies,
whose beauty was sufi ,lently %noticea.
BILE to secure the immediate attention
of the four ushers, entered the center
door a few minutes before the hour for
the ceremony. instantly four dalnti.
~ gioved hands went up and the del.
icate fingers began to move with grace.
full rapidity. The sympathy of the
ushers was aroused at once, and they
politely escorted the fair guests bs-
yond tho satin ribbon Into q front
pew; but as each lady, as she entered
ths gest, gave the usher q captivating
smile and a sweet Thank you, SIR"
the ushers retired not as happy as
they might have been had they not
been the Victims of a joke. OF course
a Wedding of this character could not
but have a ludicrous side. The hour
for the ceremony was 8 o'clock, and
at precisely that time MI. A, II. Mes
sitter played the "Wedding March,"
and the bridal party marched down
the aisle, the bride and groom baing
out of step, not hearing the music.
Tho rector of the church, Rev. George
r Van Ds Water, and Rev. Thomas
Gallaudet, of St. AIMS church,
New York, we're awaiting their
arrival at the chancel. The bride was
attired In white satin with long train,
and the tulle veil YVES caught with q
wreath of orange blossoms. The
groom was dressed In full evening
dress. Rev. MI. Van Ds Water read
a portion of the regular Episcopal
marriage service, d.. Gallaudet inter
preting 1t with the sign language as
he progressed. Dr.. Gallaudet per.
formed the remaining part of the
service, speaking and interpreting by
motions. When that part of the
service was reached where the minis.
ter says, SD you take this woman"
ETC., the groom bowed hts head. DR..
Gallaudet interpreted as fast as he
spoke. He Is a son of the Rev. MI.
Gallaudet, who frat introduced the
sign language In this country, and who
founded the first institution of that
sort In this country In 1917. The
bride was given away by her uncle.
The ushers were Mr.. j. q. johnson,
OF ibis city; Mr.. Charles Pratt, o
brother of tho groom, of Middleton,
Conn; Mr. Henry N. Tiff and Mr..
Irving 81. Tiff, of New York. A re.
ception followed the ce remony at tbs
residence of the BRIDES mother, No.
lila Fulton street, where q large
company of desf mutes gathered and
expressed their congratulations with.
out saying a word.