Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-09

Within the past few months there have
been an extraordinary number of elope-
ments reported-many of them in "high
life" or at least in emnently respectable
circles of society. The latest case is per
haps the most sensational and widely
talked-of, which has occurred in II long
time, because the young lady is the daugh-
ter of one of the leading Episcopal clergy
men of New England, Rev. DR.. Harwood of
Trinity church, New Haven, Conn. Miss
Honora, the young lady in question,
is described as very bright, pretty, accom-
plished and hitherto correct in her conduct,
and there is considerable discussion con
corning the reasons which could have
moved her To take the foolish step. A
somewhat romantic and improbable eX-
PLANTATION is that the young lady commit.
ted the act to punish Il Mr.. Pruyn of AL
bany, to whom she was engaged and about
to be married, for former interruption of
the engagement, to the renewal of which
she had consented only that she might
make her resentment more effectual. The
Mr.. Hemingway, who is now her hus-
band, was an admirer whom she met at
Mount Desert and who had been paying
her some attentions, though not sutii-
GENTLY marked to arouse the suspicious of
the family. He is a broker in New York,
has property, and the explanation of the
case given by some of his and her friends,
is that the young lady found that she
really loved him the best, and that hay
ing, under considerable parental pressure,
consented to Il renewal of her engagement
with Mr.. Pruyn, she after all found that
she could not give him her heart with her
hand, and so at the last moment gave
both to Mr.. Hemingway. However all this
may be, she certainly did very wrong i'm
concealing her intention from her parents,
in permitting her engagement with Mr.
Pruyn to 20 on till the wedding cake
was baked, the bridesmaids dresses
made and many Of the wedding pres
ents selected; and in contracting
Il hasty marriage, without the coun-
tenunce, consent aud presence of her
parents and friends.
The frequency OF Opponents, and of
marriages OF mere children ia varuu-
parts of the country, enlrrcc5 the vieN
urged by many thai ST Cter martag,
laws should he enacted in this country.
The safeguards against opponents an
hasty secret marriag, ; are much -rcaj,
in England, and in most / urO. .car con.
tries, than IN this county. just VIVA
provisions are most needed, we would uo
undertake to say; but s.lne stric,cr re-
quiremeuts of proper publicity, of Ie4,.
certificatlon and record, OF the prescuc,
of parents, guardians or responsible,
friends and some limit of suitable hour
of the day, within which the ceremon!
must take place, would obviously tend To
prevent hasty and secret marriages.
Greater uniformity of marriage as well -
of divorce laws, throughout the States is
obviously desirable i'll the interest of good
morals, and OF permancnce and happiness
in the married state. The laws should
guard foolish couples against the conse-
quences of their want of discretion and
with Il tolerably uniform and careful set
of marriage laws throughout the country,
haSty and secret marriages, of which the
parties thereto commonly repent III
leisure, would be far less frequent.