Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-07-18

Ia loA, WHIC ouO Noo SpChuiHS OhN
winter of 1884 in Beverly. 1t decribes
a wedding in Mardin, Eastern Turkey,
and gives an account of rather novel
bridal tour:
TocAT, JUNE 18th, 1885.
We are having an unexpected delay
here, in this city, where Henry Mastyn
is buried, and this affords me an OPP
portunity to write some letters / ought
to have written month ago. If | am
not mistaken l sent a postal from
Harport and promised longer account
of the wedding which took place May
14th, and now am going to try and
put myself back four weeks, and write
as fully as would have written then.
1t was real June day. The earth
was fresh and beautiful, made so by
heavy shower the night before. Roses
were in bloom-our beautiful Damask
roses from which they make the Otter
of Roses. These were our chief deco
rations with smilax and little
white oxalis, which was delicate and
graceful. Mr.. and Mrs. Gates and
Cassie Pratt were the decorating COM
mittee, and they made the sitting-room
where the ceremony took place, and
the dining-room down stairs where we
lunched look beautiful.
The American flag was draped in
one corner of the sitting-room. We
marched from the hall arm-in-arm,
and took our station under it. We
sat at first, for-partly to please the
natives-we had arranged lengthy
programme. At first Mr.. Dewey read
selections from the Scriptures and very
beautiful and appropriate they were.
Then "God is Love, His Mercy Bright
ems" was sung. A prayer i'll Arabic,
by the Mardin pastor, followed, and
then we stood while Mr.. Andrews per-
formed the ceremony, which was beau
tiful. His prayer, especially, was very
touching. AT the close of the prayer,
he placed one hand in each of ours
and pronounced the Mosaic benediction.
We came into the room about IL
o'clock, and after the ceremony, there
were few moments for congratula-
tions, before going down to lunch.
There were 81 Americans present,
including children, and about 10 ma
tives, the pastor, two teachers and
their wives, the teachers of the girls
schools. etc.
The wedding was a plain one. No
cards, no ring, no wedding dress, etc.
the dress [ expected to wear has now
arrived in Marsovan, and | presume
the ring will be there before we are.
We are seated for lunch at little
tables and had jolly time. Yacob
laid himself out on the lunch and he
and those who helped him did them
selves credit, in every way. Olive
says there wasn't ga jar" in the kitch-
ell. She says the wedding, on the
whole, was beautiful one to remem-
Der.
Aside from the articles of home
manufacture, we were treated to some
of the Gates wedding cake. Miss
Anna Felician sent us some very nice
sweet meats made in Trebizand. We
were favored with one other guest
from abroad, Mr.. Edwin Bliss. of Con-
stantinople. He and Mr.. Gates made
fun for us three times a day at any
rate when we gathered abont the
table.
/ have forgotten to mention the gen
eral reception to the natives, in the
evening which did get to be little
tiresome before it was over.
We had a quiet, social evening and
after going to our room were surprised
by serenade by five of the gentle.
men. 1t was just what we needed to
cap the climax of very pleasant day.
We left Mardin on the Monday fol-
:, lowing the wedding, reached Harport
Saturday evening, where we spent
three days, leaving there on Wednes-
day in wagons. Miss Wright met us
at this place, she is going to Marsovan
to be associated with Miss Fritcher in
the girls school.
Siras was the next place where we
came across missionary friends, and
we had an exceedingly pleasant day
there; but came on to this place for
Sunday. And this brings me to the
cause of our delay here, which will
leave until after lunch.
THURSDAY EVENING.
We left this place Monday morning
at about $50 o'clock, June 9Th. 1t is
impossible to hear or see much when
in an "araba" (wagon), and we knew
nothing of the approach of four armed
Circassians until they rushed past the
door of our ARABIA, with yell, stopping
our progress and pointing revolvers at
the drivers and ourselves. We were
then about three hours out of the city
there was no village nearer than three
quarters of an hour and no travellers in
sight and we saw we were completely
in the power ola desperate set of ruff
fans. None of our party were armed
and if we had been, it would have been
worse than useless to resort to arms.
One robbeY cafale to the door of the
wagag on my side, and, pointing his
revolver at Mr.. Smith, demanded
money. He gave him one purse, con-
tanning small change for the road.
Another soon appeared on the other
side, took his watch and ordered him
to disnount. The ruffian removed
Mr.. Smiths oyercoat and was about
TO take his coat also, but Mr.. S. said
this is necessary to me" and so that
vas left. He then searched him, but
did not find his other purse which con-
tained about $40. One or two of our
men said to the robbers, you will not
find much money, for they get it of
their friends as they go along" The
robber then turned to me and | dis
mounted while he searched me, taking