The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-06-10
The President Married


The President Married
IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS CABINET AND
IMMEDIATE RELATIVES.
President Cleveland is now Il Benedict
On the evening of the End shortly after Z
O'Clock he gave up all the liberty, freedom,
and destinations connected with bachelor
hood and took upon himself all those re-
sponsiblities delegated to man in welded
life. The step had been contemplated by
the President for some time past, and the
act was near cOnSumation ere it became
known that he entertained any ideas of en-
bracing matrimony. 1t is only few
weeks since the announcement of this en-
gagement was made public in an indirect
way, and not a week has passed since he
confirmed the truth of the report. From
that time up to Wednesday evening the
movements of preparation looking to the
grand and happy finale have been rapid.
The steps and actions of the fair bride and
her honored husband have been chronicled
daily in the prints, and some of the publ
cations smack of intrusion into the sacred
precincts of domestic life. Had President
Cleveland not occupied the exalted station
he does, he and Miss Folsom might easily
have taken the vows of matrim0ny with
out being subjected to conspicuous notice.
But it is not often that President marries
while occupying the White House, and to
this and other causes may be attributed
the deep interest shown by the American
people in the marriage of their Chief Mag
istrate. While their wasno general parade
or display connected with the performance
of the ceremony, and it was comparatively
private marriage still, all thesruround-
ings were rich, beautiful and attractive,
and in keeping with the wishes of the
contracting parties.
The decorations were of an elaborate
character and in the language of one Of the
oldest employees, lit never presented a
handsomer appearance. y The various
public gardens in the city and many phi
vate conseryatories contributed their
choicest plants and flowers to lend their
beauty and fragrance to the scene OF
couse the blue room, where the ceremony
was performed, occupied the principal
attention of the decorators. Their work
was certainly we'll done. 1t was trans
formed into a yeritable bower of beauty.
The decorations of the private dining
room, where the wedding collation. was
served, were also of an elaborate character
The main table decoration was full
| rugged, three masted ship, composed OF
| pinks, centaurea, egana, roses and pansies
displaying the word ''Hymen. 1t rested
on mirror representing q lake. the shores
of which were composed Of different
varieties of selaginellas and tiny pieces oil
coral. The surrounding land was repre-
sented by banks of jaqueminot roses. The
national colors hung from thema mast, al
| two small white flags with the monogram
&c. r." in golden letters hung from the
other masts At either end of the table
resting on mirrors, were handsome vases
containing long-stemmed hybrid roses
| The mirrors were festooned with asparagus
| tenuissimus interspersed with loose roses
! In the corners of the room and i'll the
| windows were groups of palms, crotons.
calladiums, and some plants in bloom
| The four handsome sideboards were suita
| bly, decorated with the choicest foliage and
| Towering plants, and the mantel was &
solid bank Of roses.
The ease room and the red and green
parlors were decorated IN the style usual at
| receptions and state dinners. The east
pearance with its groupings of tropiea
plants, masses Of exotics, and brilliant
| illumination. Festoons of smilaX were
gracefully suspended from the large
chandeliers. and beautiful garlands orna
mented the four pillars upon each Of whief
was conspicuously displayed a large flora
shield, composed of choice white and rec
roses, violets, crysanthemums, &C., repre-
senting the national-colors. To the usua
decorations of the main corridor were
added four extra groups of palms an(
foliage and Towering plants.
| SCENES ABOUT THE MANSION.
At S O'Clock Col. Lamont ordered all thu
| gates of the park in the rear of the eXecu
tive mansion to be locked, and he further
ordered that no one should be allowed il
there. The regular police force at thu
executive mansion was assisted by a de
, tail of officers from the several precincts
many of whom were in citizens dress, ant
were scattered about the grounds an(
buildings. Shortly after 5 O'Clock peopl
began to arrive, at first singly, then il
pairs, and, as TIE hour of I approached
they sme in large numbers. The oblec
| tive loint of the crowd was naturally thu
portico. AL who could located themselve
as near to it as possible. The ladies, WHIT
formed the largest part of the assembly
seemed more than anxious to get nea
enough to the portieo so as to get {
glimpse of the distinguished guests as the.
arrived.
The crowd examined everything crltl
cally about the grounds, the front Of thu
building, and all coming within their no
tice,
One man in the crowd saw flags lying Of
the Treasury, War. Navy, and State build
ing, and on the Department Of Justice
| but the flag that usually flies on the pol
on the top of the White House was not t
he seen. This fact was noticed BY tn
neonla and all sorts of comments followed