Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
ODDITIES AT THE ALTAR.
Some of the Freakish and Fanciful First Steps
in MatrimOny.

Boston Globe.
Speaking of the many features which
enliyen the matrimonial market, we'll
known clergyman said:
sOne of the many remarkable cases /
recall is that of a beautiful young girl
who was married to a wealthy man of
three-score and nine. The acquaintance
was made at one of our theatres, where
Laura was engaged as chorus girl. The
brief acquaintance ripened into strong
regard, and finally they were married.
Laura after time tired of her aged part
ner and sought her old haunts, and on
any any pleasant day she might be seen
upon the road behind four handsome
coal-black horses, in her barouche, the
fashiest In the town, with some half-dozen
young swells. The husband looked upon
all these peccadilloes without word of
remOnstrance, and endeayored all the
harder to wean her from the evil infu-
ences which surrounded her. It was but
q few months after their marriage that
the wife, DESERVING husband and home,
took passage on steamer for London,
and arriving there occupied quarters with
a well known elocutionist, who had fgur-
ed prominently in the social world, and
who had sailed a week previous for old
England. The two were married within
few days by the queens chaplain, and
started for the coast for their honey
moon.
Con the first day the couple retired
at an early hour, but when morning came
the domestics found the husband of a few
hours stretched cold and dead across the
bed, small blue circle in the sorehead
where a bullet had entered. He had taken
his own life. The young mans family
made inquiries regarding the character of
the widow, and when the reports came in
so detrimental to her honor and reputa-
ton, she was sent out into the world to
fight its battles alone, uncared for and
unknown. The first husband became a
victim of grief and died, and the BRIDE
weakened by the forced designations, sur
vived him but short time, and the re-
markable career began so auspiciOusly, so
happily, ended in the bereavement of
three families.
"Only a few weeks ago a handsome team
drove to my door, and moment later a
lady and gentleman entered our apart
ments and asked to be married. The
lady was young, beautiful, and wealthy.
The husband to be was a common sailor,
the odor of tar still upon him, while every
feature showed barrenness of even Or
binary ability, I led the lady to another
part of the room, when | asked an ex-
PLANTATION. All I could get they were bent
on marrying, and if l didn't do it some
one else would, and at last the knot was
tied and the couple drove away. | have
since learned that zach returned to his
ship and took passage to Liverpool
where to-day the couple live in content
ment.
Another singular incident in my career
as a minister was the marriage of the
father of one of the most prominent pc
litical officers of the state. What makes
it more interesting is that the offspring
was not even aware that his parents were
lawful husband wife. While at a recep-
ton a few weeks ago I was introduced to
the man In question, and remarked that
years ago | had married his father to an
estimable young woman. The, son after
a moments reflection, left the house, say
ing he would investigate the matter, but
whether he did or not [ cannot tell. 1t
was years before that the husband, hay
ing buried his wife, retired in seclusion
with only & housekeeper to assist in the
management of the house, and they lived
as such for many years. One afternoon
a neighbOr visited me and enquired
whether l had married the couple, but l
knew nothing of their marriage and told
him So but it was only few weeks later
that | was visited by the husband and
his housekeeper, who expressed a desire
to be welded. Have you your certifcate?'
l asked. No; he had none with him, but
promised that if I would wait few mo-
ments he would obtain one, as he had
made application years before, and had
been granted his papers. He posted
home and returned with his certificate,
old and yellow with age, but the legal in
strument, and they were married on the
spot, and the son was the legal offspring
of that marriage.
L have met couples who would not be
married with metal rings, and have cut
circles from the groom's gloves to salts
fly them. | have known of the
church key being the substitute for a
wedding-ring, of clergyman's stopping
wedding service because the wedding
ring was diamond instead of the ordin-
airy band and of no end of trouble being
caused by wedding ring, which the bride
m1strusted to be brass, being placed on
her finger, and | recall an instance where
common curtain-ring answered the pur-
pose OF more suitable and costly one.
The question of fees is a most interesting
one, and in my experience as minister I
have received every sum from a silver
dollar to check for 800, and almost
every conceivable gift, from a copy of
the church ritual, elegantly bound, no
less portable but more valuable evidences
of appreciation. Matrimony is a grand
were taken you would enter it at once"