The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-01
THE estate" MARRIAGE.

THE STATE" MARRIAGE.
Unprecedented the incident is, and this fact
alone might excuse some degree of crudity
and extravaganza in it's treatment. Mr.. Cleve-
land will be first President who was ever mar
ried in the White House; almost the first who
was ever married during his term of office.
The circumstances, too are singularly roman
tic. We have had in the world royal mar
riages enough, with every device of pomp to
lend them attractiveness; but next Wednes-
days wedding shines with the superior light
of honest love. Nor could anything better
illustrate the simplicity of our institutions
than the entire naturalness of this romance of
the White House from its beginning to the
happy climax. Throughout the President ap-
pears as the citizen, winning his bride by
merits that made him lovable to her whose
love he sought, and claiming his own without
the interposition Of official go-betweens, or the
perfunctory gayety of royal nuptials. -New
York Commercial Advertiser.
Thank heaven, the day for such rot is soon
to pass, when, we most devoutly hope, there
will be no more Of it. If there is single
romantic or pretty feature in all this ill-bal
anced match we have been unable to detect
it. 1t is not pleasant to speak of this thing
as it deserves, but it is such perversion of
all that has been considered proper that it is
next to impossible to keep still while the
toadies of large and small degree make a
mockery of marriage. What have we here
that should inspire anybody with sentiment?
A man, on one side, fifty years of age phleg
matte, set in the selfish ways of old bachelor
hood, and apparently incapable of any senti-
ment in connection with marriage to bright,
pure girl, scarcely out of short dresses. Miss
Folsom, to all appearances, is very nice girl,
but barely across the line from childhood. 1t
were natural, and it were in consonance with
the best order Of things, that she should be
welded to one nearer her own age than a man
who has, years ago, sucked the juice
out Of the orange of life, and who
would much more appropriately wed her
mother. In truth, until the official announce
ment was made, the Journal was Of the opin-
ion that the President had intended to marry
Mrs. Folsom, who is six years younger than
her prospective son-in-law. That would have
.been an alliance that would have commended
itself to all as one entirely fitting. 1t would
have been dignifed, and in keeping with the
position he holds and the age he has attained
When Miss Folsom was born Mr.. Cleveland
was man thirty years of age. Let US hear
no more of American girls going to Europe
to catch titles tackled to ancient and decrepit
nobodies. There is now an example nearer
home. Is there sensible man or woman in
these United States who imagines for minute
guardian had he not become PRESIDENT
There is shame in such bar
gain that everybody recognizes when
ever young girl allies herself to man
twice or thrice her age because he is wealthy
or can give her social prominence. 1t is any
thing but credtable to the Presidents good
sense that he has consented to this thing 1t
can but lower him in the estimation Of all SEN
sible, dignifed men. There is something
positively shocking in the idea of an immature
young girl surrendering her life to such a
union. 1t is not saying that Miss Folsom has
not readily consented to the marriage but it
is a shame that her mother and her ancient
guardian have not used their maturer iudg-
ment in her behalf. But in the name of de-
cency and maidenly modesty let US hear no
more of Sentiment" in connection with this
matrimonial trade. The less said of it the
better for the credit of American womanhood
and the dignity that is supposed to come to
man with the passing of years.