Omaha daily bee., 1888-01-25
edition of that morning, thus anticipating by
few hours the arrival of copies of the latter
at the large news stalls in London
A FRENCH WEDDING.
Blue-Blooded Royalists Hitchcd To-
pether For Life.

lTOpWiDht 1883 bu James Gordon Bennctt1
PARIS, Jan. 24.-TNew York Herald Cable
Special to the BEE. The Gontaut Biron-
Nirieu wedding, another ub-lieutenant, oc-
CURED this morning. Subs have been in re-
quest of late as brdegrooms, especially in
the Faubourg st, German, which has fortu-
natcly for itself given up marrying old or
middle age with ripe sixteen girhood and
blase manhood. The sublieutenant, who has
just taken himself wife at the age when
formerly scions of the French nobility had
only just begun to SOW wild oats, is the son
of the Vicomte de Gontaut Biron, ex x-ambas-
sador of France at Berlin a fine young fell
low, though needing few inches more to
make him beau sabeur, and,
what is more to the purpose
perhaps, to give him advantage
in point of height over his wife, which is
generally considered necessary in we'll
assorted couple But then, Mile. de Virieu,
or, rather, Nine. CASTOR de Gontaut Bron,
is more than common tall. The blood is blue
on the side Of the Nircus as on that of
Gontaut Birons, which is saying a good deal.
The Marquis and Marquise de Virieu come
of very old stock of courtiers and royalists.
Mile. de Virieu, as she entered the church of
Saint Clothilde on her fathers arm, looked
every inch vicountess, thoroughbred
from the crown of her head to the tip of her
white slippers, a little proud, perhaps, if this
is fault in one who is to perpetuate a noble
line and play an important part in society.
She walked very slowly, so slowly that the
resplendant susses in blue and silver had to
measure more carefully than usual the
solemn majesty of their steps. Her
long satin train hung in straight folds to the
ground and swept the carpet for a yard or
more in stately fashion. She bore her head
with its light crown of golden hair, in which
orange blossoms glistened, peculiarly erect,
disdaming the maiden shyness often assumed
for the occasion, and with the bridal veil of
mellow lace pendant from the chignon knot
falling over her face. Next walked the bride
groom. He too, is fair, with a light, spruce
figure, well set off by the hussar uniform,
the parblue doman, with branebourgs of
black and silver and the crimson trous with
side bands of blue. He gave his arm
to the Marquise de Virieu, much less inn
posing person than her daughter, soberly
attired IN violet velvet, with glimpses of very
pale mauve about the front. 1t was u long
and brilliant procession. Prominent among
the men strobe General Galliffet in full
one of the prettiest of the bridegroom's sis
ters, the Countesses de Hulst Fedekerke and
Talleyrand Perigard and the Princess de
Bcaman. The general always was a favorite
with the ladies, and see them craning their
necks to get view of him. Vicomte
de Gontaut Bron, the ex-embassador. wears
the red ribon, too, and if the general were
not there we should be specially interested
in him. There are some children, too,
CASTOR de Gantaut's nephews and nieces,
and o body of blue-coated hussars. Some
wear short jackets with astrachan collars
thrown over their shoulders, a decided i'm
provement, giving them jaunty ncck-or
nothing air which are lacking in the dol
man. Finally these have all settled them
selves into their seats in the choir, some of
the subs grouped picturesqucly in
the carved oak stalls, the bride and bride
groom are on their knees in front Of the altar
and the service begins. Mgr ID. Halst, n
prelate of the pope's household and "A connec
ton of the Gontaut barons, officated-an
aesthetic looking churchman, tall and gaunt
There is something very taking in the solemn
sound and gorgeous paraphernalia of Il
Catholic marriage, and the church of Saint
Clothildc is emincntly fitted for pageant
The dull January light had a hard struggle to
pierce through the stained glass windows
and the twilight is so deep by the choir
that the candles on the altar
and in the chandeliers burn with unaccus-
toned brillance. OF course there is the usual
dscordant note when the susses take each
couple of children in hand and pilot them
down the nave singing "Pour les pauvre de
la Parorisse" and the clinking of silver coin in
the bags, the congregations stealing a march
on the priests and are through long before he
has delivered his final benediction and have
left their seats and are crowding round the
steps which lead down from the choir, every
one eager to be first to congratulate the
bride and bridegroom and atfiX his or her
signature on the register as near the head of
the list as possible. At last the pro-
cession files out, Castor de Gontaut
leading his stately bride. Tongues
are loosened, the murmur of many voices fills
the aisles and the sacristan hurredly pro-
ceeds to put out the lights economy being a
virtue that the clergy think as becoming for
them to practice as for the laity. After the
ceremony the Marquis and Marquise dc
Virieu were at home to their many friends
and acquaintances in the somewhat dismal
mansion which they inhabit in the aristo-
cratic section of narrow cite turning out of
Rue de Grenille.