The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-11-20
MY WEDDING.
The Preparation Necessary for
That Important Event.

That Important Event.
I wonder how many women who lead
life of single blessedness, either from
choice or necessity, as the case may be,
realize what being engaged and getting
married actually means wonder If
they have the remotest idea of the
vanity and vexation of spirit, the end
less preparations incident to the great
event, the interminable worry and sour
ry, the mad ecstasy of delight, the
quarreis, the bad temper, the misunder-
standings that are part and parcel Of ar
ranging wedding. Old and hardened
as now am, / alternately smile and
shudder as recall the experience lead
ing up to the one great decisive step in
my existence. To be sure, was not an
ultra-swell. We didn't have money
enough for that. We couldn't afford to
give grand balls at Delmonico's, and
rent a fine house in London for the sea-
son. But papa was quite we'll of, for all
that and we moved in very good society.
Naturally, every girl who has spark Of
ambition wants her wedding to be as
brilliant as possible, and dear papa is
the most generous man alive. He said
I should have every thing wanted, and
that he would pay the bills. He had
some pride about the matter himself,
because Lottie Jones-who had tried her
best to captureJack (that was my tlanoe),
and had failed to arouse in his breast
the faintest spark of interest-had
lately married out Of pure pique and
spite, and had an exceedingly smart
wedding. At least, the papers said 30.
1--WE were not invited.) So dear papa
declared from the beginning that my
wedding should be just trifle more
sumptuous than hers, and SO indeed 1t
was. p
The engagement was to be q short
one. The suspicious occasion-l be-
heve that is the correct phrase-was
fxed for the first week in April, and
then the excitement and the wild
anxiety began. am sure, much as
enjoyed it. on the whole, I hope l shall
never have to 60 through with the pro-
ceedings again. 1T isn't likely" Jack
says, looking over my shonlder, and
speaking with sort Of snif. IN. B.
I am writing this after two years Of
matrimonial bondage.) sUsS illtt ,ba
I In the drst place, mamma and Aunt
Miranda, who never had any more taste
in dress than Bridget the cook, began
to discuss the all-important subject Of
my trousseau. The weddinRgown was
to be considered first, Of course, and
then came the interesting point oon-
cerning tho modiste who shomld be en-
ployed to make it. Aunt Miranda sug-
gested one, and mamma was for having
another. Every morning at breakfast
time the matter was brought up, and
every morning they differed as to the
proper choice. Papa used TO swallow
his coffee boiling hot and rush out of
the house to escape from these CONVEX
sations. My opinion, strange to say,
was never asked; and, to tell the truth,
didn't care who made the dress SO long
as they settled it one way or the other.
1t began to leok, finally, as IL should
be married without any gown at all,
when, one fine morning, mamma
clinohed matters by going ousvery early
and giving the order to sutt herself.
When Aunt Miranda discovered this
underhand action, she looked herself up
in her room and cried all day. But the
wedding-gown, which was to be of the
richest cream-white satin, was only the
nucleus Of the trousseau. felt that
must have at least dozen other frocks.
No self-respecting girl can possibly get
married without . lot Of clothes, made
of the finest materials and cnt in the
latest fashion. 1t is taken for granted
by the whole world that, up to the date
of her engagement, her wardrobe is
lacking in all that pertains to gentle
woman's toilet" as the modistes say,
and that, in vulgar parlanoe, she hasn't
Q decent rag to her back. Mamma,
therefore, who likes to live up to all So
ciety prejudices, ordered number Of
lovely gowns for me, besides negligees,
jackets dncluding a smoking-jacket,
which was the latest agony, opera
clo.ks, tea gowns, bonnets and hats,
and I spent all my time in being fitted.
For hours and hours did stand with
aching joints and throbbing head in
front of that dress-maker's mirror, trying
on and taking off, while mamma and
Aunt Miranda sat severely by and ortiz
cised and, as usual, disagreed and went
home out of temper. declare got SO
tired and heart-sick over 1t all that at
times could not help wishing were q
savage and allowed to run about in q
head-dress Of feathers and garland of
leaves for q costume, 80 utterly did
learn to loathe the sight Of clothes dur
ing those horrible weeks. But when the
garments were finally sent home could
have cried with pleasure, they we're 80
pretty and dainty. All the girls came
70 see tbem and everybody agreed Tex
cept Sally who was jealous) that my
wardrobe by far collapsed that Of Lottie,
Joal~s Then when these outer splendors
were disposed Of there was the Engwii
TO be thought OF. ! am sorry 70 be
obliged TO record the fsct that mamma
and Aunt Miranda I'd ''some wofdss In
regard to the Engsris Aunt Mirands
wished me to have st least two dozen OF
every thing, while msmns protestia. say