The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-18
A London Wedding.

| nounccd and much discussed In tho fashion,
able society OF this town. The bride is o
distinguished beauty and lovelncss. the
young husband Is OF n rich family, and
there were lords ana ladies' at the wedding
| or course, 1t is their own affair whether
| the marriage OF n man and woman shall
be solemnized in one place or another, one
| country or another, or by one Church or
another. They can get Roman Catholic
priest, an Episcopal,a Prcsbytcriana Baptist,
| or O Methodist minister to tie the knot. II
they are Indifferent about having the contract
receive religious sanction, Mayor GRANT can
unite them rs firmly under our laws as
| Archbishop CoRRIGAS or Bishop POTTER.
| II they are fond OF attracting public notice,
they can be married In n balloon at a
| county fair, or on the stage OF a theatre 1t
is their own business to settle all that.
Yet It is reasonable to ask why should
Americans travel all the way to London for
the purpose Of getting married. II the bride
were an English woman resident there, it
would Of course be obligatory on the groom
to cross the ocean to lead her to the altar;
but when both Of them belong in New York.
and intend to return here to set up their
home they must have some strong motive
for going to London to get married after an
engagement entered into here and made
public property many months since. The
wedding did not take place at London be-
cause OF mere convenience but in pursuance
Of carefully prepared and announced plan.
They preferred to be married there rather
than In New York, their home.
Was this preference due to some romantic
M
about lords and ladies written by English
Governesses' An English wedding might
have seemed to such young people a more
picturesque affair than wedding in re-
public. But really there is little difference
between the two. The main thing Is the
getting married firmly ami after the proper
method. Bishop POTTER cannot have tied
the knot more neatly ut st. Pauls Church,
knightsbridge. than he could have tied it at
Trinity Chapel, New York. The witnesses
OF the ceremony were no more glorious in
dress and natural charms and dignity in
London than they would have been here.
Titles do not necessarily enhance the gram
deur OF their posscssors as they appear to
the eyes OF the beholdCr. Beauty is
decoration conferred by GOD, and no king
or queen can bring it into existence by the
mere comforting of a title. Arstocracy
too, docs not always or usually proclaim
itself in superiority OF bearing. appearance,
character. and intrinsic distinction.
But probably these American citizens
married in London on Wednesday, thought
that their union there would be surrounded
been absent in New York They may have
: h.
the more conspicuously, and would be the
means OF strengthening their relations
with the aristo;racy OF England. But
they are totally separated from the
social Considerations OF that aud every
other monarchy. They are American citi-
zens and rot British subjects; and so being.
they are fortunately elevated above tho
grades and rankings OF the people among
whom they went to be married. They are
sovnrciEns, not subjects. Herr and wher-
Cvcr they may be-, they are ac the top, hold
ing II position from which they cannot DO
dsodged by any artificial Consultations OF
rank. Socially they stand whore their in
triu-ic quality places them. Politically they
have no supcriOrs.
Hence it is that the aristocratic diScrim-
nations against trade have no application to
Americans. All til" American families who
have secured social consideration in Eng
land arc living on money earned in trade, or
are actually engage | in trade themselves.
They cannot stand the test Of aristocratic
standards. Ii they had been Englishmen.
they would not have been counted in NJ all.
They would have been passed over
by society as beyond its sphere.
But being Americans. and outside OF
the whole aris,ocrGtlc system, their wealth
beauty, and social accomplishments have
opened the most carefully guarded doors to
them. Even thor relative social standing
at home has not been taken into consdcra-
ton. They 60 in simply because they are
rich and attractive Americans.
Accordingly, it is a great mistake for
Americans to put themselves in any way
under the restrictions OF an arlstocratic sys-
tenn or to seek to como under the operation
OF its laws. Their strength is in remain
ing outside, and in being thoroughly
American and democratic. They cannot
satisfy tho requirements OF aristocratc
birth or rank, but they can possess tho quail
ity which gives the true alistocratic dis
tinction. London wedding does not en-
hance their social value In English eyes.
Their value 10 that they are Americans
and citizens FREQ from tho social chains
forged by feudal arstocracy.
But the main thing about this London
wedding was not whore 1t took place. If
love presided over tho union, If tho two
hearts Joined beat as one in sweet harmony.
then all was we'll. The glory of the occa-
sion was not the grandeur Of the temple and
the officiating priests the distinction OF the
wedding guests, and tho smartness of tho |
apparel, but the final triumph OF love In |
the pair into the blssfulness OF |
holy matrimony.
The Best Are To Come.