Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-01-03
A Christmas Wedding Fifty Years Ago.


Mrs. Laura (Chase) Smith OF rMilwau
kee, Randolph lady, who visited her ole
home for the first time in nearly forty
years last summer, in company with her
daughter, graphically describes her we'd
ding in the sold Church" at Bethe
on Christmas night fifty years age, in the
Christmas number of the Yenotrine's
News, published at Milwaukee. The
sketch was illustrated with an excellent
cut OF the "Old Church." and the article
telling the story Of the wedding, at which
few OF the older readers OF the HERALD
were doubtless present, reads as follows
"Fifty years ago tonight was not a
| typical New England evening. The stars
shone out from Aprl-like skies and the
sleighing we hoped for, had disappeared.
| But as It was to be the most important
Christmas in my life, this little incident
cut no figure in the case.
The wedding was solemnized at the par.
ish church three miles away from my
home. At that time Vermont was practi-
cally as far away from the centers OF mod
dern life as an Olympian valley or an Ari-
zonian desert at the present day. There
was not a mile of railroad in the Green
Mountain state and travelling by stage
coach was the proper thing. coach and
four conveyed US and our attendants, two
bridesmaids and two groomsmen, to the
quaint little church, just now in the glory
OF its Christmas array OF wreaths and
branches OF evergreen and lighted brill
liantly with homemade candles in all the
windows and upon the high pulpit.
1t was not then, as now, an uncommon
thing for girl of seventeen and man Of
twenty four to marry. They did not then
require an array OF costly dresses, diamonds
and paternal cheques galore. They SIM
ply were expected to love each other and to
have the ability, on the mans part,to earn
living and to support his family in COM
fort, and this was no great problem fifty
years ago.
/ wore upon this occasion waist OF
white satin, with elbow sleeves, trimmed
with embroidered lace. The same lace up
on the half-low corsage-which was very
long and in large pleats upon the should
ers had even then tulle veil coming
below the waist. At that time, an era be-
fore the age OF hoop skirts, petticoats were
the only means of giving form to the
dress skirt, which was wide expanse OF
Indian muslin, hemmed to the knee with
heavy bands of satin. A long gold chain
and white gloves, silk stockings and black
slippers completed the costume, and
wore no less than five enormously full
petticoats! The bridesmaids were cos
tuned in much the same manner. The
officiating clergyman, the rector Of this
little parish, was an Englishman and still
retained, after many years in America, the
distinctive manners OF his native land.
He wore gown and bands with his sur
plice and pronounced the words OF the
service with solemnity. I'm the fear OF
Cod as look back through the long Wis
Ia OF fifty years, did have some meaning
to me, even at that early age. I know
meant then to do my best although did
not realize all that my best ought to be.
The reception after the wedding at my
mothers home was for few friends and
many relatives. The refreshments con-
sisted simply OF cake and wine, but the
cake was of the best--and was made and
baked by my mother and my aunt in
brick Overland there were thirty loaves
of it. These little incidents in life now
drawing to close are OF themselves not
Of special interest, still they may sug-
gest to some young hearts that happiness
and success may sometimes have differ
ent meaning than mere outward circum-
stances.
Wedding presents outside OF ones fami-
" were not expected in those primitive
days. The only gift had except from
nv own people was little bouquet OF
roses, which at Christmas was then
valuable gift. / have its crumbling ashes
vet, but the gentle giver has long ago
been awa.' In fact, large majority OF
those dear friends who came to my we'd
ding this night fifty years ago, have also
solved the great mystery.
This may seem very sad, but ! think
now that it should be most happy and
blessed thought, that time has brought us
SO near to glad and happy Christmas day
in the land not very far of"