The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-04
AGE AND AGE UNITED
TWO ODD OLD PEOPLE MARRIED At
THReEscoRE AND TEN.


The Bridegroom Has Lived seventy-eight
Years and Yet Ii swift of Fose and Full
OF visor--Bis Wife II Only Few Years
Younger.
There was much wonder In st. Ag-
nes' Roman Catholic church, Paterson.
N. j., at the principal service On a re-
cent Sunday morning, when aged Will
liam Hill walked down the center aisle
with venerable Katharine McGinty, a
widow Of some means, and IL became
known that they had been married on
the preceding day.
Hill admits that he Ia 78 years old,
and although he claims that his bride
Ia dozen years younger her crown of
snow white hair makes her seem the
older Of the pair. He is tall and erect,
although not In the most robust of
health, while she is short and inclined
TO stoutness.
HILL has been q widower for about
two years. He spent all bis hfe's saw
ings In trying TO Lurse his wife and
their daughter back to health. Their
deaths left him poor and almost friend
less, without relative in the United
States. He has since managed TO make
ends meet, although his age prevented
him from working at his trade Of engi-
neer and locomotive blacksmith.
Occasionally he was engaged TO do q
little work by aged Widow McGinty,
who owned some property and was, like
himself, without children or relatives.
They had known each other for nearly
half century, and the similarity In the
lonely circumstances Of their old age
seemed to draw them together. The
friendship was noticed by the widows
neighbors and there were some who
shrewdly guessed tho truth when the
couple started ont arm In arm and ar
rayed In their best clothes. They pro-
ceeded to. the rectory Of st. Agnes Ro-
man Catholic church and gave the pas.
tor, Rev. Father Corrigan, surprise
when they asked to be married.
But both were In earnest, and their
requests had to be granted. They had
brought no witnesses or bridal party,
and the clergyman called in his house
keeper. The latter was determined te
have the ceremony conducted with al
proper formality, 80 she brought the
butcher from over the way to attend the
bridegroom while she acted as brides
maid. Both Of the contracting parties
had been married before, and all wen
smoothly. They left the rectory as hus
band and wife.
Hill, when seen at his new home
was surprised to learn that his marriage
had been much discussed, as he saw lit
tie to remark about it. He declared tina
he was easily sprier than most men o.
60 and was willing to run foot race tt
prove it. He talked freely of the reasoni
for the union, yemarking that, of course
marriage at his age was different from
weddings of youth. His wife and h
would be companions for each other, an,
that was what they wanted. Besides
each had some of this worlds goods
and now that their possessions are joinet
both can live in comfort Mrs. McGint,
needed a protector, he companion, ant
now both needs are filed. Then the,
could take care Of each other in the even
| of sickness.
"And those are some Of the reason
why We hitched up" concluded Mr.
Hill.
The couple have unusual mental ant
physical vigor FOR such advanced age
and no one could talk with them with
out realizing the wisdom Of their union
Exchange.