Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-11-18
THE WASHINGTON WEDDING
NOT CERTAIN WHERE CERE-
MONY TOOK PLACE.
An Interesting Description of the
Sprightly Little MatrOn and Her
Bridal Costume and
Ornaments.

In a suit of blue and silver with
scarlet trimmings and waistcoat OF
white satin, embroidered, with buck
les of gold on his knee garters and on
his shoes, his hair powdered and by his
side dress sword, the bridegroom
| Washington lowered above most OF
his companions. Mrs. Gusts, his
bride. did not reach higher than his
shoulders when she stood with him be-
fore the old Episcopal clergyman IN
his full canonicals. The mistress OF
the white house wore costume which
had also come from London. In her
hair and ears were ornaments of
pearl; she wore white satin slippers,
and on the buckle Of each was dia-
mond. The sprightly little matron,
with light brown hair and hazel eyes,
had plump and pleasing figure, an
easy and graceful carriage, a comely
face and 6ne shoulders. and With her
thTee bridesmaids, and with the fine
women of the families Of the neighbor-
ing domains in attendance there was
splendid display of the charms and
graces Of Virginia womanhood.
Nor were the men less distinguish
ed. The country gentlemen in their
gayest raiment and the provincial
officers from Williamsburg In their
uniforms were headed by the gallant
Lieut.=Gov. Fauquier, Around him
stood group Of English officers,
hardly less snowy in their trapplngs,
together with members of the legislas
ture and other civilians. When the
bride entered the coach, which was
bright with the Washington colors of
red and white, and drawn by, six
horses guided by black positions il
livery, the bridegroom did not, enter
with her. There was his favorite
horse, with his tall body-servant hold
Ing the reins and waiting for him to
mount. When Washington mounted
the richly caparisoned charger he
rode by the side Of the bridal coach,
closely followed by a cortege OF gen
tlemen on horseback.
Although one of the most interest
Ing events in Washington's private
life, his wedding has been compare
lively neglected by the majority Of his
biographers> 1t Is generally agreed
that the ceremony took place on the
9Th of January Tor the 18th of Janu-
AIRY, new style9, 1859. But as to- wheth-
er it was performed in st. Peters
church. in New Kent county, or at
| the home of the bride, known as the
white house. there is a wide yari-
anre of opinion. The weight of local
authority is against the belief that it
occurred in the church. indicating that
the couple were married there. al
though its rector. Rev Mr.. Mossom.
who had been in the pulpit for 40
years, solemniZed the contract. On
the other hand, those who insist that
the clergyman officiated in the church
point to accounts that Washington
rode on horseback on the day of the
wedding. and that the pair were at
tended by a bridal cavaIcade. as evil
dence that there was a journey be-
tween the church and the home of the
bride This. however, is offset by the
conjecture that the scavalcade was es-
corting the couple Immediately after
their marriage to Mrs. Custis' house
ii the town of Villa Sburg, or to
Mount Vernon, and that they were re-
pairing thither to spend the honey
moon.-LadieS' Home Journal