The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-06-26
The Woes of Brooklyn Bride and
Groom.

The average American citizen has a |
sense of humor which carries him into |
any extravaganza or loss Of time
for the sake of joke. Thomas f. 4.
Pagan, q druggist Of 3,O03 Fulton
street, Brooklyn, realizes this great
truth.
Last Saturday week Mr.. Fagan,
who is quite wealthy man with ideas
Of his own, slipped away to Rockville
Centre, L. l., and was married to Miss
Maude Shaw. They planned for a
surprise and had one. The idea was
to go on wedding trip of few days
and then to return to Brooklyn, drive
quietly to the drugstore, over which
apartments had been arranged, and
from thence astonish their friends
with official announcements of their
happiness.
Somebody learned OF tho plan and
proceeded to stir up all that end of
Brooklyn, the population of which re-
sponded with remarkable alaority.
Money was spent and time was given
freely.
Last Thursday evening the Fagans
got home. They noticed as their car
riage approached the Fagan drug. store
I that some unusual excitement and de-
monstration was in progress, but they
took little notice of it. They. were
happy with the usual happiness oe
such occasions and more than usually
hilarious with the thought of how
cleverly they had trickcd their friends
and with speculations on the astonish-
ment with which the news of their
marriage would be received.
AS they turned in their own street
they found crowd Of 5000 people
who greeted them with wild cheers
while fully manned and equipped
brass band struck up:
"He's up against the Real Thing
now"
The drugstore was decorated from
roof to pavement with flags and rib
bons and was brilliantly illuminated
A huge banner over the door bore the
inscription "Behold the Bridegroom
Cometh." The show windows were
full of elaborate floral emblems sug-
gestive of matrimonial and family
events and conditions. A committee
thrust into the hands Of the suddenly
wrecked and bewildered Fagan anoth-
er large banner conveying the dismal
fallacy,
II was married on the q. T."
Fireworks began to whirl and fizz
showers Of sparks and to rush into the
air and explode. Tin horns beloved
and blared, couple of bonfires and q
blaze of red light developed
suddenly and bells rang. AS a secret
wedding the affair was the most dismal
failure in all the history of we'd
dings.
The crowd formed into line and
marched around the block, each pro-
cessionist wearing badge with the
words:
"You can't loose us, Tommy"
Somebody who did not understand
the facts rushed in riot call and a
platoon of police reserves promoted
the privacy Of the afFair By arriving ON
the run. Mr.. Pagan was at that time
having speech extovted from him,
having been pulled from his carriage
and put up on platform. Respond
ing to general and enthusiastic de-
mand, he had also chartered neigh
boring saloon and invited everybody
to "have something on him. The
police, learning the facts, became Sc
much interested that they joined in
the fun and assisted in keeping up the
celebration until midnight. The
bride from Rockville C,ntre was mean
while wondering if that was the
Brooklyn idea of quiet and secret
wedding just what would happen in
case of public ceremony.
IL either or both of the Fagans
should have occasion to wed again
and NEARLY anything is likely to hapi
pen on LoDs Islands safe to predict
that they will notify al their friends
and will not again put themselves in
position to be the objects Of the great
American practical joke. Richn,ond