The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-08
THE FlURF1UR OF THE WORLD

Il H-4
 Washington, June 7.-(Special)-In their homeward flight many band of fair young school girls, beautiful as the white flowers that bringeth peace,-tarry in this City Beautiful and brighten it wondrous- ly.
 Their beauty freshness and sweetness lend new grace to streets and parks and the great palaces of the people; give a charm to the tiresome hotels and a new interest to a life that is common place. They might be likened truly to rosebuds brought from the wide fields to gladden. the city; and
 "Oh roses, roses, I love you so!''
 Truly he is hard of heart, or hondsman of an all-conquering pain, who does not love and bless the school girl as she pass es by fresh released from her books and with song of the morning in her heart the heart of the tenderest and sweetest rosebud of human life. How divine, how adorable she Is, this rosebud from the garden of girls!
 What is 1t like, to be a rose? Old roses, softly, "Try and see.' Nay, I will tarry. Let me be
 In my green peacefulness and smile, I will stay here and dream awhile. Iris well for little buds to dream, Dream-dream-who kpows-
 Say, is it good to be a rose?
 Old roses. tell me! Is it good?
 Old roses, very softly, Good"
 I am afraid to be a rosel
 This little sphere wherein I wait, Curled up and small and delicate, Lets in a twilight of pure green,
 Wherein are dreams of night and morn And the sweet stiffness of a world Where all things are that are unborn. Old Roses, Better to be born"
 I cannot be a bud for long.
 My sheath is like a heart full blown, And I. the silence of a song
 Withdrawn into that heart alone, Well knowing that 1t shall be sung. Outside the great world comes and goes I think I doubt, to be a rose
 Old Roses Doubt? To be a rose!"
 And the bridegrooms and the brides of early June, in their flight to the moun- tains or their flight to the sea, pause in this Capital inmultitudes, as if loath to lose their selfish happiness in the places haunted by society. While these happy ones are not so numerous in June as they were just after Easter, still they are sufficient to make a happy impress sion upon the life of the Capital.
 There took place in Washington this week. by the way, one of the happiest and noblest of all June weddings
 With the celebration of the nuptial mass, Miss Helen Stafford sister to the famous priest Rev. J. D. Stafford of St. Patricks Church, was married to MT. Alfred Whitton of New York. the priest ly brother of the bride performing .he splendid ceremony Just before ten o'clock the bridal couple were met at the church door by the vested altar boys, who num- bered about eighty. These boys preceded the bridegroom and the bride in the pro- cession to the sanctuary, while the choir sang Faithful and True" The magnifi- cent high altar, one of the most superbly beautiful in America, was ablaze with light, and decorated with palms and white flowers in abundant profusion As soon as the party reached the altar rail Dr. Stafford began the nuptial mass, with Right Reverend Monseignor Rocker as deacon, and Reverend Thomas s. Dolan as sub-deacon. Father Gaynor and Father Bart were masters of ceremonies
 The choir of St. Patricks which is said to be one of the best in this coun- try, carried out this musical programme: "Kyrie'' from Weber's Mass; offertory, Gounod's Ave Maria" Gounod's Sane tus;' and Weber's "Agnus Dei." This music was marvelously sweet, tender and touching
 The bride was dressed in white chantilly lace and chiffon, with a hat of tulle and white ostrich tips and wore a sunburst of diamonds MT. and Mrs. Whitton left in the afternoon for an extended trip be- fore settling In their home in the North
 As an evidence of the wide popularity of the Reverend Dr. Stafford and the Stafford family. 1t Is interesting to state that there were fifty priests, personal friends, present in the sanctuary during the ceremonies; one of them, the Rev. Dr. Gum, having come from as far away as Atlanta, in order to have the pleasure of witnessing the marriage of the beautiful sister of his brother priest, Dr. Stafford. This marriage is the most notable that has taken place in Washington in several months. Everybody adores Dr. Stafford. and his sister was great belle of so- ciety here until the death of her other brother, doctor of medicine, placed her in mourning about the close of Lent She is an exquisitely beautiful woman, with many charms of character and gifts of mind. She and her husband will perman- ently reside in New York. Dr. Stafford expects to leave Washington shortly for the purpose of spending two or three months in Europe.
 At the railway station we observe the