The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-18

lss. - ssasr
won his lady at the end Of those two days.
after which he had. procseded on his way to
military duty. followed by his surprised ana
shocked body servant. Bishop. who had
never before known bis master to tarry for
social pleasures when duty called him 70
other affairs.
MARTHA's WONDERFUL GOWN.
It is safe to say that whatever Georto
washington's thoughts were. manlfke. ho,
noted but little the wondrous gown worn BY
Martha Custis as she stood beside him. f0R
while that Virginia gentleman was puncthd-
Gus as to his own gay coats and rufnes. ana
could detect at a glance the slightest nav
in the uniform Of a soldier or the livery OF
house servant, women's frtlls ana 1urbs-
. lows were quite beyond him.
He knew. In a vague sort Of way. that the
little woman was gowned as only one OF tho
wealthiest and daintiest ladies Of virginia
should be. and he was quite certain that
whatever the raiment she was the faarses
and lOveliest creature to look upon in all the
land
Had Colonel Washington been capable Of
comprehending description OF his brides
costume. as afterward told by q woman
who was present. he would have learned
that her gown was Of heavy corded salk.
with threads of silver interviewer through
it: that the overskirt was looped back with
white satin ribbons brocaded In leaf pat
tern. disclosing a white satin quilted petit
coat; that her shoes were Of white satin,
dainty, high-heeled affairs. and with dia-
mond buckles; that rich point lace finishes
the neck of her gown and hung from het
sleeves, and that loops Of pearls decks4
her powdered hair.
Indeed she was altogether lovely sight.
and the three bridesmaids who accompa-
MED her were most happy to be attendant
upon such a lovely creature.
With the ending Of the prayer OF the
Reverend Mr. Mossum. the long and hap
py married life Of George and Martha
Washington commenced.
The bridal procession that left St. Peters
on that day has never since been eQuailed
In Virginia
Then came an incident which was not
calculated to cut any figure In the great
wedding ceremony. but which. nevertheless.
was Of much consequence to humble yes
important parsonage present =
The proudest and happiest moment in the :
life Of Bishop had come.
During the ceremony Bishop, in a brand
new suit Of scarlet. had stood on the stepsss
holding Colonel Washington's horse: the I,
magnificent animal which General Braddoek
had bequeathed to Washington upon his :,
death. The horse was now richly capari- : :
soned.
BISHOP LED CoI.ONm:s HoRsn " y
Both Bishop and his charge well deserved !
their gay trappings. for they had each BEEN
Instrumental In the wooing. the horse In ),
carrying the Colonel to Major Chamber ):
Iaynes house. and Bishop In making hia
young master as attractive In appearances &,
as only a welI-trained body servant knows =
how. ~
As Bishop led the Colonels horse forward
he was the proudest. darky in all Virginia.
Washington took his place beside the
coach, and a cortege of officers and gentry 4
who had already mounted drew around ,,
Other guests entered coaches. ~
with the cracking Of whips and the prod >,
a. - I~~A- hrrvw =
tho gay cavalcade started on its way to- ,,
ward the home Of the bride. 1.-The White :
House" on the Pamunkey. -,
And such feast and frolic at rne nj
White House, n
As the wedding party turned into the =
lockwood lined lane the Custis and Dam :.
bridge slaves were present to salute the :,
bride and the new master. and long before :
the brides coach had reached the door two
beautiful children John Parke and Martina
Parke Custis. had run ont TO welcome tneiS !
foster father a foster father who proveu 4
himself to be to these little ones all that ~
real father could be In tender care ana IL
80 "a
The mansion. within was decked Win
flowers and garlands OF greenery; tnv F.
were music and feasting and Colonel John
cambridge. enthusiastically happy over hts &,
new son-in-law. dipped often into the great a,
punch bowl and drank to the health OF the = =
bride and bridegroom.
There were wedding presents. the most .
one perhaps not being visfnle, &c
the 500 900 which by law of marriage passed -
to Washington from his lwife's estate. and '
which. with his own wealth and landed pos =.
sessions made him one. OF the We1lthie3s
men in Virginia.