Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-16
AIRY BRIDAL TRIPS.
COUPLES WHO HAVE MADE
 THEM IN BALLOONS.

StarLlng Accloents Attenolng Dar.
 ing Ventures That Strangely Resulted in No Bodily
 Harm.
 To adventurous lovers there must be g great fascination in the prospect of honeymoon spent above the clouds, with all the realms of space their own;' and if. as in the recent experi- ence of NJ. Chataignon and his bride. says the Detroit s-Tribune, the balloon almost lands themA in the arms of brigands and finally pfdnges them down in the middle of lake-well, these incidents only add to the TO- nance. so long as all ends well.
 Before, however, new-fledged Bene- dict takes his bride "all among the little stars and round about the moon," it will be well for him to make sure that her pretty head will stand such giddy elevation, or he may renew the unpleasant experience of Robertson the famous shot and rider of buck. jumpers, when he scared heavenward with his bride, nee Miss Cynthia kenna
 The advantageous pair were united some time ago in the car of the bal. loon which was to be their honeymoon carriage, and when the knot was safe- ly tied the signal was given to "let ho hol stately bird, to the cheers of hundreds of onlookers. Scarcely, however had the balloon scared 100 feet when Gym thia lost her nerve completely and jumped out of the car, dropping head long into the Tennessee river, which was flowing swiftly and darkly under. meath.
 The husband prudentIy stayed where he was, though he had not the heart even to hum "The Girl I Left Behind Me" and came safely to earth again few hours later. Meanwhile Cynthia had been rescued from the damp arms of the Tennessee river, a very sober and dripping bride; and the severed pair were happily reunited. none the worse for the adventure
 A different story might easily have been told of another couple who went honeymooning skyward a few years ago from Denver The balloon shot up like a rocket, to the height of 5000 feet. when, to the horror of thousands nf tot tny>c amount S, storm and burst. For a mile 1t fell earthward with alarming velocity, un. til. fortunately. it formed itself into a parachute; its speed was checked and descending more and more slowly. il ultimately fell into cornfield. where the newly married couple were res cued. unconscious. from the wrecked balloon.
 One August day, in 1879. Capt. H. E Colville. of the grenadier guards. had a very much happier bridal excursion in a balloon. The captain, who was nc novice as an aeronaut. had arranged for balloon ascent from the Crysta { palace grounds. and none but himself and another knew who his companion was to be. On the morning of the ascent he was married and drove straight from the church to the palace A strong wind was blowing, and great efforts were made 10 induce him either to postpone the trip or to take ar aeronaut with him. The gallant cap foiv tA tions. nor would his bride, and so tn courageous pair entered the car and had a most delightful. If exciting. jour ney.
 The most memorable, perhaps. of all these honeymoon trips in balloons was that made by M. Camille Flammarion the famous French astronomer, and his bride. the story of which both have so eloquently told. Mime. Flammarior had expressed wish that her husband should choose "the most magnificen, and poetical" trip possible for the honeymoon, and, as was perhaps nat toward the stars. The start was made at five o'clock on a glorious afternoon and ended 13 hours later. after perhaps the most delightful and romantic voy. age ever made through the air
 My delight was inexpressible. Mime. F1ammarion writes, ito sit be side my newly made husband-here ir the sky travelling know not where e. We were in the starry skies. hay 1 ing at our feet clouds that seemed vas, mountains of snow-an impressive, un earthly landscape-white Alps. gla ciers. valleys. ridges. precipices. | was scene beyond all words. But | would take columns to describe all tn, ] glories of that night among the star. until the sun rose, filling the empy rean with it's rays. and flinging a man tie of purple and gold over all. cloud! and balloon alike.
 Then came the descent to earth. anS the yelling and gesticulating peasants and the romance and glory were al gone. But the memory of that nigh | of wonders is a treasure that canno be taken away"