The Bourbon news., 1905-09-01
MARRIAGES.
HAMILToN-swEENEY.

- The following interesting notice
Of the Hamilton-Sweeney nuptials
is reprinted from the Two Rivers
wis. Chronicle of August %;
I'm the glory of the sunset, at the
end of perfect day, with radiant
SKIES above her and smiling friends
around her, Grace Leigh Hamilton.
only daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. J.
Edward Hamilton, was united in
marriage to Dr.JOhn Steele Sweeney.
The ceremony that cemented the
twain for life took place on little
gem of stage, with green settings
and floral decorations, at the bottom
of the terraced garden that surrounds
the imposing Hamilton mansion. The
stage was crescent shaped and 10
cate d on the walk that leads down to
the river from the east entrance.
ION the green terrace above, the
guests were grouped. The walk was
covered with white canvas and broad
white ribbons (silken barriers guard
ed it on either side from encroach-
ment and guided the bridal party to
the little stage on which the Officiat-
ing clergyman awaited them. At the
right ana left of the stage the rela-
tives of the bridal couple ranged
themselves to witness the climax and
closing scene in Loves melo-drama.
The orchestra was placed near the
steps at the east entrance, from
which the wedding party came forth,
and from which the wedding march
began.
The wedding march was a most
interesting and impressive scene-a
drifting down to the plighting place
TO the strains of music soft and low,
sweet and solemn. First came two
ushers, Mr.. Carl Volrath, of Sheboy-
gan, and DR.. j. ]. Andrews, of Chi
cago. About twenty feet behind fol-
lowed the brother of the groom, MIR.
E. S. Sweeney, of Paris, KY, and
Mr.. q. S. Hamilton, the brother of
the bride. Their function was also
that of ushers. The ushers marched
arm-in arm, but the bridesmaids and
maid of honor walked singly, each
m aintaining a distance of about 20
feet from the other, and lasa of all
came the bride. tO-be on the arm of
her father. The procession was so
impressive that tears were seen to
glisten on smiling faces, as is often
are most deeply moved The first
bridesmaid was Miss Margaret Swee-
ney, sister of the groom, and she
carried with her, as she moved down
the descending path to the slow
measured music OF the orchestra, an
armful of blossoms with which to
shower the bride. The second brides
maid was Miss Mollie Pritchard, of
ManitOwoc. She also carried an arm
full Of flowers to be strewn along the
bridal pathway. Miss Irma Schuette,
of Manitowoc, followed the brides
maids and preceded the bride as
her maid of honor. So stately and SO
graceful was the movement of these
maidens toward the altar erected to
Hymen, so soft and low and entrance
ing the music that it almost seemed
as though they were but fairy phan-
toms and the scene a product of
dreamland. The bride was gowned
in white. The terms used to describe
and styles of gowns are
not familiar terms with the writer,
but he cOnfesses to being impressed
with the simplicity and exquisite
taste of her attire and with the be-
coming mOdesty in which she was led
by her father to the spot where the
eXpectant groom would meet her.
"On the little stage the officiating
clergymen, the father and uncle Of
the groom, awaited the coming of the
wedding party. Just as the bride and
her father stepped upon the stage the
groom and his brother W.E.Sweeney,
of Buffalo, WyO., who acted as best
ciA
and took position by the side of the
bride and her father, and the we'd
ding ceremony began. The wedding
ceremony was something unique, or
iginal and impressive There was
not particle of ritualistic Journalism
in any portion, and yet it was so
appropriate and so deeply
devotional that all present agreed
that they had never heard or wit
messed more admirable or more i'm
pressive marriage ceremony. The
ceremony was the conception and
largely the impromptu effort of Rev.
John Steele Sweeney, Sr., of Paris,
Kentucky the venerable and hOnored
father of the groom. The blessing of
God was invoked by Rev. u. L Swee-
ney, an uncle of the groom. In be-
ginning the marriage ceremony, Rev.
John Steele Sweeney said 1.-THE
first wedding on Earth was, like this,
in the open air, under the canopy of
cloudless skies. God gave the bride
away. He was the Father. Who
gives the bride away at this we'd
ding?" The response of the brides
father was:-'I give the bride away"
The officiating clergyman then said
that custom did not demand that the
groom be given away but he would
take the liberty of doing so. The son
he was about to give away in mar
riage, from boyhood to manhood,
had proven an honor and comfort
to him. He had never by action or
word caused Tim a moment of sad
ness or regret. And the handsome,
honest face of the groom was ample