Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-20
PROSPECTIVE BRIDES ARRIVE
TRAINLoAD CONES IN TODAY
FROM RICHMOND.
Capital City as Gretna Green-Party
Whirled Away From Union
Depot in Autos.

prospective brides and greoms to the
number of about two score came to WASH
ington this afternoon from Richmond. Va.
There were brides in blue. brides in
brown. in green. white and other hues of
the rainbow. Brides OF the clinging kind
and bashful ones; joyous brides and SOL
emn ones; fat ones and lean ones blondes
and brunettes. and all clad in the gayest
OF after Easter finery
The happy couples came over from the
Old Dominion capital on a special excur-
sion train under the auspices OF Mrs. j.
r. Gill. superintendent. Of the Richmond
Male Orphan Asylum, and reached the
Union station at ITO o'clock.
They represented almost every phase OF
Richmond society and were greeted at
the station here by large number OF
members of the Virginia colony Of this
city. who had learned of the coming Of
the brides and grooms-to-be.
AS the train load of JOY and jollity drew
into the long train shed Capt William T.
Tyser OF the Union station guard force
had number of his men there to direct
the blooming. blushing brides and their
manly escorts to the big sightseeing autos
that awaited their arrival
The first couple to reach the center of
the station concourse. where members
of the local Richmond colony had as
sembled. was a short youth of rattle
demure appearance and his prospective
wife. who was considerably taller and
who wore fashionable gown of Alice
blue. surmounted by an elaborate Gre
alton of the millners' art.
He Is one of my boys" Mrs. Gill
said proudly. pointing to the short pro-
my charge in the orphan asylum. and he
is going TO make that young woman a
mighty good husband. too
Some Shy and Coy.
Soon the center Of the concourse was
coy. and a very practcal-appearing man
remarked that never before had 1t been
his fortune to see 80 many people I'm
one bunch who were seeking matri-
mony. Marriage by tho wholesale was
the way he designated It.
Accompanying the large party were a
number OF chaperons-elderly men and
women-who had a watchful eye over
their charges
I'VE just had jolly time coming over
on the train" said a pretty brunette of
"and there was lovemaking and spooning
all the way. Oh. It was Just grand"
And the tunnel" began jolly young
man.
But ne 0fo not nnlSn the sentence, FOR
the rather buxom lassie who accompanied
slapped her hand quickly over his mouth
and said:
Never mind about the tunnels"
Leftover Engagements. -
Mrs. Gill explained to q Star reporter
that the bridal couples represented an
accumulation Of plishted troths that had
been left over from the Eastertide. She
had given the excursion so that all of
them could enjoy a honeymoon trip with
out much expense to the beautiful capt.
tai Of the nation
They are Easter brides" said ma
be much celebrating and happiness in
Richmond town when this excursion party
returns"
i AS the tide Of men and women passed
through the station to the plaza It ap-
peared as a moving picture of an ami
mated flower garden. because Of the great
wealth of flowers on the big spring hats
and the gay colors in the apparel worn
by the young women. Mrs. Gill said there
were about twenty couples in the party
who had expressed their intention of en-
tering the holy bonds OF matrimony while
they are here.
would not President Roosevelt be de-
lighted could he but see this panorama
OF happiness" chuckled a bald headed
man who looked as il he had had matri-
monial experience.
Mrs. Gill and her immediate party made
their headquarters at the St. James Ho-
tel She said about 500 people came over
to Washington on the excursion. She
also said an automobile company had
agreed to give all the brides and grooms
a complimentary seeing Washington trip
without cost.