The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1909-02-19
WEDDING OF WASHINGTON.


orsAt Social Event n Century aad =
It was just 100 years ago the 9th 81
this month hat Colonel GespFsa Wash
ltngton. a dashing young officer In Ia,
Colonial army. led to the altar Marth.
Ci'stis, a young matron whose fam, so'
beauty and charm and wit had made
her the pride Of Kent and MI the cutin
ties round about In his Naiestf $ ,,.us
lreious colony Of Virginia. No pa.ase ol
life In America OF the present can 10, N
such a setting for days of saycty and
Festival celebration ss those that prsA
ceded and followed this weldln:
Washington was clad In all the nnery
that was affected by the young bloods
Of the time. His suit was OF blue cloth
and the Goa OF which showed a rich
lining OF red SILK and oasted many sill.
yer ornaments, while a white satin
aered hair completed his costume. The
bride wore a huge white satin petit.
coat quilted and pleated beyond belief
Her heavily-corded white silk over
dress was the richest that the colony
had ever known, and why should IL not
be, for was she not one Of the wealth.
lest women In Virginia. and many PEG,
pie there had by this time amassed con.
siderable fortunes? Diamonds blazed
from her hands and hraids OF pea ris
hung from her patrlcian neck. Brides
maids and g~roofnsmen were correspond.
ngly arrayed In the height Of the latest
fashion that was brought over from
King Georges court.
After Rev. John Mossum had per.
formed the ceremony that united the
pair the gay cavalcade formed that was
to wind its way back to the white
House." where the feasting aud merry.
making was to take place. The newly
made Mrs. Martha Washington and her
three bridesmaids were placed by gal
liant hands In tho finest chariot In Vir.
ginia, drawn by SIX white horses. These
we're driven by positions In livery. each
man driving n span, one OF which he
rode. When with much cianking OF
chain and jlngling OF bells, thep roces-
sion started, the room and all his as
~sistants and the gay company sprang
to saddle and formed the escort with
outriders and followers and gallants
vying with one another for position by
the carriage door.
The week OF gayety that followed
eliminated with n visit TO the House of
Burgesses. then In session In williams
port and a member OF which Colonel
Washington had recently been chosen.
The young officer was quite the hero
OF the hour. for he had returned from
the wars laden with honors and his
personal social ~conquests had been ell.
NAKED by his marriage with Mrs. Gus
It's. whose popularity was widespread.
Then the bride and groom ira BIZ
several visits on the way.
The even tenor ~ the life Of quiet
which filled the next seventeen sea RI
ar Mount Vernon Is shown In the FIRE.
Quent passages In the diary that Wash
ington kept. beginning with the new
year following hts marriage. In all
that grace and hospitality Of those
days Martha excelled and they said In
Virginia there was no place like the
Washlngtons' MS a social center. Here
were almost always to be found rs
guests the Fairfayes. the Lees. the Gus.
tises. the Fitzhughes and others whose
names live not only In the records Of
those days, but also oday as typical
OF the old nristocracy Of the colony.
From this home on the Potomac and
from his wife's side Washington was
called to become commander in-chief II
the American army IN the Revolution
20 this home he returned when the
| struggle was won. and from this home
he was again called as the first presi-
| dent Of the United States. Again he
| returned To this peaceful spot. forever
apart from public life. TO pass bis few
| remaining years In happiness with his
! wife. never to leave II until death
| beckoned him away.
And from this home on the Potomac
where an obscure grave held the re-
mains Of the greatest man OF his time
from amid the scenes OF her happiest
lays. Of days Of honeymooning and 81