Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-07-08
Hiss Clark Weds James n.
Thompson.

Champ Clark, speaker of the House
of Representatives, and James Nc
nhanny Thompson, Of New Orleans.
publisher of the New Orleans Item
were married Wednesday, June 80, at
O'Clock in the sha low Of the la-gc
trees on the grounds of the beautiful
Clark home at Bowling Green, Nc.
The bride was given away by her
father. The Rev. Robert Sherman
Boyd, pastor of the Lee Memorial
Church in Louisville, KY, cousin Of
Miss Clark, performed the ceremony.
Miss Clark was an "obey" bride and
gave the response distinctly and WITH
earaestness. The double ring service.
was used. the bride and groom giving
each other twin rings.
The bridesmaids were Mss Anne.
and Sue Bennett, OF Kansas. CITY, cou-
sins of the bride; Misses Imogene
and Dorothy Thomson, sisters of the
bridegroom Miss Helen Morton Rob
nett, of Columbia, Mo-, fiancee OF
Bennett Clark, brother of the bride;
Miss Murray Sanderson, of Bowling
Green; Miss Agnes Wilson, daught
of the Secretary of Labor, and Miss
Vera Holcomb. The maid of honor
was Miss Jean Robe t., of Alexandria,
Va There were eight ushers. Mr..
Thomson's brother, Paul Thomson,
was best man.
The gowns of the bride and the
bridesmaids were all simple and in
keeping with the out-of-door setting,
Miss Clark wore white satin, We l,t
in illusion, while her maids were crepe
yelled in illusion of wild flower
shades.
The bridal party made its way from
the roomy veranda of the Clark
home down a flower bordered walk
across rustic. bridge to the spot
known as "the Jungle" This is a
bower of shrubs and flowers over
Swallowed by the largest of the tress,
known sthe honeyshuck, which have
given the speakers home its nam
The hollyhocks of "honeyshack' are
famous aad Miss Cla-k selected a
time when they are in full Room.
National notables f-om Washington
the entire Missouri deleSat on in Con-
zress and practically the entire nlino
and Iowa delegations, the Governor
of Missouri and Louisiana and PROM
nent officials and dist.ngu shed men
of the b-ide's native St1te made it the
most celebrated wedding gathering
ever seen west of the Mississippi.
A general invitation had been issued
to "all Missourians" to be present and
practically all of Pike county was-son
hand, including practically every man,
woman andchild Of Bowling Green.
This was Bowling Green's great da,
and the town made the most of it
Mayor Lee declared an official holi
day and all available space was deco
rated with flags. Across the princi-
pal streets huge banners bearing thr
words, Happiness to the Bride and
Groom" were strung and the railroad
stations were decorated with welcome
signs and the word "Genevieve.
Whole families came prepared with
good, substantial dainties to see the
whole event. Special t,ains were run
from ST. Louis, Kansas City and Chi
cago and sidetracked until after the
ceremony. A Gordon of volunteer po-
lice kept order in the crowds, who
amused themselves while waiting by
singing patriotic songs. The gala ap
pearance of the town was heightened
by the presence of many society
women in striking gowns.
The wedding presents were many
and costly. President Wilson sent two
silver compotes members of the
House of Representatives of Hhe
Sixty third and Sixty-fourth Con-
crosses gave a necklace containing
ESQ diamonds; former President and
Mrs. Taft gave silver cake stan
dard; Vice-President and Mrs, Mar
shall gave silver salad spoon and
fork; the staff of the Item, Of which
Mr.. Thomson is publisher, sent sill
yer wine service, and the news boys
presented replica of the front page
of the Item engraved in silver the
Washington newspaper men gave
beautiful travelling case filled up with
silver. In addition to these there
were many rare antiques, including
Eeet of fine colonial silver, which had
belonged to Mr.. Thomson's great
grandmother, who was Grosvenor of
Loudoun. county, Va. ~
More than 1000 telegrams Of con-
gratulations were received during the
day.
/ Mrs. Thomson wore a black and
white Shepherds suit when she and
Mr.. Thomson left for brief bridal
bridal trip to the North.
+ At the wedding feast, served to the
Guests on the lawn, it is estimated
that over 1000 cakes were used, 50
hams and many dozens of chickens
The ices. salads. cakes, etc., which
were sent from St Louis, filled an
entire express car.
After the festivities Mr. and Mrs.
Thomson went North on their honey
moon Their destination was not an
nounced.
Mr.. Thomson, the son of DIR. and
Mrs, A. P. Thomson, of Summit Point
graduated as bachelor of arts at
Johns Hopkins University in 1897. He
began his newspaper career with the.
Washington Post. and from 1900 to
1906 was owner of the Norfolk Dis
match lie haA l,.rnoA IL. H.. -.