LINKED BY LIGHTNING.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1927, 9 October 1874, Page 3

LINKED BY LIGHTNING.

What may, in sparsely populated districts, where distance is a drawback and a delay distasteful, become the true " marriage a la mode," recently occurred in that country of new sensations and experimental changes— the United States of America. Two persons were married by telegraph in the State of lowa. Tn that State parsons are widely severed, and civil registrars appear to be few and far between, where the solitudes of the forests and the prairies are only partially broken in upon by the scattered settlers thinly spread over by a wide region. So at Bonaparte, in the State aforesaid, John Sullivan and Frances Godown went down to the telegraph station, and there communicated with the Eev. Mr Pratt, the officiating clergyman, who was stationed in the telegraph office at Keokuk, some hundred of miles apart ; and this is what followed, at least immediately, in the shape of telegrams and sarcedotal blesssings :— "Keokuk, lowa, April 16, 1874. — John Sullivan and Frances Godown, Bonaparte, Iowa : Please join hands and take the pledge. — Wm. O. Pratt." The following is a copy of the pledge which had been left with them : — "You mutually and solemnly promise before God and the witnesses present that you will each take the' one you hold by the hand to be your lawful and wedded companion ; that forsaking all others, you will cleave unto each other in sickness and in health, and perform all the duties of a faithful companion until you are separated by death." If to this you agree send me a message to that effect. Then came the response: — "Bonaparte, April 16, 1874.— William O. Pratt, Keokuk. We take the pledge. — John Sullivan, Fkances Godown." The concluding despatch was as follows : — " Keokuk, lowa, April 16, 1874.— J0hn Sullivan and. Frances Godown, Bonaparte, lowa. — By authority 1 pronounce you husband and wife, and may God bless you. — Wm. C. Pratt." Congratulations from all stations along the line were, it is said, transmitted to : the newly married pair. Wedded by the fire of heaven, blessed through its instu/nitfntality, what but happiness could I follow such a union ? Only, unless the marriage laws of the State are tolerably expansive and latitudinarian in their provisions, perhaps there might arise some doubt as to the validity of the ceremony.