FIFE AND LOUISE MADE ONE. THE ROYAL WEDDING. GREAT ENTHUSIASM. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 406, 28 September 1889, Page 4

FIFE AND LOUISE MADE ONE. THE ROYAL WEDDING. GREAT ENTHUSIASM. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. )

Ellis Royal wedding morn broke most disigreeaoly, wibh lowering clouds and a slight drizzle, which manifested a decided intention to turn into a regular " cabs and logs " deluge. Decidedly not " Queen's kveather," but as someone sardonically remarked," a typical English summer's day." As might have been expected, however, the 3tato of the roads beneath, or the heavens above, made no ditieience to the feminine population of the metropolis, who seemed to have turned out en masse, for the occasion. From every pointofthecompass they came in huge and hurried streams and poured into the Mall. All that avenue was a seething mass of what we ironically term the " weaker sex." There were a few men, dotted here and there amongst the vast crowd, but their presence only made the general absence of male humanity the more conspicuous. The slight rain ceased soon after ten, but the clouds seemed to get lower and lower, the closeness being intense. At Buckingham Palace, where the crush was severest the heat in the ciowv I w here the damp garments of the women positively steamed, was quite unendurable and several ladies fainted with a good deal of sense. The first half dozen were carried inside the railing of the Palace, where, ot course, they had a magnificent \ie\v, bub this kindliness on the part ot the officials caused so many ladies to go mysteriously " dead oil " that the commanding officer ordered his men to carry the unfortunate tairs oft on stretchers to the Park, out of sight oi everything and lay them on the grass. Fainting then retreated in the betting to 1,000 to 6 against. As the morning wore on the light impro\ ed, and when the carnages began setting down the invited guests at Buckingham Palace things began to look quite lively and cheerful. The procession f torn Marlborough House started rather late, and tho red guardsmen, followed by the State carriages, went by far too smart a pace tor anyone to recognise the inmates wiuh the exception of the last, which contained the ever popular and beautitul Piince^s of Wales. She was received with the utmost enthusiasm, accompanied by a frantic waving ot handkerchiefs. Then came a short but impressive pause, and then at a slower pace came a :=oldiery escort of the " blues " closely followed Dy tne great State carriage which her Maiest\ was wont to use years ago on occasions ot display. As it rolled ponderously by, swaying solemnly on its great gilt tprings, bhe crowd got a good view of the loyal bride, looking very sweet, but rather pale and agitated, as is the custom of girls, royal or commoners, on their wedding days. She bowed very timidly to the crowd as one unused to receiving such tremendous ovations, but seemed proud and pleased all the same. The Prince looked much as usual in his scarlet uniform and glittering orders, a trifle thoughtful, perhaps, as was natural under the circumstances, but otherwise " bland and placid" as is his custom. In two minutes the show was over and tho crowd rushed ofi to augment that in Piccadilly and on Constitution Hill waiting to see the return procession. The wait wa> long, but the almost exclusively feminine crowd stood like Spartans and felt themselves amply rewarded when bhe sun came out and the storm ceased. Meanwhile the scene inside the tiny privote chapel was an extraordinarily bright one. A select body of reporters were located under the gallery, a vantage point from whence they saw everything wibhoub being seen. The " Daily News " representative gives a very good description of the decorations, which I think I could hardly improve on, so will give it in his own woras. " The chapel," he says, "had been very beautifully and tastefully decorated with floweis, the dark red pillars being garlanded with palest pink, white, and creamy-yellow roses, with jusfc sufficient foliage to give effect to their soft tint?. Long iesboons of similar loses extended from pillar to pillar, and the line ot the gallery just under the clock was also defined by a continuous garland ol roses. The angles of the wall by the aitar were filled in with groups of floweis some 12 feet in height. At the base were ranged foliage plants, all in the palest bones ot greyish - srreen, yellow, and lemon - colour. Above these were white hydrangeas, then lilies ot many kinds, wibh tall sprays of tine ti^er-lilies among them ; and above tho=e ro&e great shafbs of white and purple blooms, overtopped with palms and leathery ferns. The alabaster pulpib was tilled wibh tall palms. Above the altar was a large cross composed ot white hobhoubo fiowei", and on either side was the Greek monogram of Christ in similar blossoms. The vivid contrast of the white cross wibh bhe red background was artistically subdued by bhe inbroduction of davk-gieen palm leaves, which were fastened flat upon the wall behind it. Under the arms of the crot-s were vases filled with exquisite pale-pink roses of the largest and rarest sort, grouped wibh maidenhair ferns. In and among- bhe flowers were the pieces of gold plate composing the magnificent Communion set ordered by George IV. ior his private chapel at Brighton. The splendid piece of tapestry above the altar, representing the baptism of the Saviour by St. John, seemed to gain added beauty from bhe soft brilliancy oi the flowers beneabh ib. To bhe tryptiches on either side the albor had been added several .smaller paintings of Biblical subject-. The crimson carpet and the gold iringed crimson of the albarcloth had an invaluable effect in warming up the pale and rather chilly bones of mauve, French grey, and light blue of the decorations. To the right of the altar wore placed the gilt chaits for the Queen, the Princess of Walea, and a few of the Royal guests. " At a few minutes past eleven the invited guests began to arrive. They were all very great people indeed ; duchesses and ladies, statesmen and princes poured up the aisle ia one continual stieam till one really gob quite nervous as to what would be done with them all. There was a slight murmur of approbation when Mrs Gladstone and the G.O.M. entered radiantly, and a movement of some surprise when Sir Frederick Leighton. picturesquely arrayed in black velvet, walked in wearing the Academy-President's beautiful badge of office. A few minutes before one, the sun managed to peep through the clouds and sent shafts of coloured light across the aisle. 'Twas almost like a cheerful herald announcing the arrival of Royalty, for almost immediately the Buckingham Palace party began to enter the chapel. The organ played the Occasional March, while the various Highnesses and princes were taking their Beats. Count Gleichen accompanied the first lady in the Royal procession, Prin.eess Victor of iiohenlohe, who was followed by her husband and her son, the hereditary prince. The Duchess of Teck, with her Jmsband and Prince Francis, was followed •by her brother, the Duke of Cambridge, dn scarlet and gold and many medals. Princess Frederica of Hanover, with Baron yon Pawel Bammingen, immediately preceded Prince and Princess Henry of Batten - berg, who were followed by Princess Louise

and the Marquis of Lome, Prince and Princess Christian and their sons, and Princess Albert Victor and George of Wales. The Princess of Wales, looking her brightest and loveliest, walked between her brobhors, the King of the Hellenes aud the Crown Prince of Donmark, and was followed, the ViceChamberlain and Lord Steward intervening, by her Majesty theQueen.wholeaned on the right arm of the Grand Duke of Hesse. The whole of the congregation rose as the procession filed in, and those in the immediate vicinity greeted the members of the Royal Family with low bows as they passed. The Queen, who walked very slowly and looked by no means robust, waa conducted to the chair placed for her, behind which stood her Indian attendant. Her Majesty wore black, as usual, but its sombreness was lelieved by the white silk ruchings and numerous glitteiing orders with which the sable habiliment was adorned. A miniature crown of diamonds and a large neckiace of the tame precious stones were her chief ornaments. Scarcely had the Queen taken her chair when the organist changed from Handel to Wagnor, and Lord Fite in the dark green uniform of the Banft Artillery entered to the inspiring strains of the march from " Tannhauser." He was accompanied by the Lord Chamberlain and his " best man,*' Mr Hoi ace Farquhar, who wore the uniform of a deputylieutenant. Having bashfully saluted fcho Queen, he took up his position by the communion rail?, and tried unsuccessfully to look unconcerned. A lew minutes' pause followed, and then '' Lohengrin" resounded from the organ, and the bride, on her father's arm, entered amidst the low bows of the brilliant company. The bride wore a dress of white satin, with a train measuring some three yards in length, and untrimmod, save for a bordering of satin tokls. Tnc front was completely coveted with the finest Brussels lace, and a chatelaine of orangeblossoms fell over the folds at ono side. In her hair she wore a wreath of orangeblossoms, under a veil of finest Brussels, the design of which matched that on her dress. In the front of her bodice she wore one spray of orango-blos-som and a sprig ol heather which the Earl of Fife had taken to her that morning at Marl borough House. Her ornaments were peails and diamonds. A high collar finished the bodice at the back, but was open V-shape in front, showing a necklace consisting of one row of beautiful pearls under the folds of the bridal veil. Her sleeves were of lace, unlined, thiough which the beauty of her arms could be discerned. Her bouquet consisted of white moss, roses and maidenhair fern. Her eight bridesmaids were iv pink of the precise shade of a moss rose, a reposeful and quiet tint. The materials of their dresses were silk and and crepe-de-chine. The bodices were Vshaped, both in front and at the back. Sashes of pink moire ribbon were brought from under the right arm and tied at the back where they fell to the very edgeof the dresses. These were made with short trains. A small cluster of pink moss-roses was fastened in each bridesmaid's hair, at the left side. They carried bouquets of pink mood-roses, and wore pink stockings, and shoes with paste buckles. The bridesmaids were : Tho Piinccsacs Victoria and Maud of Wales, the Princesses Victoria and Louise of Scbleswig - Holstein, Prince&s Victoria Mary of Teck, and the 'Jountesses Victoria, Feodore, and Helena Gleichen. The Queen sat during the ceremony, but whs-n it was concluded, and tie married couple had risen from their knees after tho Archrjishop had pronounced the nuptial benediction, Her Majesty rose from her chair and advanced one pace, the biide immediately coming towards her, followed by her husband. The Queen took her granddaughter by both hands, and drawing her down towards her kissed her warmly, first on the right cheek and then on the left. Her Majesty looked much moved as she did .=o. She shook hands heartily with the biidegroom, and while she did so the Princess of Wales kissed the bride, and said a few words in her ear. Then she too shook hands with the Earl and smiled upon him. At this moment there was a question of precedence, the bride and bridegroom, and more especially the latter, showing some disinclination to precede the Queen. The Prince of Waled, seeing the difficulty, lefeired bho matter to his mother, who. with a wave of her hand in the direction of the door, commanded the newly-married pair to go in front. The bride, with some show of alacrity, as though glad the long ceremony was over, put her hand on her husband's arm and led the way, followed by the bridesmaids. Tho Queen, conducted by the Grand Duke of Hesse, the Princess by the King of the Hellenes, and the lest followed in due order. A weuding luncheon was served in tha Palace, but there was nothing remarkable about it except the state wedding cakes, supplied by Gunter. The chief one measured six feet in diameter, and stood over six feet high from its base. The others were somewhat smaller. After lunch the party were muchly photographed in the garden, and after a serious delay caused by the enthusiasm of the gay photographer, the return was made to Marlborough House. The route taken was up Constitution Hill, and down Piccadilly, etc. As £l have said, the roads were crowded, and the Duke and Duchess warmly received. While the bride was changing her frock, etc., the Princess held a reception in the gardens At about four the newly-married pair left, and were drawn in the Duke'b own carriage to Sheen House, where they will spend the first part of their honeymoon. They ariived at about halfpast rive, looking almost fagged out after their long day. The grey and leaden afternoon yielded to a mild sunshine, which lit up and glorified every leaf and flower, every flag, escutcheon and device with which the inhabitants of P.ichmond had striven to give them a welcome. All up the hill to where the lanedivides,one branch leading to Richmond Park and the other to Sheen Common, was a sea of waving colour. Festoons of rrsee, which seemed to be the predominating flower, swung gently between the over-arching boughs, myriads of Chinese lanterns moved lightly to and fro with every breath of air, and numberless flags of all colours mixed everywhere with the canopy ot green which Nature had spread overhead. Beyond the point wheie the lane divides, and on the way to the Earl's house, a noblo triumphal arch spanned the road, with the motto "Virtue et Opera " on the one side and "Ich Dien " on the other, both flanked with the Royal Standard and the Fite coat ot arms. The gate of East Sheen Lodgo was profusely decorated with ivy, evergreens, trailing plants, pampas grass,and flowers, and over the central arch were the words " Welcome Home." The Duke of Teck, at the entrance to the Lodge, presented to Her Royal Highness a basket of beautiful flowers, and the thirteen-year-old granddaughtor of the veteran physiologist, Sir Richard Owen, was leu forward to present a prayer book in vellum and Kilvev, from the women of Mortlake to the Princess. The carriage then dtovo on towards the Lodge, and was lost to view. About half-an-hour after the happy pair were installed, the deluge,

which had boon threatening all day, came down. One does nob often see such a storm over here ; it was quite tropical. 1 forgot to mention that at the luncheon Her Majesty the Queen proposed the health of the newly-wed pair in suitable, and even motherly, terms. Lord, or, rather, the Duke of Fife, was much affected ; he grew quite pink with emotion. It is worth noting, by the way, that the bride bore no le->9 than three titles on her wedding day. Early in the morning she was Louise ot Wales, next Countess of Fife, and within an hour Duchess of Fife and Marchioness of Duff. After the ceremonials at Buckingham Palace, the Quoon returned to Osborne, brighter and butter tempered than she had been tor f omo weeks past. The attendants wish there was a wedding every day, I am informed.

A WEDDING HYMN. I want to draw your attention to the special anthem which was sung at the wedding of the Princess Louise of Wale?. The words are most beautiful and appropriate, and seem to me new. The " Court Journal," indeed, said the hymn was composed for the Duke of Portland's nuptials, but 1 couldn't bo sure whether this referred to the words or to Air JBarnby's music only. Oh! Perfect Love, all human thought ttan si/ending Lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne That theirs may be the love th.it knows no ending Whom thou lor evermore dost join as ono. Oh, Porfcct Life, be I hou their full assurance Of tender charity <md steadfast faith, Ot patient hope, and quiet, bravo endurance, With ohilduivc trust, that l&irs no pain nor dc.ith. Grant thorn the joy which brightens earthly sorrow, Grant them the pcaeo that calms all worldly strite ; And to jile's day the glorious unknown morrow That daw lib upon oicinal io\ o vid Jilo. Most of the minor poets have burst into epithalamiums over the Fife wedding, but the veioiules, as. a rule, do not seem up to much. " Dagonet," 1 regret to say, is distinctly ribald. Ho talks for instance of % I wo souls with but a am^lc thought, Two iViics that toot as one." NKXT PHiAisE.

Pkincess Victokia To Follow Her SiSTEIl't, EXAMPLK bIIOKTLY. Who is next bo be married ? is the question of the hour. An enterprising London lettor writer tor one ot tho provincial papers says he knows, and gives the public just enough to make ib wish ior more. The brilliant genblenian iulormfc u&, on his honour as a journah&t (gracious !), that Princess Victoria ot Wales comes next, and that her husband has already been chosen ior ( her by the people about the court, "he ib the son of one of the most , London ot tho peers, "' says the scribbler, "Hit: lather being a member of the Government, and very rich. Both tather and &on are sufficiently popular. The lad only came ot age ia&t month, and is only famous in the negative way of being the only modern swell wno has not made a fool 01 himself in his salad days. It he marries the Princess he will be able," continues the gos&ip, "to give her as fine a home as any in England, ' when completed ' '' — is the slight reservation which he throws in here. The present title of tho expectant suitor, or suitor-expectant, to be coirect, is, wo are carefully informed, deiived irom a metropolitan borough. As the man in the novel bays, "here is a clue." On his ma's side he is descended fiom a famous soldier, and all — all, mind you — his Bisters and cousins and aunts are countesses. Dear me, can it be our dear old friend the " Duke of Seven Dials '' again V It surely must be when one remembers that the namo is derived from a metropolitan borough. We shall have "Yum Yum," as the Prince of Wales is aliectionately called, singing the dear, old song, — "I shall ne\er forgot my ' Vicy,'l shall neve toi'Ket her simlus. But I'm bOiTj she limed quite so much with the Duke of seven Dials."