Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1874 — Marriage in Mid Air. [ARTICLE]

Marriage in Mid Air.

The most sensational fair-weather bal-loon-trip on record was made to-day from this city. Although partly Barnum’s advertising business, the features it presented were so novel and peculiar that all the papers, even the Commercial , were forced into a minute description worthy of it. It was a wedding in a balloon in mid-air. The bride, a beautiftil red-headed blonde, was Miss Mary E. Walsh, one of the most charming riders in the hippodrome; the groom, Mr. Charles M. Colton, one of the ticketsellers; bridesmaid, Annie Yates, one of the riders; groomsman, W. E. Coup, manager of the show; officiating clergyman, H. B. Jeffries, Church of Christ, Pittsburgh. The halloon was in charge of Prof. Donaldson; the large balloon P. T. Bamum,—fully inflated, being used. Mr. D. S. Thomas, press agent of the hippodrome, accompanied the party. The basket, perch, ring and ropes were gayly decorated with the national colors and with artificial flowers. The passengers were all elaborately and tastefully dressed, and at the close of the afternoon’s entertainment the bridal party marched out from the hippodrome led by the grand band, and followed by the principal people of the show, to where the balloon was tugging at its tethers, impatiently waiting their coming. P. T Bamum and his bride were among those gathered to wish them a safe trip. A. rather funny incident occurred. Mr. Donaldson, finding that he could take one more passenger, called Mr. Thomas, and the latter had stepped into the basket. At that moment Bamum, who has long been talking about making a trip, stepped up to speak to the bride, who was in the basket. Mrs. Barnum was alarmed immediately. She fancied that he was about to follow his press agent into the car, and she ran up and caught hold of his coat-tails and ordered him back in an authoritative way, rather funny to see. The old gentleman followed her meekly back. At 4:80 p. m., to the music “Up in a Balloon,” the balloon sailed. Its upward flight was beautiful. It went up almost straight, with swift grace. A shower of flowers fell from it and the vast crowd of spectators cheered. When it had reached the height of a mile a parachute was dropped to indicate that the wedding in the air had been duly completed. The nuptial ceremony occupied about five minutes, the preacher making a brief address. The balloon was in tffe air only forty minutes, landing on the northern outskirts of the city on one of the hills, where the party were speedily overtaken by reporters in carriages, and where several bottles were cracked. On reaching the city proper the bridal party were taken direct to the Archepiscopal residence, where, in the presence of Archbishop Purcell, Mr. and Mrs. Colton were made man and wife under the rites of the Catholic Church, by Rev. Father Quinn. The Archbishop smiled kindly on them all, and gave to each of the party a photograph of himself as a souvenir of the happy and extraordinary occasion. —Cincinnati Dispatch to Chicago Tribune, Oct. 20.

—The Boston schools pay good salaries for good services and make a gradual increase according to length of service. They have consequently no difficulty in taking their pick from among the very best teachers. For the three or four vacancies that now exist in the Latin School not less' than 150 applicants, graduates of colleges in all parts of the country, have offered themselves. Sponge Cakes.—Beat well together two eggs, and then stir in a teacupful of powdered white sugar, and beat for five minutes; add slowly a teacnpful of flour, beating all the while; grate half a lemon into it and bake in scalloped tins. Thebe is in Pittsburgh a City Hall official who spells October with a “K.”