A SPORTING PEER'S WEDDING.

The London ' Star ■'■> gives the following amusing description of the marriage of England's greatest sporting peer, the Duke of Portland :t— ; The Duke of Donovan was married at St. Peter's, Eaton square^ to^ Miss Dallas-Yorke. The race was timed* for 12.15. As there were only two starters it may be said- to have re~ solved itself into a match— and a very good match too. The public interest in the event was enormous. A couple of hours before the time fixed the course was thronged, with spectators, and the 'enclosures, when vthe doors were opened, soon held : , a , : brilliant gathering, amongst whom/ were-^in addition to nearly all the dukes, marchionesses, lords, and ladies in the peerage— Sir John Astley, Sir; George "Wombwell, Mr Vyner, Mr Merry, and other well known sportsmen. The ; Duke was; ;: „.: - , ;; 'FIBST ON VIEW. ■ He wbre.his f amburmagpie colours ■ which on ; so many previous occasions have been carried first past the post ; black and^white— a black frock coat with white collar and wristbands. He drove down shortly before 12 and entered through the private entrance of the clerk bf the course, the ifev; John Storrs; From there he was paraded before the multitud e, and made his way to the starting point to j oin his bride. His appearance provoked general expressions of approval. He seemed in tip-top condition'^ fit to run for any man's life, and he looked I all over a thorough good generous animal without the smallest touch of. t emper; The beautiful creature with, whom he was to be matched ; was not paraded. She was taken direct to the starting post at the west- door, where the- Duke -was waiting . to receive her,- accompanied vby his brother j Lord Henry Bentinek, M.P. She was as handsome as 'paint; and every one as they saw 7; tbe .two -ak close quarters ;conceded«that>:'A BETTER MATCHED PAIE,. y; there could no fc be. Her. party was a very strpng one. Mr- and Mrs Dallas-yo'rke; _ were there, and immediately after the bride came, the little Lord Haddoh,. jhe five-year-old; son of the Marquis of Granby, and Master the Hon. Ivan; Hay, Lord , Kilmarnock's boy, who were dressed like* the Princes "in the Tbwer, j; '-and aetejl ! as- .pages. ; Then came the ; bri^eHmaids^L^y Ottoline-Bentinck' tho ; Duke'B sister.' tlie Hon. Catherine Eussellj' Miss Alice 'GrenfelV Miss' Pollard, 1 Misses 'Violet 1 and Hyacinth Bentinck, 'Lady Marjorie Manners, the' BEon. 1 Eileen ' Elliott, ■ and Miss Elsie Graham, who all looked lovely in their white satin costumes with puf-; fed sleeves/ and white hats' with; big ; white feathers. 1 ; They wore Donovan diamond bracelets and brooches'. The i bride looked rare and ? radiant, .in all wlyite satin, laeey and ■flowers, with the; famous Portland string of white pearls i rbuild her neck, -and a big diamond brpbch; in the form of a thistle; which the Ayrshire tenants haid 1 given her. The'prbcessibn moved slowly Up the middle 5 aisle j ! .the : whilei the spectators, aristocrats as i" well as commoners,' ' ' : ; ' " ;j ' STOOD I7P, ON". ; THJEIE CHAIBB '". '. , to'get a better view, and the Portland tenants in the galleries could hardly: keep themselves from < cheering. ■ At, the > chancer : steps ;the; real: racing began,! each' of the -;p.aif A going.' very : strong and : well.: ; Mr '" IDallas-Ybrke ' stepped forward when -the Bishop of; Lincoln,; who officiated as ; starter; and; judge,' ' inquired ; f 6r : :; :his : .^daughter !s . nominator.^ > Close tbgethef:] the. Ipa'ir rair over the > f amiliar : coursei; : When towards the end; the Duke iwas; asked a severe question, 'he 'responded -gal-: lantly, and at the: «M will^' he led by ; a length. 'But; immediately 'f the in^' quiry was put to Mips .Dallas-Torke' ' : ' SHE cIMEtJ-PXEVEIJ 11 ; ; v V : .i in the nicest manneriaiid. ;thejpair ran on together closer tp the! rails] ' through the l^sppnses . and the^ Final Supplica-: tioiC and; Benedidtiqn, until at; the. finish ;; the. Bishop , ''was ./. unable to separate theibj 'and the final result was giypn':— 7..;., '[' ' ['}■'.■■': '..,,;.■.■..'..'., .-. Portland^: „,! i;. .;>-.. \f >; ■,-/.■■ ViDallaSrYorko „.,/:...;;;,. t.c : ■■.... A dead heat. : : V Miss Dailas-Torke, however,' takes the Matrimonial Stakesi, i ; „,"