Old-time Marriage Notices.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 2 June 1906, Page 8

Old-time Marriage Notices.

Personal journalism is supposed to be a recent development, but these extracts from old newspapers show that it has at least the sanction usually accorded to old age.

"A few days ago was married at St. Bridget’s Church iu Chester, Mr. George Harding, aged 107 years, to Mrs. Catherine Woodward, aged eighty-three. The bridegroom served in the army thirtynine years, during the reigns of Queen Anne, George I. and part of George 11. This is his fifth wife, and he is Mrs. Woodward’s fifth husband. It is also worthy of observation that the above old man’s diet has been for the past thirty years chiefly buttermilk, with a little Hour, and bread and cheese.” The personal tone of the latter part of this announcement suggests another, which ends with the edifying information: "He served in King William’s Wars and received a ball in his nose.”

Besides age and diet and accidents there are also allusions to height, fortune and length of courtship; as for example the following: "Mr. Thomas, a grenadier in the Yorkshire militia, six feet two inches high, to Miss Hannah Tennick. three feet two inches high, with a fortune of five thousand pounds.” And to another item is appended: "What is still more remarkable, there has been a courtship carried on betwixt them for more than sixty years.” Often a complete romance has been related, as in the ease of an English soldier. who went through various experiences in foreign countries and after an absence of thirty-three years returned to his native land where he accidentally met his first wife. He had lost two wives and she two husbands during the time and "both being disengaged, they willingly renewed their former connection.” Disparity of ages is one of the commonest of incongruities among married couples, the instance of the much-mar-ried woman, who for the fourth time had "honoured the marriage register with her name,” suggesting a ridiculous condition. It was announced that in the evening “several of the relations went to the apartment of the newly married couple to pay their respects totheir young grandfather.” A difference less great but more conspicuous is referred to in an account of the low status of the colliers in a certain district of England. Church ceremonies were attended with unseemly display, and from time to time collections of absurdities passed through the streets on the way to the parish-house. On one occasion the marriage of "Johnny and Betty” was being celebrated. In the procession floated a couple of yards of painted calico upon which the secret of rejoicing was told in the words: At Johnny and Betty’s wedding We will merry be; For Johnny’s sixty-five, And Betty’s seventv-three.”