THE MARRIAGE OF GEN. SHERMAN'S DAUGHTER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 89, 9 January 1875, Page 12

THE MARRIAGE OF GEN. SHERMAN'S DAUGHTER.

Os Thursday, October Ist, at St. Aloysius' Church, Washington City, Thomas W. Fitch, Lieutenant of Military Engineers, U.S.A., was united in marriage to Miss Maria Ewing Sherman, eldest daughter of the General of the U.S. Army. The celebrant was his Grace J. B. Purcell, the venerable Archbishop of Cincinnati, and the old friend of the family of the bride's grandfather, the late Hon. Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, whom, a few years ago, the Archbishop received into the Catholic Church, on his death-bed.

The groom and bride being both Catholics, they were married at the nuptial Mass, and the distinguished official position of the bride's father brought to the ceremony the President, most members of his Cabinet, all the prominent officers of the Army and Navy, most of the Foreign diplomatic Corps, and a great many other people of note. In the lull of other public excitements, " Jenkins " was m his glory, and described at interminable length the millinery of the assistants, the trousseau of the bride, and the arrangements of the ceremony. We are indebted to the correspondence of the ' Herald ' for an incident that pleases us very much more than the above details, and which will excite in the breasts of very, many of our readers a sentiment of far greater respect and interest for the bride, than all the adventitious advantages of her position. The incident reflects, also, the highest honor on her good Christian mother, and also on the Convent school

(St. Mary's Academy, under theJSisters of the Holy Cross, near Soufch Bend, Ind.,) by whom she was strengthened in such right Catholic principles. As we know of the affair through the 'Herald,' we give the account in the language of its correspondent : Miss Sherman has been quite a favorite in the small circle whom she admitted to the enjoyment of her friendship, and greatly admired by society generally, not for a "perfect beauty," which she did not possess, but for a certain charm of manner, a gracious sweetness of features and delightful simplicity of character. She is above the medium height, with a fair complexion, cold, dari gray eyes, aquiline nose, proud, imperious mouth, and light brown golden-streaked hair Ihere was great repose of manner and much reserve with strangers' Her independence of character has always been marked, and her indifference to what are known as "beaux" much commented upon An incident that came to our knowledge during .the visit of Prince" Arthur to this country will convey a correct idea of exactly how independent she was. While on a visit to this city the "Prince who was a very " unassuming, clever fellow," so the young men said, was greatly lionized. Dinners, parties, receptions, and gernians were given in his honor. In return for all this kindness to the son of hia Queen, Sir Edward Thornton conceived the happy idea of giving a ball. Masonic Temple was hired, and every energy put forward" to make the affair worthy of the guests and the royal host and hia Minister. The best decorators were engaged to do the hall, the modistes were crazed by the demand for new roles dv bal. ' Tha" caterer lived on the road from his kitchen in Washington to Delmomco's door in New York. Florists were bidden to spare "no expense. A clerk " was engaged day and night in answering notes " begging, praying, bereeching " dear Lady Thornton for an invitation." But superior to everything was the question, " With whom will he dance ? " Each princess among our belles thought surely with her and each fancied the other would be the Cinderella left in the cold Mrs Thornton made a, list and gave it to one of the Legation, and from that list the partners were chosen for " His Highness " The ball, opened by Mrs Thornton and the Prince, at the first valse to one of those bewitching airs that inspire the feet and flutter the heart, Prince Arthur advanced to Miss Sherman to demand her hand "pour le valse." Eaising her cold eyes and slightly arching her always haughty proud head, she said : — J " Thank you, but the rules of my church do not allow me to « do • the round dances. A pause, and Arthur, too well bred to urge compuance against principles, remained quietly chatting until Les Landers was announced, and then offering his arm to Miss Sherman, they led the dance. The incident created a profound sensation among the beaux and belles, and made an impression on the Prince. From that tame he visited frequently at the General's, and on his return to England sent, with a letter, a superb locket of Etruscan gold. On one side is a turquoise surrounded by diamonds, and on the other a photograph of His Highness, the whole sent "To the young lady who ot all others in America he admired the most." In the spring of 1871 Miss Sherman made a visit to Fort Leavenworth, and while there was thrown from a horse, sustaining serious injuries and producing results so alarming that her physicians ordered a European trip. After a protracted stay abroad, during which she regained health, her face was turned homeward— London first becoming the objective point In sauntering through the Crystal Palace she was presented to the gentleman who to-day became her husband.