when the latter was an exile here. There is little record of elaborate
pre-nuptial bachelor dinners in the style of modern New York. What would
have been the use? The gardens of the city's fashionable homes boasted
no extensive circular fountains or artificial fishponds into which the
best-man or the father of the bride-to-be could be flung as an artistic
diversion. As has been said, it was something of a slow old world,
lacking in many of the modern comforts.

The robe of the bride was of white satin, tinged with yellow, the bodice
cut low in the neck and shoulders, and ornamented with lace. Over her
hair, built up by Martell, was flung the coronet of artificial orange
blossoms held by the blonde lace veil. Then the satin boots and the
six-button gloves. At the wedding-supper the bride's cake, rich, and of
formidable proportions, was the _pièce de resistance_. Also there was
substantial fare; hams, turkeys, chicken, and game; besides fruits,
candies, and creams. In place of the champagne of later days there were
Madeira, Port, and Sherry. Round the table, illuminated by wax candles
and astral lamps, young and old gathered; the women of a past generation
in stiff brocades, powdered puffs, and tortoise-shell combs. From the
first to last the Fifth Avenue wedding of those days reflected the
patriarchal system that had not yet passed.

It was not a matter of denomination, but when the world was young, the
pioneers of the Avenue did not smile on the way to worship. The Sabbath
day still retained a good deal of the funereal aspect with which the New
England Puritans had invested it. The city was silent save for the
tolling of the church bells. At ten o'clock in the morning, at three in
the afternoon, and again, at seven at night, the solemn processions of
men, women, and children, clad in their Sunday best, issued from the
homes, and slowly wended their way to church. When the congregation had