WordPress.com Brockville Minstrels 1885– I wonder if they sang The Mikado?
The Brockville Recorder 1887
A marriage occurred in Brockville lately, connected with which there are some elements of romance. For obvious reasons the names are not given, but the bride is a Brockville girl, and the groom is from below the border.
The groom is a widower with a couple of children, and who some months ago, while visiting friends at Ogdensburg, expressed a desire to marry again. One of his female friends there, with a turn for match-making, told him she was acquainted with a young lady in Brockville who would make him an excellent wife, and advised him to open a correspondence with her. This the party did.
It appears, however, that there were two young women of the same name in Brockville, and the letter was not delivered to the one for whom it was intended, but fell into the hands of the other party, who, believing it for herself, answered it, and a regular correspondence was opened. Although neither of the parties had ever seen the other, the man proposed marriage, and was accepted, and then came to Brockville to make the personal acquaintance of his made.
He met her, and the date for the wedding was fixed. The soon-to-be groom then returned to Ogdensburg. There the lady who had interested herself in his behalf put him through a course of cross-examination as to his opinion of the young woman she had selected for him, and from the description learned that the one that he had proposed to was not the correct person.
She advised him to take, but a total stranger to her, and, like Ko-Ko in the Mikado, exclaimed: “Here’s a pretty kettle o’ fish ; here’s a howdy-do.” She explained that somehow things were mixed, and that the one he proposed to was not her friend, but an entire stranger. The party then returned post-haste to Brockville, made inquiries, and learned that there were two young ladies in town of the same name. He then ascertained the residence of young lady No 2, and called on her, explained the circumstances, made a proposal of marriage, but was 5 bluntly refused. He immediately concluded that he would stick to No. 1, and the wedding in due course took place.
Author’s note: I don’t know about you– but if my new husband came with 4 children I might have said no too… but alas, that was the way of the world in those days.
Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read. Also check out The Tales of Carleton Place.
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in The Townships Sun and Screamin’ Mamas (USA)
It Pays to Advertise… Classified Ad Brides
Women in Peril– Betrayed by Heartless Scoundrels 1882
The Home for Friendless Women
Laundry Babies – Black Market Baby BMH 5-7-66
Embroidery of the Insane?
Women in Peril 1868 — Mathilda Routh
Did You Know About the House of Industry?
The Very Sad Tale of Hessie Churchill
All the Single Ladies?
I’m Every Woman?
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