The hectic, happy days through which Maud moved as she penned the last entry in her 14-year Journal reached their climax on June 6, 1895, Something of the high esteem with which Cairo people regarded Maud is shown in the following story from the Cairo Citizen of Thursday, June 13, 1895.
Joined in Holy Wedlock
Miss Maud Rittenhouse and Dr. Earl Hugh Mayne Married Last Thursday Evening
"As Heaven has blessed your nuptials,
May earthly joys crown you;
With Hymen's torch illumined,
Your path be ever bright."
This glad benediction burst from the throats of a score of young ladies and large audience assembled in the Presbyterian Church last Thursday evening. While they did not take up the refrain, they voiced the sentiment at least.
The occasion was the celebration of marriage of Miss Maud Rittenhouse to Dr. Earl H. Mayne of Brooklyn, N. Y. The church had been handsomely decorated in honor of the event. It was a pink and white wedding and those colors predominated, while garlands of greens and banks of ferns were tastefully arranged around the platform and over the organ. Eight-thirty o'clock was the hour for the services, and promptly the bridal party arrived. To the notes of Lohengrin's wedding march sung by a chorus of ladies in the choir they proceeded down the aisle in the following order: Misses Winnie Ellis, Lida Halliday, Pearl Halley, Genevieve Baker, Emma and Mattie Halliday, Daisy Foster and Margie Lansden; the ushers, Messrs. Julius Schuh, Charles P. Wenger, Dr. Sam'l Dodds of Anna, and Mr. Eugene Lyons of Chicago; the bridesmaids, Miss Lilias Wood and Hattie Clark of St. Louis; the little bridesmaids, Edna Easterday, Helen Lewis, Helen Dougherty, and Alice Morse; the maid of honor, Miss Carolyn Finch of Anna; and finally the bride, leaning upon the arm of her father, Wood Rittenhouse.
The bride was attired in an elegant dress of white satin trimmed with real lace made en train, and wore a bridal veil. She carried a large bouquet of white rosebuds. The maid of honor was costumed in pink satin trimmed with chiffon, and carried a bouquet of pink carnations. The bridesmaids wore white swiss over pink and carried pale pink carnations. The little bridesmaids wore white china silk dresses with pink stockings and slippers, and carried pink carnations. The chorus girls were dressed in white swiss with pink ribbons and carried bouquets of pink larkspur.
Arriving at the platform, where the groom and his best man, Dr. H. H. Rittenhouse (Maud's brother) were in waiting, the party took their positions and the Rev. C. T. Phillips, pastor of the church, performed the solemn service. The scene at this stage was most beautiful. The pretty faces and handsome costumes, the pleasing harmony of the colors and the tasteful grouping made it a picturesque scene. The ceremony concluded, again the sweet notes of the Lohengrin wedding march were sung by the chorus as the party slowly wended its way out of the church. The chorus was composed of the Misses Effie Lansden, Pearl Lancaster, Marion Jenelle, Nellie Fisher, Theo Thrupp, Eva Bingham, Alice Halliday, Mary Wood, and Mrs. Edith Ellis, Charles Wall, W. J. Johnston and Frank Spencer. They were under the leadership of Mrs. Lansden, and Mrs. Albert Lewis presided at the organ.
After the ceremony at the church a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. Rittenhouse, corner of Seventh and Walnut. Here the friends came and showered their congratulations upon the bride and the groom, viewing the array of beautiful gifts and enjoying the hospitality of the host and hostess until a late hour.
Dr. and Mrs. Mayne left at 2:25 a. m. for St. Louis where they remained until Sunday evening. From St. Louis they went to Mason City, Iowa, the home of Dr. Mayne's parents. They will be at home at Bath Beach, a suburb of Brooklyn, about July 1st.
Dr. Mayne's bride is an exceptionally talented young lady. She is an ardent devotee of art, and her natural gift has been supplemented by a thorough art education. She has also been very successful as a writer, and her contributions to literature have been numerous. Her musical talent coupled with her knowledge of acting has brought her frequent demands for public entertainments. But it has been her intense personality that has made her a favorite with everyone. Bright and vivacious, ever willing to lend her time and talents to forward a good cause, she has the happy faculty of always saying a kind word for everyone. She was always very active in temperance work and was largely instrumental in the organization of the Y. W. C. T. U. here. Her departure from Cairo will not only be missed in her own family circle where she was the only daughter, but in the scopes of hearts where her friendship is cherished.
Dr. Mayne is a most estimable gentleman. He met his bride six years ago when he was employed here in the engineer's office in the construction of the Illinois Central bridge. Since that time he has studied medicine, and graduated from Belleview College, New York City. Our highest wish for them is that he may prove a worthy companion for his bride . . . "
(Dr. and Mrs. Mayne still live in Brooklyn and are the parents of three daughters, two of whom are living.)
Extracted 25 Aug 2018 by Norma Hass from It Happened in Cairo, arranged by Anne West, published in 1940.
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