Cowan - Hopkins.

It is seldom the privilege of guests to witness a more beautiful wedding ceremony---beautiful in its simplicity---than that witnessed at "The Cedars" the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Hopkins, about 3 miles east of New Market, Va., Thursday afternoon, Dec. 31, 1903, when their daughter Virginia Frances was married to Mr. James Cowan, of Washington, D. C. Preceded by the attractive and accomplished sisters of the bride, Miss Nannie and Miss Mary Hopkins, of Washington city, the couple entered the parlor, where they were met by the Rev. J. J. Ringer, who, in the presence of the immediate family and a few relatives and neighbors, pronounced the solemn words which made them husband and wife.

After congratulations and best wishes for the future had been said, the whole company repaired to the dining-room where a bountiful and elegant wedding dinner was served----a real Virginia wedding dinner, and those at the table being waited upon by the vivacious young ladies above mentioned, ample justice was done to the good dinner.

The bride was attired in a neat traveling suit of gray----coat and skirt, with waist of white silk. the groom wore the accustomed black.

Mr. and Mrs. Cowan left for Washington, D. C., on Monday, where they will make their future home. The groom is a young business man of that city. All their friends join in wishing them a long and happy wedded life.

As a matter of interest to our readers, we append the following item from the Washington Post, together with the paragraph following it, furnished us by the groom's friend:

Mr. James Cowan, for the last year connected with the staff of the Y. M. C. A. Building, in this city, was married yesterday to miss Virginia Hopkins, at New Market, Va. Mr. Cowan was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and joined the British army at the age of sixteen years as a bugler. Later he served in South Africa under Gen. Hector McDonald, and was wounded in the charge on Cronje, at Magersfontain, where half the command was killed.

Mr. Cowan was shot through the leg and laid on the battle field all night in this fight. He was sent to England and received a medal from the queen which his mother now wears as a brooch in honor of her son's services to his country. She will visit him in the city of Washington next spring and buy him a home there.