ELOPEMENT BY STEAM.
" The Preston and Glasgow Railway passes through Gretna Green; and it will be possible to travel from London to the forge matrimonial, and back again, on the same day. The railroad trains cannot overtake each other ; so that pursuit will be vain."—Newspaper Paragraph.
This is alarming intelligence to " parents and guardians," who will see in their mind's eye scores of enamoured couples daily whisked over the Border; while the parsons will tremble for their fees, and envy the rich harvest that will be reaped by the Vulca- nian forger of the fetters of wedlock. They need be under no such apprehensions: the romance of elopement will be destroyed; and the grand inducement being removed, Gretna marriages will be out of fashion. This is the opinion of the wily old blacksmith himself, who has had abundant experience of human nature under such circumstances : he anticipates a diminution of his income when the railroad comes into play. It is not the mere secret marriage, but the post-chaise and four, the excitement of the flight, the danger of pursuit, and the animation of the chase, that stimu- late the lovers who go to Gretna. Once render it easy of accom- plishment, and what Lydia Langukh will sigh for such a vul- garity ? There will be very few matches lighted at the fire of Hymen's altar by means of a railroad train.
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