The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-15
A WEDDING IN HIGH LIFE.
MARRIAGE IN FRANCE OF TWO
Am ERICAN CITIZENS
Miss willis Welded TO Lieut.. Ward Of the
Navy Festivities on board the Frigate
franklin Brilliant Reception In Nice.

On Thursday afternoop Anril

From me Anglo American.
On Thursday afternoon, April 20, took
place the marriage of Miss Annie Willis. dauRh b
ter Of Mr.. Richard storrs Wills, formerly OF IL
East Twenty ninth street Now York, now Of 40
Promenade des Anglais Nice, with MIR. Aaron
Ward, United States Navy, of the frigate Frank
lin
by half past IL the road to villofranche was
crowded ~ carriages taking all the aristocracy
OF our visitors and Nice society. The PLACE was
decorated In many parts with flags, and ON the
port an elegant tent had been erected, with car
pet from the carriages to the landing place. Tho
Ofncers OF the vessel were In attendance to as
slst the ladies in descending into the boats,
from which they soon arrived on deck. Here
the spectacle which presented itself was truly
magnificent. The Frauklln had been converted
into conservatory OF brilliant flowers, the COW
erine being formed Of flags Of all nations, from
which were suspended floral festoons and
wTeaths Among the company were moro than
100 ladies' In varied and elegant toilettes.
More than thousand bouquets were distrbu-
TED To- the guests az mementoes OF the event.
The altar before which the young couple were
to receive the blessing Of the church was deco
rated with fiags. and above the faldstool OF the
flowers.
AT half-past one a flourish Of trumpets was
heard, and the email boat destined TO receive
the bride and bridegroom, which had been ele
gantly decorated with flowers, came alongside.
The sailors formed guard on each side OF the
pair as they went below. New guests now ar
rived every minute, and a stream OF boats kept
plying necessarily between the vessel anu the
shore.
At two o'clock a salute OF three guns was
fred In honor of hts IOrdship the Bishop Of
Nice who was to unite the happy couple, and
who came on board with his attendant clergy
at that hour.
Alta quarter before three on a signal made,
the most perfect silence prevailed. The bride
and bridegroom placed themselves with their
friends In front OF the altar. The bride wore n
costume rich though simple and In perfect
taste, robe of white satin with a long train,
lace sleeves and on her head white tule veil
which enyeloped her whole figure was sur
jewels she carried whole fortune in her neck
lace OF diamonds and Two Immense diamond
sulitares In her ears. The BRIDEGROOM was Ia
civil costume. The bridesmaids were Miss
blanche willis, Miss Jessie Willis, the two Sis
tiers OF the BRIDE and Miss LILY worden, all
three dressed In white faille with bouquets Of
field bowers.
After a touching discourse In French by the
venerable Bishop Of Nice. few worls were ad-
crossed in English by the theoluRi,n N vello,
the sacrainental rite was then performed by the
Bishop who blessed the young couple. The act
OF marriage was then signed by the latter aud
| four witnesses, Admiral Worden. Mr.. W. III.
| Vesey. United States Consul, Capt. Franklin,
band OF the Franklin struck up the Wedding
March, ana the newly married couple left the
| hetween-decks to embark, preceded by two
sailors, VINO scattered flowers In their oath.
| When they reached the shore a carriage and
| !air was waiting to conduct them to Mr. WILLIS
| house.
The civil marriage took place on Wednesday
| before the French authorities IN the presence
| of the witnesses we have named above Before
closing our account we desire To unite with the
many friends OF the newly married pair IN wish
lng them heartily a long and happy life. Ia addi-
/
| fortune, beauty and youth.
The list of guests invited to be present at the
ceremony included: NJ. and Nine Darcy,
prefct. Count and .untess 'Aspremoni, Count
d'Aguado, Marquis st. Afghan, COu ct Count
| ess Splaro del BOrgo, VI. A. Bigot, he Dean Of
Bristol and Mrs. Eliot, y ron de Brou, he
| Countess de Bonyhwordcn, Count aud Countess
de 81, MARITIME, the --arquis and Marchioness
| dc Cortanze, Count and Countess de Constantin,
Marquis and aerchoness de Cosentlno,
Countess dc Cessole, the Bishop Of Nice,
baron Gudin, Major-General and Mrs.
k As}es Count Konarski. Count Laurent
ana Countess Malaussena, Baron de Nervo,
baron and baroness FROST, Baron and
Broness Balllndt, Count de Pierlas. Baron Won
| Serbia, Baron and Baroness stack tlberg March,
loness Serramczzana Flor, COunte Iyszkieyiez,
Baron de Vatrv, Viscount and Niscountess
| Nieter, Niscount de Valengart. Marquis and
March.oness de Niileneuve Dargemon, Count
| and Countess de Robelio, Countess Ricardi,
Niscount and Viscountess Seysssl d'Aix, Ad-
mira aud Mrs. orden.
Next grand reception was given by Mr.. and
whole Of the rooms Us well as the staircases
were adorned with flowers OF the Richest de-
scription. The band OF the Franklin was IN
attendance. The rooms were crowded with the
aristocrlcy Of Nice. One subjec OF general ad-
mifation was the immense number Of bou-
quets and baskets Of flowers offered by the first
families Of the town to the young bride. Three
immense marriage bells" first attracted our
SNOWFALL more than two metres In circumfer-
ence and composed entirely Of white camelllas
by Lieut. stevens. In our enthusiasm we must
not, however, omit to speak Of the reffeshment
buffet, which was set out In the best possb le
style. Champagne took the place VI water, and
dtHdc TRUCE that OF bread.
Later 10 the afternoon the happy couple left
Nice for Marseilles. en- route for Paris, where
MIR. and Mrs. Ills viii JOIN them IN months
time. Mr.. A. Ward has six months leave Of alb
sence on the occasion Of MS wedding.