The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-21
Mrs. Adrian IseliD.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK. Nov. 20.-Sitting in the Metro
politan Opera-house, the other night, watched
the beauty wealth and fashion of New York
enter their private boxes Prominent among
the patrons of music are tine Iselins, one of New
Yorlz's weathiest and best known families. Mr..
Adrian Iseln was for many years an importer
of dry goods, and subsequently banker. He
amassed an enormous fortune. but his benefac-
tions have increased with it. Recently he gave
public library to the town Of New Rochelle
where ne and one of his sons own handsome
summer residences, and now he mas given New
Rochelle its waterworks.
The town house of Mr. Adrian Iselin is on the
north side of Madison square, next the Bruins
wick Hotel, and has been the scene of some of
the most sumptuous entertaining ever given in
New York. Indeed the acquaintance of the
family is so extensive that at some of their
larger receptions even the large Madison square
mansion proved inadequate, and such occa-
sions Delmonicos ball room has been used for
the Iselins' grand private balls
Mrs. Iselin a daughter Of Columbus
ODcGnell AS is known, two great Irish fani-
lies emigrated from Ireland one to France, the
MacMahons, of whom Marshal MacMahon was
a son. The other Irish family, the O'Donnes,
went to Spain, and subsequently member of
the family came to this country, settling Balt-
more in the early days of the Republic AL
language but Spanish.
The ODonnells. of Baltimore. became great
social power in that city, they wer. of the bluest
blood, and were looked up TO as the aristocracy
The name of Columbus shows the father of Mrs.
Iselin to be of Spanish origin, and O'Donnell
shows his Irish origin.
Mrs. Iselln in her youth was famously hand
some, and now the mother of a grown family
and about sixty years of age, she still shows
much of her girlhood's beauty. She has GER
al - -
slightly sllvered, and remarkably strong feat
ures Her nose is large and aquiline, and her
chin and mouth show great strength of char
acter. She is altogether a most striking, dis
tinguished looking woman, whose face impresses
every Gne who may see her.
She was the handsomest of large family of
sisters, all Baltimore BELLS She is related to
the Baltimore branch of the Bonapafte family
by marriage OF her own children all of whom
are fine looking. first is Mr. Adrian Iselin, jr,
who married Miss Caylus daughter Of prom
inent French gentleman of New York. A
daughter is the wife of Col Delaney
Kane Then Mr.. William Iselin comes
next, who is well known in yachting
circles. Young Oliver Isein married Miss Jones'
granddaughter of the famous Mrs. Mary Mason
Jones. whose block of white marble houses on
Fifth avenue, between Fifty eighth and Fifty
ninth streets has long been objective point of
interest Mr.. Columbus OD. Iselin is we'll
known whip, cross country rider and athlete,
who is also married, and who owns a fine estate
a: New Rochelle, near that of his father.
In all this large family the greatest congenial-
ity and harmony has always prevailed. The
mother is responsible, to great extent, for this
delightful order of things She is devout Ro-
man Catholic, and gives very largely of her
ample means to the church. To be on the
Iselins' list is a boon devoutly to be wished for
by those holding or desiring to hold high So
cial position; but il is family and intellectually
rather than money which is the sopen sesame
10 fax ni1vta fpia dahl IT, L.
BILE, Mrs. Iselin has no sympathy, or rather con
gelialty. with the nouveau richie. If there is an
aristocracy in America, certainly Mrs. Adrian
Isein is the nearest approach to it. GER