Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-14
FLORA WEST.
Her Approaching Marriage with
an Eminent Frencnman.


Her Approaching Marriage with
an Eminent Frencnman.
The fashionable circles of the capi-
tai have been suddenly thrown into
mingled sensations of pleasure and
disappointment, the former over the
unexpected announcement of the
early marriage of Flora Sackvile
West, the second and beautiful
daughter Of Sir Lionel S. Sackvile
West, the British Minister, and the
latter because the ceremony will take
place in Paris. The greatest disap-
pointment, however, is to Miss Vic
toria West, the eldest sister, who pre-
sides over the domestic and
social regimen of the legation
The very recent death of Nine.
Salanson in France will cause the
nuptial ceremony to be very quiet.
which reconciles Miss West to its per-
formance in the country Of the groom
instead o. at the legation here. She
will leave Washington with her sister,
Miss Flora, the prospective bride, and
Miss Amalia, on the Goth, aud will
take the steamer from New York for
France the next day. Sir Lionel will
depart later. The wedding will take
place in June. After few weeks
passed in Paris and London Sir Lionel
and Misses Victoria and Amalia will
return to the United States and pass
the summer at Beverly, Mass, where
they have engaged suitable accommo-
dations.
Sir Lionel Sackville West, X. G. M.
g., the diplomatic representative OF
Great Britain at Washington, is the
son of the present Earl Delaware and
a direct descendant of Sir Thomas
West, Governor General OF Virginia
about 1915, and after whose title,
Baron OF Delaware, the great river OF
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, re-
ceiyed its name. His mother, ady
Elizabeth Sackville, OF Norman
family Of the time OF the Conqueror,
was q daughter OF the third Duke of
Dorset. Minister West entered the
diplomatic service of his country un-
der the Earl OF Aberdeen in lS45, and
has since filled some OF he most i'm
portant diplomatic posts. !
The Minister'S household consists
OF three beautiful and ACCOMPLISHED
daughters. The eldest, Victoria, is
the presiding lady of the legation.
She has with her her governess, a
matronly French woman, who under
stands training in the domestic arts
as she does in the feminine arts of
conversation and poetry of motion.
Miss West is great pet in Washing
tar cAftntu tNhnr, oh hn ;.~
1881. she was but II years OF
age. She was placed by her
father in complete control OF
the household affairs OF the lega-
ton. The building, which is owned
by the British Government, is one of
the largest in Washington, and
for social entertainments has
more conveniences and fully as much
space as the Executive Mansion. 1t
is luxuriously furnished in rich bro
cades, and in every way testi6es to
the taste and refinement of the young
mistress Of the household. A great
portrait of Queen Victoria in her
coronation robes hangs over the
grand stairway. 1t the superinten-
dence OF the purchases, keeping of the
domestic accounts directing the cere-
monial dinners and social entertain
ments, and arranging the invitation
list and details of the Legation ball
always one of he events of the sea-
son, she is supreme.
The three daughters were born in
France and were educated in a
French convent. When they arrived
at Washington they could not con-
verse in their paternal tongue but ac-
quired it here and now use it with
great fiuency and yet with trace OF
French accentuation which makes it
all the more attractive. Miss Flora
West, the prospective bride, is tall,
class;c-looking brunette, just entering
her twenties. She has a stately
showy figure, rather more of the
Spanish mold than French, and pos
sesses very captivating lace. Her
favorite vehicle on conversation is
French, but she is skilled in several
tongues.
Gabriel Salanson, the prospective
groom, is secoud Secretary OF the
French Legation at Washington. His
family is from the picturesque De-
partment of Aisne on the Belgian bor-
der OF France, where it has been dis
tinguished in affairs His father is an
eminent COUNSEL eur de Prefecture at
Paris, and a brother of the brave
General Salanson, celebrated in the
Franco-Prussian war. M. Salanson,
the son, came to Washington from
Buenos Ayres. He is an advocat by
education and diploma, but has SER
we'd for some time in the diplomatic
service. An effort will be made to
have him assigned to duty in the For
eign Office at Paris, so that the spring
time of his married life may be pass
ed among the congenial surroundings
Of a happy life at the gay capital OF
the French.
The youngest daughter, Amalia, is
very beautiful and charming. The
season Of year ago witnessed her