Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-07
AN AMERICAN BRIDE.
Birmingham's Enthusiastic Welcome to
Mrs. VALUABLE Presents.

Special Cable Dispatch to the n. Y. World.
Before Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain returned
here from his honeymoon there was a good
deal Of friction among the local society about the
public reception to be rendered to himself and
his American bride. Certain prominent people
who know Mr.. Chamberlain socially, though
they detest him politically. were cautious
about following the bent Of their social inclina-
tons, because the liberal-unionists were doing
their best to render the public reception an
affair of political significance. But with the
tact which invariably characterizes him Mr..
Chamberlain has turned all discord into har-
mony, and the public reception to Mr.. and
Mrs. Chamberlain ON Wednesday night will as
sumo the shape of a cordial welcome home
from all the best people Of Birmingham and Of
the Midlands, irrespective OF political athnltles
Mr.. Chamberlain has arranged for another
meeting of purely political nature, in which
he will address his Constituents.
The ladies of Birmingham have subscribed
for two splendid presents for Mrs. Chamber
lain. One is very rich necklace Of seventy
three selected pearls strung on fine silk with a
single diamond clasp. 1t cost g., 900. Another
gift is a diamond six-pointed star composed of
tifty-fve stones of the finest water. These are
set in silver, with a gold mount, and form
either a brooch or a hairpin. The center
diamond weighs one and quarter carats, and
between the rays of the star are shorter pro-
jections, each bearing a smaller brilliant. For
wearing it as a pendant it is provided with an
ordinary brooch pin. but for use as an orna-
ment in the hair there is pin with spiral
spring attached SO as to cause the diamonds
to sparkle brilliantly with each movement of
the head. The star is contained in a case of
chocolate-colored velvet and has the monogram
NJ. Z. G. in saw-pierced silver.
The gifts from Mr.. Chamberlain constituents
In his bride consist Of n gold brac nd hroocb
with an address on illumined vellum, which in
cludes this sentence: "You come to us repre-
senting a noble family of long descent in
great country connected with us by nearest
ties of race, and joining with our own in as
pirations for the highest state Of civilization"
In another llumined address the Birming-
ham arms are introduced on shield EMBODIED
by the English and American flags with Mrs.
Chamberlains monogram. The ladies' adj
dress to Mrs. Chamberlain says: "In coming
among us it is your happy lot to be lowered
with wealth and with the interest, sympathy,
and kindly affection which Mr.. Chamberlain's
fellow-tOwnsmen offer as a marriage portion to
his bride. We pray that for many years to
come his life and patriotic service may be con-
tinued, and that the fullest measure Of human
happiness may be granted to you both We
request your acceptance of our gift, which we
believe will have for you value far beyond
that which attaches to its intrinsic worth by its
being an expression on our part of warm and
hearty welcome to your new home in the old
country"
The requests for invitations to the presenta-
ton reception are so numerous that, though
many have been refused, over two thousand
have been issued, and the reception will be held
In the Town hall, which is about as large as the
hall of the Cooper Union. All that Birming-
ham can do in the way of flowers and music
has been arranged Mr.. and Mrs. Chamberlain
will be accompanied by Mr.. Austen Chamber
lain, Miss Chamberlain, and by Lady Mande-
vile, who is a guest at Highbury