The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-18
AsToR WILLING.


PHILADELPHIA, Feb. i-.-{spccsai. THE mar
rlsge OF Mss Ava Lowfie Hing, daughter OF
MI. and Mrs. Edward Willing. and grand
daughter of the late nr. Rea Barton. and John
Jacob Astor. son OF Mr.. and Mrs William Astor.
grandson OF the iste William Is. Astor and
great grandson OF The famous John Jacob Astor,
was soismaixed today al clock at the town
bcuse OF the brides parents. No. 5Ii south
Broad street The msrriagc was sn important
Que ia many respects, and OF very great interest,
ss u strengthens the tic that already binds the
fashionable set Of tho Quaker City to the ultra
fashionables OF Ncw York
The decoration os The boEsc by Thorlcy. OF
New York. were probably the most magnificent
ever seen In Philadelphia. The fsrge square
frors drawing room, where .he ceremony took
place, and which is furnished IN dark red was
transformed into perfect floral bower. 1t Is
said tERt over sia.1<U was expended in floral
decorations sinne. sDd that carte blanche
was given 10 decorate the entire house in ~
lavish ard expensive aaEne- ss possible.
The ceremony wss performed by the Rt-Rev
Henry &. Whitaker. b'shop Of the diocese of
Philadelphia, assisted by Rev. pr. ". Nelson Nc
sifEav, rector OF The Holy Trinity church. The
bridal party came down the broad stairs. lined
NTH palms and the balnstrade entsincd with
i.ass aud roses, and passed through the library
10 their places in thc frunt drawing room. The
oTdcr was as fellows Barton willing. brother
81 the bride, and Mr.. Harry Iessrande Cannon,
Koterf fargons. and senator iIIscock- Thomas
howard and Woodbury. kaue. Hamilton Fish,
and Webster and Elisha Dyer. IT. Then the
bridesmaids, Miss Ethel Cram and Miss cadwai-
ladcr, Miss Beatrice chapman and Miss Hutch
inson, Miss Ashurst and Miss Wilson.
foliowing came the bride on the arm of her
iatner. Her gown. which was made By Worth,
and one OF the handsomext wedding gowns ever
made Tor any bride, pf rich white satin.
made in simple fashion, Across the front of the
skirt was wide founce Of point lace. The
bodice was made almost entirely ni lace the cor
sage being slightly open at the throat and also
fiiled in with lace. The veil was also Of point
lace. and was held TO the head by a magnificent
diamond tiara made ia the shape OF the Hour dc
iis, and which was the gill of the grooga.
W hen the bridal party had eernc down The
stairs and entered the drawing room. the or
chestra IN the hall screened behind palms and
roses and azaicas rlay ed the bridal chorus from
johengriu- During the ceremony soft strains
OF the same air could be plainly heard. and df-
wedding march burst forth and filled the house
with Its harmoriies.
After the ceremony the wedding breakfast
was served at small tahics, which were arranged
throughout the library. the mnsie room and the
large central hall. Pipnrd aud his assistants
came on from New York yesterday and perfected
the arrangements. with the result that most
elaborate wedding breakfast WAS served the
like Of which had never been known in Phiia-
deiphis- The wedding gifts are estimated to be
worth over s. 2.00oG1
The marriage today VIII give 70 New York So
ciefy, and viii bring 70 the Astors one OF the
most interesting and charming girls in the
country The Willings are very old family.
perhaps the oldest in the history oi the city OF
Philadelphia, having resided here for over 300
tanning one of the large land grants made to
them by Penn and the crown. In is not strange
that the new Mrs John Jacob Asfor should pos
fess such beauty. for the family has always been
richly endowed with handsome women. those of
beauties