The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-01-25

Washington is still talking of the gorgeous
wedding of Florence Audenred to Count Forest
Devonne. 1t was gorgeous in the extreme, and
the BRIDES wedding gown cost fortune 1t
was of cloth of silver, and its train was twelve
feet long. 1t was wonderfully embroidered,
and the wedding veil was the finest of Duchesse
lace, and this was pinned to the BRIDES dark
hair by diamond feur de us. The bride wore
at her corsagc q magnificent spray of diamonds
which the Count gave her, and she was, all
told, more gorgeously clad than SheDa's Queen
in her glory. The groom was quite as gorgeous
as she. He wore coat embroidered with gold
lace. There were jeweled orders on his breast,
and his costume was that which he wears at
court. All Washington bowed down in honor
to the couple, and all the diplomats of the Capt.
tai were present. Secretary Blaine brought the
bride into st. Matthew's Church on his arm,
and he led her up to the front of the church,
where he handed her over to the groom. The
French Minister was the Counts best man, and
two of the Counts noble brothers came over
from Europe to attend the wedding. The pres
ents were numerous and valuable in the eX-
treme. There were pounds upon pounds of
solid silver. The Counts brother gave the
bride sapphire bracelet, and there were dia-
monds and jewels and plate of all description.
The bride looked beautiful, and she is exceed
ingly rich. She is about medium height, has
dimpled cheeks, dark eyes, and most corpu-
lent bank account. She will make q striking
addition to the rich American girls who have
married nobles and her marriage brings again
to the front the subject of international mar
riages,
Should our American girls marry Dukes?
Are titled husbands desirable? The question is
one of interest to all American families. Nearly
one hundred thousand of us go to Europe every
year. Young and old European mobiles are cast
ing about for pretty and wealthy American
brides, and the Worlds Fair of 1898 will flood
the country with fortune-hunters. I have dis
cussed the situation with the leading ladies of
the Capital this week, and l find them up in
arms and in one and all cases opposed to foreign
marriages.
first called on Mrs Proctor, the wife of the
Secretary of War. She said: 81 think there is
great risk in every foreign marriage. AT pres
ent do not feel that would like my daughters
to wed among strangers, but one can never be
sure how opinions may change through force of
circumstances. Doubtless there are very many
instances of love matches of persons of different
nationalities that might be quoted as examples
of lifelong happiness Yet in every marriage
there is much to test the devotion, even when
the individuals have been surrounded through
life by the same customs and domestic infl-
ences. and where marked differences exist one
could scarcely expect perfect harmony"
MRS DoLPH's VIEWS.
Mrs. Dolph considers all marriages to be at
best lottery, and when contracted with for
eigners very great risk that no parents should
be willing for their daughters to incur. GAS to
titles' responded the Senator'S wife, ''no woman
IL
true welded happiness. think it is high time
that stop be put to the growing habit among
Americans, and mothers should guard their chill
dren from temptation in this respect. Probably
more marriages are made between foreigners
and families OF officers of the Navy than any
other branches, owing to the opportunity offered
for intercourse with representative residents at
foreign ports, where squadron officers find
charming solace for their leisure hours in the
society OF bright young American girls. 1t
seems to be the general Impression that Nellie
GRANTS married life has proved anything but
happy one. Yet Mrs. Grant never loses an OPP
portunity of speaking of her daughters perfect
content and pleasant domestic life in her Eng
lish home"
MRS. MILLER DOESN'T WANT DUKES.
Mrs. Miller, wife of the Attorney General,
does not approve of girl marrying outside of
her own nationality. Said she: sit is far safer
and happier to wed one whose education and
associations have been in the same sphere. One
can seldom be sure of the preconceived views
and habits OF a stranger to our customs, and it
is serious risk to enter the matrimonial state
without thorough investigation into a mans
credentials. Even If all seemed satisfactory
do not think would care for child of mine to
leave her home as the bride of duke or of any
other titled aristocrat Still true love is the all
Important point, and 1t has no national bounds"
IT DOESN'T PAY, SAYS MRS. BLANCHARD.
Mrs. Blanchard, wife of the Representative
from Louisiana, is typical Southern woman
of enlarged views. She writes me: 'sMany
American girls have married foreigners,
and few to their happiness. The great ma
jonty have married to their sorrow. Most en-
phatieally do not think it advisable for our
girls to seek or wish for foreign alliances. Too
many are dazzled and imposed upon by the
seeking adventures who parade seedy title in
the hope OF aliuring beauty and wealth. Others
who marry among the nobility or wed foreigners
OF position and who find congeniallty enter into
a sphere of life where the conditions are so diff
ferent from what they are accustomed to that
the change cannot be altogether conducive to