The Washington times., 1894-04-29
WEST END GOSSIP.

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On Wednesday at high noon in New York
there occurred the wedding OF Miss Anna
Wright Williams, daughter OF the late DIR.
Laurence Williams, and granddaughter oil
the late George Law, and Mr.. Armstead Peter,
ir., son Of DIR. Peter, of Tudor place. This
marriage occurred in the parlor OF the Fifth
Avenue hotel As II the long list OF ancestors
at the beginning OF the announcement was
not enough, we are further told that both the
bride and bridegroom's mothers were great
granddaughters OF Martha Washington. Then
there were some more grandmothers and grand
daughters to be spoken OF at the wedding.
All this sort OF thing Is immensely tiresome
and ought to be suppressed in the announce
ment of a wedding. It's like reading the first
chapter of st. Matthew backwards and ought
to be kept for the family tree. Another state
ment that does not come in with our idea Of
the fitness Of things was the fact that the
brides mother had been boarding at the Fifth
Avenue hotel and had an apartment consist
ing of twenty-one rooms, which were all dec
GRATED for the occasion. OF course they were
decorated; who ever does anything nowu-
days that the public are called upon to ad-
mire without decorating their apartments
or rooms. luncheon dinner or tea. or
marriage in an undecorated apartment would
be shock that the public could never re-
why the public Imagination should be need
lessly taxed to grasp the immensely OF an
apartment consisting OF twenty-one rooms Is
past our comprehension. The grandmother
are quite enough.
We are glad that Martha Washington. Sit
ting in her simple garret room with her gen.
tie pussy wandering in and out at the die
tates of her own sweet will, could not have
foreseen all this with her prophetic eyes or
have known through what labyrinth Of
shoddiness her noble name was to be dragged
by future brides and bridegrooms, else she
might have mourned as one refusing to be
comforted.
We like 10 tsxn from a scene like this Qn
the society ood4nn) to read Of weddings like
the prospective one OF Miss Harriet Blame
with Mr.. Truxton Beale en- Monday. We are
told that this wedding will be Just as
simple as 1t will be possible to make it. There
will be no attendants, and there are no cards
out. The invitations to the wedding are
verbal Miss Blaine has asked her particular
friends from day to day, and the groom has
done SO with his friends. The presence Of Mr..
and Mrs. Walter Damrosch and their two
year-old daughter, Mrs. Emmondsl Blaine
with her four-year-old son, and the two Cop
pinger boys will add to the family group
All these names suggest in touching way the
sorrows that have caused so Lany hearts
both in Washington and all over the land to
beat in unison with those of the Blaine family.
Miss Blaine has had charge all Winter of a
branch OF charity work among the most
forlorn of those who needed help, and she
has become familiar with those who are poor
and suffering. In her present happiness she
has not forgotten to make substantial pro-
vision for them.
t. hill Ii-t at, e,1;t
of presents sent her by friends and admirers
OF her late father, many Of whom she does not
even know. There are also simple gifts from
old friends in Augusta that she values no less
highly than those tokens of the esteem in
which the daughter of the great statesman Is
held.
1t touches the heart while 1t does not de-
strOy the fine atmosphere OF romance which
should cling to a wedding, to read that the
drawing room on the wedding day will be
decked with white lilacs because they are the
favorite flowers of the bride. and roses be-
cause they belong to the bridal scene as much
as orange flowers and happiness.
We are rather glad, too, that she is not to
be married at ST. Johns. 81. Johns is his
toric and all that to be sure, but the fashion
of being married there is being rather over
done This church is selected as the back
ground OF marriage scenes simply because it
is the fashion. and people who are in no way
interested in the Episcopal church select it
for their purpose, and because the ceremony
Is picturesque. and admits of more pomp
than anv other. 1t is bringing the
pomps and vanities into the church. no mat
ter which way We look az it.
AT fashionable marriage that occurred
there this Winter. when the bride swept out
dragging her satin train that remained in
side. while she was nearing the outer door q
foreigner. who was looking on with cynicism
in his eye and scorn in his voice. remarked:
''It's like play! Why do people wish such
nonsense when they marry each o;her?'
II is interesting to note what Mrs. Nellie
Grant Sartoris. who is now in Washington.
SAYS in regard 10 her son. That she wishes
him to carve out career for himself. US his
fortune left him from his grandfather on
his fathers side will only enable him to have
bread and butter, and il he wants any extras,
such as Jam and turkey. he must earn that
himself This sensible mother lays particular
stress upon the fact that she will discourage
speculation on the parf Of her son. for. as she
says. attempts 10 make any money in this way
resulted in sad failure both in her own and the
Sartoris family. This very nice utterance de-
serves more than u passing comment. II
mothers everywhere would take similar
stand. many of the greatest blights that fall
upon society would be averted.