Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-09-20
w. ED. STOKES TO WED
His Bride to Be a Spanish Gran
 dee's Daughter.
THEY MET FIRST AT 4 WEDDING.
The Rich Young New York CIubman and Society Swell VIII Lead to the Altar Miss Rita Hernandez de Alba de Acosta, Who Is Young and Very BeautifuI.

society Swell VIII Lead to the Altar
 Miss Rita Hernandez de Alba de Acosta,
 Who Is Young and Very BeautifuI. Dodge Stokes is going to marry Miss Rita Hernandez dc Alba de AcostaA
 w. F. ID. Stokes is n young man who looks very much younger than he Is, and whose life since he graduated from Yale college has been n material success in ey- cry sense of tho word. His very success has made him known to the public. but never before has thcre been n whisper con- corning him which related to other topics than his real estate transactions, his liti- gations with his cousin. Ed Stokes of Hoffman House fame, his participation in public movements in this city or his vic tories in the line of aristocratic sport.
 Young Stokes Is and Is not a self made man. He Is the fourth son of James Stokes, and as such he inherited s for tune, mainly invested in west side real estate. Coming into the responsibilities of that fortune at an early age, he took the position that the fortune was not hIs keeper, but that he was the keeper of tho fortune Taking this serious view of nf- fairs, he devoted himself to the task of ap- prcciating tho value of west side property.
 Fiancee of Grandee Blood.
 Even while so devoted to his business in terests ho has found opportunity to win distinction as q lover of horses and a sup porter of outdoor recrcation. To his ac. 4uaintances, though. he has always been a good deal of n mystery.
 He has never used tobacco or liquor, has never been known to gamble or keep fast company, yet has always been hail fellow, we'll met, v and exceedingly popu- lar among thoso who understood him. In society he has figured occasionally in some notable event now and then, but generally has not been n society man.
 w. F. D Stokes is very rich. How rich he Is nobody except himself knows, and he will not tell
 The lady he is to marry is not known except in the social circle of her imniedi- ate family, and her family Is not among those which make social functions the meat and drink of their existence. She Is only 19 years old. She comes of n line of Spaniards whoso blood has mingled now and again with that of tho nobility of the land whose queen sent Columbus forth to discover this now world.
 Miss Rita Hernandez do &,ba do Acosta Is n little woman of rare beauty. Shs was born at Is West Forty seventh street in this city, where her father, Senor Ri cardo dc Acosta, has lived since he came to this city from Cuba .5 years ago. The house is next to that of Joseph II. Choate. Senor Ricardo do Acosta was, with his family, driven from Cuba as q political refugee after one of the fnnumcrable po- litical turnovers that have occurred on that revolutionary isle
 His Cuban home was near Havana, where tho palace of the Hernandez fami- ly, into which he was married, was con fLscated by the government at the time of his exile. It was an establishment so hat tnn risfS taEan fn Through the house of Hernandez, her mothers family, Miss Rita Hernandez de Alba dc Acosta can traco kinship to the Duo d'Alba of Spain. who. with Sir John and Lady Lister Kaye of England, is now visiting Mir, J. J. Van Alen ae his New port home.
 Senor Ricardo dc Acosta has not been active in business in this city, but has de- voted considerable attention to tho care of the investments of his Spanish and Cuban friends hero. His wife Is living, and they have seven other children besides the one who is now going to marry Mir. Stokes She Is the eldest.
 They Met at a Wedding. Mir. Stokes is said to have met his flanoee quito recently at a wedding rcccp- ton. He has spent much time this sea son at Bayshore.
 A dato has not yet been fixed for the
 
 and Miss de Acosta know of their engage ment and have been sending in their con gratuations.
 Mir. Stokes is 3S years old, but appears i to be very much younger. He is very athletic in build and in his dress has all ways been little different from the young men of his wealth and position, in that fashion has not been able 10 make him abandon twceds for fancy fabrics or a soft hat or n derby for a tall hat except when | the occasion made 1t essential. His char ncteristic independence in everything ex- tended oven to his dress
 Mir Stokes marriage will directly i'm | terest a great many families of note. His mothers father was Anson G. Phelps. who founded tho mercantile house of Phelps Dodge X Co, in which James Stokes. his l father, became a partner. W. F. II. Stokes was named after his uncle, William F. Dodge The present. William F. Dodge Is his cousin. His father left tho firm of Phelps Dodge X Co before his death to start the banking house of Phelps, Stokes X Co.