The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-27
THE SPECTATOR on THE MAELbO-
ROUGH-vANDERBIL WEDDING.

The London Spectator Of a week or ten
days back has a pleasant article discus
sing the Marlborough-Vande mar
rage. The notable point about it, ac-
cordng TO the Spectator idea, was the
"bigness" of everything. The brides
bouquet was five feet across, and could
not, Of course. be carried by any one
person. The flowers for the church cost
sl25 600 The brides brooch was ruby
Of twenty carats. which is stone Of
too much size for beauty, as no ruby II
II is 10 have concentrated brightness
should exceed six carats; the ruby was
surrounded by diamonds, the diamonds by
pearls "a tri1e larger than the diamonds, %
and the whole was bound together by a
fringe Of gold that made the brooch look
like the imitation jewelry worn by an
actress on the stage. intended not 10
beautify the wearer. but to amaze the
audience. Her necklace consisted of
rope Of graduated pearls OF extra size.
a yard long, which belonged to Catherine
H.. Of Russia. ana must have looked far
too big for the very opulent charms OF
even that ponderous person. one of the
brides girdles was of gold and set with
rubies, and four inches wide. grdle
which must be fatal to any figure in the
world. and another girdle called atten-
ton to itself and not its wearer, by being
studded at intervals with flashing dia-
monds. All this. the Spectator thinks
proves that the bent of the plutocrats
mind is rather towards the oriental dis
play of his wealth than to use OF 1t
that may alleviate human suffering, and
stimulate progress for mankind. Now,
although the opportunities for the mil
lionaires to use their money in way TO
increase the happiness of mankind are
very fine, the Spectator cCnfesscs THAT
they have disappointed it. Their prefer
ence was clearly seen, as in the MARI
borough case, to a display Of
magmncencc rather than 10 the accom-
plishmont OF good. 1t does not despair of
them, however. and it concludes it's article
thus:
Still, we do not altogether despair. We
have little hope that the plutocrats OF
to-day, especially those of America, VIII
do much for art. give Us church. for
example. that will last two thousand
years. like the MtzGuita of Cordova. ana
make all the seventy generations OF
those around il more rcvorentiel, but they
may do something for science. That Is
positive that requires, iu one department
at least, astoundingly erandiose eNpcndi-
ture. and there are signs that they are
attracted towards this. They might DO
miracles for medicine II only by a few
years of steady and costly experiment on
the possibility Of throwing rays OF light
through the human body. or a search
through the world Tor the scores Of drugs
which half-ciVilzed tribes have in ages
Of experiment found 10 exert specific
effects In removing pain or disease. The
virtues of the poppy were not discovered
by graduates Peruvars. who could not
rite. used quinne to cure iow-fevcr,' and
the natives Of Bengal make a poultice Of
leaVes-leaves Of the neem-tree. We believe
bat do not knoW-Which has on severe
bruises an almost magical effect. They
may even find. If they will search on
for a generation a gedative without re-
action: and so extingu.sh al a blow much
Of human misery. There are experiments
still TO be made with telescopes which
are hopeful, for though Mr.. Yerkes-is
not his name Ncrkes may have reached
the limit of magnitude with his new
ooiect-glass there are liquids which, en-
closed IN transparent films. VIII give tele-
scopes a power tnat nothing melted out
OF flint will ever yield. 1nere Us a whole
world of experiments 10 be made in agri-
culture. IN which the European or Amer-
can millionaire might guide the almost
mystical knowledge OF the Japanese gar
deners to a practical result-iust imagine
the value OF a cereal independent Of wea-
ther-and Il is little We know Of the
methods. which must be possible. and
would be OF The highest advantage Of
preserving FOOD for ages without de-
cav.
There are a hundred things 10 be done
besides giving away gifts. L. the pluto
Gratis Will only do them. and We may say.
we do not despair. by the time they
have grown from mammoths into masto-
dons. Of seeing them attempt them. Then
perhaps among the wedding presents OF a
bride we might see a light never before
seen hy a man. or a bottle with an I'M
failing cure for cancer. just found after
z quarter Of a century Of search. or II
we ere 10 be base. tiara bearing In
'ts centre an exquisite design. which by
the fusion Of the diamond above and
below and all round H. has been gifted
with durability forever. II Is very
dreamy. all that. littls like. Looking