The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-21
TO DAVE HENNEN MORRIS
All the VanderbiltS Stayed
Away From the Little
Ceremony.
THURL0W W. BARNES VERSION.
Says the Groom Is Not a Sporting
Man, but His Father Was
Turfman.

NEW YORK, N. Y, June 20.-Mrs.
Elliott F. Shepard was not present at the
marriage of her daughter, Alice Wander
bilt Shepard and Dave Hennen Morris Che
was christened Dave, not David), which
took place at the Little Church Around
the Corner Wednesday afternoon. Mrs.
Shepard knew that the wedding was to
take place, but she refused to give her con-
sent to it or to be present.
No member of Miss Shepard's family
was witness of the ceremony. The Van
derbilts were all absent, although they
knew OF the engagement of the young peo-
pie and the time of the wedding. The
bride was given away by Thurlow Weed
Barnes of West Twenty-sixth street,
brother-in-law of Mr.. Morris.
The two witnesses to the marriage con-
tract were William o. O'Nel of SO West
I entieth street, and Rosina Kelly, maid
to Mrs. Barnes. The others present were
Alfred H. Morris, brother of the BRIDE
groom, Mrs. Thurlow Weed Barnes, sister
of the bridegroom, and Edward Harding
of Philadelphia, a relative of Richard
Harding Davis.
The story of the wedding was told to a
United Press reporter this afternoon by
Thurlow Weed Barnes at his apartments
in the Croisic.
"There is no reason for any mystery in
this case" he said, land / am willing to
tell you all l know about it. A year ago
Mr.. Morris and Miss Shepard met while
crossing the ocean on the steamship Ma
jestic. A few months ago they became en-
gagged to be married. The members Of
both families were soon made aware of the
engagement. Mrs. Shepard did not view
it kindly. She thought that her daughter
should not marry Mr.. Morris because he
owned racehorses and because his father
had owned them.
~ am not hors e.owner, but | can't see
anything wrong in horse-racing, and
candidly see no reason why excuses should
be made for it. The late Mr.. Morris came
of family of horse-owners. He wanted
his son to take an interest in horses be-
cause he believed that it kept man more
in the open air, and that it was beneficial
to his health. His ola friend, Larry
Morris kept up his health because he was
interested in horses and horse-racing.
GAS for Dave Morris L am certain that
nothing can be said against him. He has
no vicious habits. He is particularly stu
dious and ambitious to succeed in the pro-
fession which he has chosen, the practice of
medicine and surgery. 1t is pet project of
his and of his wife's to establish on large
scale hospital in this city where all, rich
and poor alike, may be treated gratuit-
ously. He has often said to me that to be
the head of such an Institution was his
ambition. That his wife is most charita-
bly, disposed and charming young woman
is well known. Despite these facts Mrs.
Shepard did not seem to favor the suit
Her son, formerly Yale student, who is
now in California, is friend of Mr.. Morris.
''Ten days ago Mr.. Morris returned from
Harvard for his summer vacation. He
met Miss Shepard. They had intended to
marry a year from now, when he COM
pleted his collegiate course. They decided,
however, that it would be just as we'll to
get married at once. Mrs. Shepard and
her daughter came to town yesterday from
their country place at Scarborough-on-the-
Hudson. They come to town once or
twice week as rule during their stay at
Scarborough"
"Did Mrs. Shepard know that the we'd
ding was to take placer"
II believe so. She has not been feeling
we'll recently. That might be reason
why she did not attend"
What are Mr.. Morris plans?"
''After the summer he will return to
Harvard to complete his course. | don't
know whether Mrs. Morris will accom-
pany him or not. / believe that the col
lege rules will not allow it, but perhaps
they will live in Boston,"
DR.. Houghton said to-day that he had as
sisted at the ceremony. DR.. G. Dewitt
Bridgman, who officiated, lives at One
Hundred and Twenty street and
Lenox avenue. He sent out word to the
reporter that he had nothing to say. A
letter, however, was received by Mr..
Barnes to-day from DR.. Bridgman, in
which he said:
"It was not till I reached home last even
ing that knew how generously you had
recognized my service. That 1 am
grateful there is no need of de-
claring. If these were days of free
coinage, the honorarium would be
princely. Mr.. Morris is frank and manly,
and the bride was SO intelligent. / will
never forget the reverence and confidence
she showed in declaring her VOWS. My
heart is with them. See that the young
people have good advice just at this time
should like to call on them in few days
if they are in town."
The sexton of the Little Church Around
the Corner said it was the quietest we'd
ding he had seen for a long time. At
the residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Fifth avenue and Fifty-seventh street,
servant told the reporter that Mr.. Wander
bilt was not at home. Mrs. Shepard,
who lives in the old Vanderbilt mansion at
Fifth avenue and Fifty-third street, de-
clined to see callers to-day. The other
members of the Vanderbilt family are at
Newport and Lenox.