Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-14
TRAGEDY OF A MONEY MATCH
Disastrous Results Of the First Of Inter.
national Alliances.
TITLES BOUGHT BUT NOT HAPPINESS
Thc bride of 1850 Vow Seeking n
LiNclih God by Mems of n
Lnbor-scaueI of u Dia-
mOnd wedding.

the past TWO months by INTERNATIONAL Wtu-
dlngs, the gorgeous ceremonies and the great
crowds called to witness the linking of for
;une and beauty to title and pedigree. Col
umns after columns Of newspaper narratives
Save described the loneliness of the bride,
,he elegance Of the groom, the elaborateness
OF the trosseau and the splendor of the we'd
ding gifts, but with very few exceptions
popular interest has ceased.
But there is a darker side to the picture
Of international money matches that is COM
monty ignored. Once in a while the public
gossips over the evil results Of what was at
the outset regarded as future filled with the
most charming promises. Then it forgets all
about them, and the marrying and intermar-
rying goes on TO the end Of the chapter.
This is what occurred az the result OF the
Diamond Wedding" relates the New York
Herald: The ceremonial formed an epoch in
New York's social affairs. Until that time,
away back In 1859, this city had had no rec
ord Of so splendid a marriage. Never had
there assembled so great a crowd in this city
to assist at any similar function. Tbs news
papers at the time contained columns Of de-
scriptjons Of the services, great lists of names
Of distinguished persons who were present,
long catalogues Of the wedding presents,
decorously numbered and credited to the
various wedding guests. Poems were writ
ten in honor Of the occasion, and even a
satire was published by a we'll known poet,
which nearly led to a challenge, and did
start a suit for libel.
If ever an American girl left home with
assurances Of prosperity and unqualified
happiness Miss Frances Amelia Bartlett did
when she sailed for Cuba with her bride
groom, Don Estaban Santa Cruz de Ovie1o.
Today Donna de Oviedo, or, as she is now
known, the Baroness Won Gluam, is living in
this city, poor, unnoticed, without husband,
father or children, quite deaf, and anxious
only that some of her former friends-some
of those who enjoyed her lavish hospitality
in the days of her magnilcence-should aid
her in earning the livelihood of a lady in
her declining years. She has had happiness
and sorrow-plenty of both. She was party
10 an international marriage, which was
talked of almost as much in England and on
the continent as 1t was in this country. or
this marriage she had nothing to regret until
death severed the bonds Of marriage. Then
the International part of the experience came
in, and sadness has been her unbroken share
of life.
Miss Bartlett was the daughter of a dis
tinguished American naval officer, Captain
Washington A. Bartlett, widely known and
esteemed in society, and occupying a very
handsome residence at 80 West Fourteenth
street. She was one of the most beautiful
and accomplished young women in society
and she was regarded as one of the most
desirable parties in New York, not alone be-
cause Of her own charms, but because of
the wealth and position Of her father. The
number OF offers of marriage, therefore,
which she received when introduced into
society were the subject Of continuous chat
ter at the various social functions which
she attended, but no engagement was an
nOunced, and it was finally decided that Miss
Bartlett was ar exceedingly particular
young lady who was not disposed to award
herself 10 any one of a succession of suitors
unless he had exceptional attractions and
qualifications. In fact, Miss Bartlett was
regarded as ambitious. and in this Captain
Bartlett encouraged her.
SOCIETY WAS DAZZLED.
But love came to her as it has come to all
men and women, but it was in Washington
and not in this city that the little god found
hsr. While in the capital city in the early
part of 1859, Miss Bartlett met at a reception
at the Spanish legation Don Estaban, Il Span
lard with enormous estates in Cuba. He was
an exceedingly handsome nan, and was as
well calculated 20 impress the fair young
northerner as she was him by her fresh
beauty and her intelligence. 1t was a very
short time after the first nesting that Don
Estaban secured permission from Captain
Bartlett to pay court to his daughter, and
within four months of the meeting the en-
gagement was announced.
The chief topic Of conversation for weeks
before the wedding, which occurred on Dc
tcber 10, 1859, was the wealth of the pros
pective groom and the magnificent presents
he was showering upon his fancee. He was
estimated to be worth In the neighborhood of
So, coo, 00O-a fortune at that time colossal
in the mipus Of NV Workers, who had not
then become accustomed to the great es-
tates which have been accumulated sine
the civil war.
Miss Bartlett regarded herself as an *
ccedingly happy woman. and when the day
for the marriage ceremony arrived public
interest had become so CRAFTY aroused that
thc police were compelled for the. first time |
in the history Of tn, city to take extra
nrlipory nrpnlninno tn aya tha 1-.. |
nous crowds expected at the services from
interfering with them because of tn ir kindly
curiosity. Owing 10 the cread of the groom
ths aremon was to be performed according
to the Roman Catholic ritual, and the church
chosen was the old cathedral in Mott s,r:et.
The great cathedral in Fifth avenue was
then only a hope, and when Archbishop
Hughes appeared within the altar rail TO
wed Miss Bartlett TO Don Estaban the scene
was as brilliant as NV York had ever seen.
GORGEOUS BEYOND PRECEDENT.
For the first time in this city tickets were
issued admitting the friends of the family
within the elifce, There were representa-
tiyes Of th2 foreign legations in Washington,
in full diplomatic uniform. a large number
Of the officers Of the regular army and the
navy, while the civilians who were present
wore evening dress-a custom Of that time
which has be since modified by English
social rules. with all this glitter of uni
forms. with the gorgeous of the
church. and with tbs most elaborate decora-
tion3 of the cathedral, Miss Bartlett was.
notwithstanding, the center of this impress
siye display. Sha was gowned magntfcently.
TO quote the Herald of that date:
Every eye was directed to the principal
parties In the procession, and O. the bride
envelopad in a cloud of lace. the
congregation half rose in their eagerness to
a glimpse Of the fair object of their
The bride wore a magnificent
diess of white silk, which was almost con-
with two nounces Of Brussels lace,
A v;il Of the same elegant lace, fastened on
hsr head by the customary orange blossoms,
fell around her, A necklace of pearls sir.
her throat; she wore a splendid I
brooch of pearls and diamonds, and a pair
IF magnificent pearl earrings completed the
bridal dress. . . . Mrs. Bartlslt's dress !
a MORE antique, trimmed with flowers !
and pearls. . = The bridesmaids wore
dresses of white tarletan. with double skirts.
with three or four rows of putting !
Their headdr9sses consisted OF flowers. Inc {
,olors chosen being red, white and blue. 10 !
the colors Of the dresses.
Thus 1t was that Miss Bartlett became !
Donna De oviedo and set forth on her en- !
future, which was to DO filled for n |
ims with adulation and luxury. Tie list OF |
ewels which were given to her a. wedding !
PRESENTS, to quote the accounts OF the time q
we're valued at from $50, 600 to 500. 900. They 7
80 ~ 81 "A