The advocate., 1895-06-12
SOCIAL CONTRASTS.
THEN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

The following is from the Associated press
dispatches OF May 96:
"NEw YORK, May 96.-The opening days Oi
June will bring the richest people in the land
to Lenox, among the Berkshire hills Greater
wealth will be represented at the marriage Of
Adele Vanderbilt sloane to ]. Abercrombie
Burden than the weddings OF John Jacob
Astor and the Count BOnifaoe de Castellane
combi usd could boast.
"This wedding wlIl be notable One-nOtable
in the gathering Of multl-millionaires; nota-
BILE in the millionaire brothers and sisters
cousins and aunts OF both bride and BRIDE
groom; notable in the lavish expenditure in
the preparations for the wedding; notable in
the luxurious wardrobe Of the bride, and nota-
BILE In the amazing list of unusually expensive
wedding presents.
"The little town Of Lenox has been bought
UP for the occasion, and special trains and
special coaches and private cars will be run
up without expense to the guests. The we'd
ding will out-million anything that has ever
been seen in this country.
"There will be gathering of the family Of
Vsnderbilts-Cornelius with his 100 million
dollars; Fred and George each with 20 million
dollars or more; Mrs w. Seward Webb, Mrs.
Elliott F. Shepard and Mrs. H. Mckay Twom-
bly,, each with easily Is million dollars or
more, and Mrs William H. Vanderbilt, the
grandmother Of the bride, who Is rated as the
richest American widow. The wealth Of the
bridegroom's parents exceeds 10 million dol.
lars, and that Of the parents Of the bride is
eonservatiVely put at 80 million dollars. 1t
will be one Of the most magnificent weddings
of this century. william Douglas Sloane has
engaged two Of the large hotels at Lenox for
the convenience Of visiting guests; Cornelius
Vanderbilt has engaged q mansion there par
ticularly for the event, and George Wander
bllt and Fred Vanderbilt have each done the
same. It seems to be the intention Of the Van.
derbllts to dissipate the family cloud by a
brilliant burst OF extravaganza.
"Mlss Sloane has a most generous supply Of
jewels with which to bedeck herself upon her
wedding morn II she so elects, for gifts Of
jewelry to the value Of q million dollars have
already been bestowed upon her. The exquis-
ite trousseau entire has been made in Paris.
Il cost $4,000 Both bride and groom will be
started in life with million apiece, and after
the bridal tour they win return to splendid
mansion, furnished completely from gsrret to
cellar, fully equipped with servants and stores,
and added to this will be the royal allowance
Of $4,000 a year, the portion which comes to
each grandch1ld of William H. Vanderbilt
upon his or her wedding day. The groom is
rich by inheritance and has q magnificent
home on the Hudson, near the iron works
which have made the Burden millions.
"Cornelius Vanderbilt has built q villa at
Newport and as he could obtain no furnish
ings for 1t in this country grand enough, he
procured them In France. On their arrival at
Boston, custom-house officials were unable to
estimate their value and experts were sum-
moned from New York. 1t is said that these
experts were Likewise dazed. They recog-
nized copies Of the decorations OF some Of
the most beautiful palaces abroad. One case
contained the entire fitting for library such
as must satisfy even the taste Of Vanderbilt.
The woodwork, gorgeously carved, was OF wal
nut, with decorations Of gold. There were book
cases for four sides Of the interior, trimmings
for the walls, window cases carved complete,
and doors and msntles. Not single thing was
lacking AS an instance Of the msgniacence