Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-03-02
MISS GoULD's WEDDING.

There are certain reasons why the
approaching marriage of Miss Gould to
Count Boni de Castellane must attract
attention and excite interest. She is
an accomplished young lady and hand
some. Her enormous wealth and the
DO sition of her late father as large
owner of many railroads, and who was
constantly before the public, and her
brothers. position, all tend to make
her conspicuous. The fact that the
fortuna te bridegroom. elect is for
eigncr and has title increases the in
terest. For the American people, not
withstanding their boasted republican
ism, bow down to title and love it
dearly. Some are Indifferent and some
despise them Bot when the great
ma ority profess to be Indifferent 10
them they are not sincere. France is
now republic, and what the legal
value of French title is is not general
ly understood in this country. Its
social value is doubtless as great as
ever.
A New York morning paper gives the
following about the preparations for
the wedding Every detail has been
left solely to the discretion of Mr.. and
Mrs. George J. Gould. Mrs. Gould has
taken upon herselfthe task of selecting
and arranging the music.
The floral decorations will exceed in
magnifcence anything hitherto seen in
that CITY. The halls are to be convert
ed into a garden of white flowers, lilies
of the valley being conspicuous and
abundant. The front drawing-room,
in which Miss Gould will be married,
and the furnishings of which are re-
markable for exquisite taste, is to be
decorated with orchids only. The mid
die drawing-room will be done in
American Beauty roses, which are Mrs.
Gould's favorite among the flowers.
No clergyman save Archbishop Corri-
gan will ofliciate, and no other ecclesi-
astic has been invited to the wedding.
The ceremony will occur at II O'Clock
noon on Monday, and will be witnessed
by not more than fifty persons outside
the immediate family connection,
which, however, is a large one. The
personnel of the invited guests is
known to no one but Mr. and Mrs.
George Gould, and will not be an
nouuced under any circumstances.
As it is we'll know it is contrary to
the rule OF the Roman Catholic Church
to permit its bishops or priests 10 sol
emnize marriages during Lent. A
special dispensation is just as necessary
for marriage during Lent as it is for
the union of q Catholic and Protes-
tant. 1t is within the scope of the
authority of the Archbishop TO grant
such dispersion as has been done in
the case of the Count de Casteliane and
and Miss Gould.
The wedding breakfast will be serv-
ed by Sherry ut small tables distributed
in the various spacious drawing-rooms.
II was said yesterday, unoilicially, that
up to the present time Tiffany q Co.,
have received orders for wedding pres
ents to be sent TO Miss Gould which ap-
proximate to $4,000 in value.
There were several interesting in.
cidents at the counts bachelor dinner
on Tuesday evening which are not
generally known. 1t will be re-
called that Henry NJ. Duncan,
an amateur magician, gave a
eight-of-hand performance after
the dinner. The count and his
friends were in high, good humor,
and all sorts of pranks were in order.
Mr.. Duncan was in the act of explain
ing, magician fashion, one of his most
elaborate tricks, when George Gould
was announced.
Mr.. Duncan then proceeded to do his
flag trick. which was followed with
breathless attention by the guests.
With his bare hands he rolled into q
small ball plain white handkerchief
and from this produced by process OF
rolling succession of tiny flags of all
nations. First came the Turkish flag,
next the German, then the English
and the French, and finally from the
last bunch of white material the ma
gician unfuried large American flag,
feat which was hailed with loud ap-
plause. The young count was so de-
lighted with the finale that he rushed
over to the leader of the orchestra and
ordered him to perform the Star
Spangled Banner" which was done, all
standing and. drinking to the prosperi-
ty of the great republic The count al
so brewed rum punch which was pro-
nounced excellent by all who tasted it,
and there was none who did not.