The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-04-24
. WIDOWS AND EASTER.
an Occupant for "the Va
can't Chair"

>obt Sbt0H'
New York, March 26.1Speciai.l-Si
homes there are that may be filed after
Easter. Full they are now with all
things. Yet, having all things. they lack
one thing more-the '.other half" which
may be brought to them after an Easter
wedding.
Knmor, sometimes ungenerous IN It's
drift. reyerses its way when it touches
these homes of beauty and interest. With
them it was kind always: hopeful ever.
loo hopeful, the owners say, for the
something which draws them Oh tD
change their estate il Oft held lack by
the publicity which scares them from its
realization.
AS widowers have about them almost
the charm OF widows it is no wonder
that talk is busy etcrna!ly with the
| a longtime wioower, and a man Of
wealth and political honors. Mr.. Whit
| ney's home. near Central park, has been
open this winter for fhe first time ia
| many seasons. The windows have shown
signs Of life and the feet Of w0rknen
| have gone in and out. That there may
be an occupant of the house before the
Easter month is over is openly whispered.
Il all events there would be fine home
for such an occupant
This handsome home at Croesus Four
Corners was the property Of Mrs. Whit
ney and was willed By her to her hus-
band. 1t is said to have cost 100000
| and the furnishings half million. The
! outside Of the house suggests colossal
Newport cottage. with stables alongside
and vines clamhoring over the portal
But once inside. and tapestries. statuary
and works of art of all kinds greet the
| eye. The second Mrs. Whitney will bc
! fortunate woman in stepping into such q
home, but she will have to live up to her
/ tapestries. a full knowledge Of which.
i said visitor to the Whitney house. lis
an art education"
! If W. Waldorf Aston marries Lady
Randolph Churchill this spring it is
likely that the couple will visit New
port either this season or next. Both
would like to revisit their native land
clothed in the honors with which ali
! older country has rewarded them.
The Waldorf Aston villa at Newport
! is one of the finest. archit ecturally speak
ing. in Newport, judged from an inside
standpoint. Its structure is older than
once inside the doors all is forgotten III
| the beauty of the Renaissance which
meets the eye Oh every side.
To this deserted villa would come
children-two of Lady Churchills and
! Mr.. Astor's four. That they will marry
! before long is a well-founded REPORT,
! and society awaits with interest tue
/ utAI Sl6iS-tuS <AIuriit-dU
! and the occupancy of the Newport
house.
! J. j. Van Aliens social career has
| been SO long and SO brilliant that il il
| hard to think Of his homes at Newport.
! New York and London with head
besides himself Reports of marrias:
connect him with a titled French
and with a widowed American of t:ie.
the Duchess of Manchester, friend of
w K Vanderbilt.
The Van Allen homes and the Van
Allen fortune are magnificent. The
stables alone represent more than it
| would be safe to state The coaching
horses are from the stables Of the late
Car, and the grounds of the Bar Har-
Dor and Newport houses are laid OF
for sports, by professional sports1ren.
brought from all countries golfers from
Scotland, curriers' from England and
cricketers from Canada. \" sport hut
is elegantly served forth upon The Eau
Alien estates.
For some months past this son-ir-law
of the Astors has been iii from the II
fects of an accident While cros>-rD,1n;ry
riding. Alone III his rooms i'll London
and Paris. or .anguisi,ine in his New
York hous"-for the treatment has 1,rc-
scribed sea voyages-hc may have turned
towards the steady companionslrio wiliri,
heretofore has seemed moro attractive if
varied.
Of marrying off widows ru1ncr will
never rest until the wedding helis ring
for certain few very narriaseahle
widows.
One of these is Mrs. Nellie Grant Sar-
tbris and second is Mrs. Phil Sheri-
dan. These two young widows are. in
their own circles the object Uf constant
attention from both sexes, and rumors Of
their coming marriage grow more ritz
each month. Both ar" pretty women.
young for the reputation they lear. auI
both now have daughters ready fur
bow to society.
Mrs. Sheridan lives with her children
in a large home LETT her by the general
Mrs. Sartoris resides in Massach usetts
avenue with Der mother. keeping house
for her and dispensing hospitality dur
i ing Mrs. Grants many visits to her 9TH
er Children
Mrs. Shcridan'S home is delightful
one. but her fortune is said to be s,usIi
for so iilustrious a name. Still. ii is
loveliness and fame that count in the
matrimonial interest. and this both she
and Mrs. Sartoris own. Both have for
tunes that for ordinary living are not
small, but. they are not to be compared
with the wealth Of millionaires The
| style Of Mrs. Sheridan is as co,D;nand-
ing and dignifed as Mrs. Sartoris' is
sweet and retiring.
Mrs. Elliott F. Shepard of New York
is widow whose millions aud hose po-
sition i'll society make her 4 mark for
the foEtuEeshnuter and the man who
! wants TO marry into the highest grade of
society. Though Mrs. Shepard has never
had reputation for what is known
ner and is the TYPICAL grande dame able
to preside at the head Of table set with
4 service Of solid gold
The Shepard town house stands on
Fifth avenue, a few blocks below Cen
trail park. /, is one of several built by
Mr.. Vanderbilt for his children Its 10.
cation and size make it one of the cost!
Hest spots in New York. The country
house best liked by Airs. Shepard is a
country mansion recently built up the
Hudson in the midst of rolling acres \
private boulevard leads to the house
drive and running back into the coun.
Itry are hunting preserves. woods. trout
; streams and ever: dream of loneliness.
! Mrs. Skepard'S hest friends hope that
she will marry this year. Within a
short time her home has lost one .daugh-
David Henllei, Morris, aid she has had
! hcartache. II is said. over the trouble
! of Elliott +. Shepard, Dr., in Yale. Th:.
misfortunes that do not escape the rich
have touched her with heavy hand. She
is, like the other widows mentioned,
| woman in the beauty of her prime
| And there are other homes that may
| be filled this Eastertide. homes that
would interest thousands in the mar
! riaSc feast
| One of these belongs to Cbauncey NJ.
| Dcpcw, that warrior of society who
| holds out through all temptations. look
, ing for "a woman famous, talented.
beautiful and adt1lira bic She need not
! have money, as have enough for her."
adds the iniuiitab1e Chauncey.
! There is national prejudice against
| encouraging a change in certain famous
names-I.ogan. Blaine, Grant. Sheridan
| Custer, Garfield, But where youth and
! beauty Interfere this prejudice must lie
! waived
| The home of Allison may receive Il
! bride this Easter, and the home of Har:
rison will assuredly get such a beunte-
! Gus gift.
| In America it is deemed desirable for
! those high in life, political and social
to fill the vacant chair in front of the
family hearth. 1t is her venerable age
alone that keeps Mrs. William Astor's
name so free from talk of marriage.
!