Evening star., 1896-12-09
THE SOCIAL WORLD
Beautiful Ceremony Uniting Miss
Wilcox and Mr.. Halstead.
POWERED In ORCHIDS And LILIES
Brilliant Opening of the Winters
Gayeties.
9TH Err FESTIVE EVENT s

| more beautiful picture than that formed
| last night by the participants in and the
| witnesses of the marriage of Miss Aline
Wilcox and Mr.. Albert Halstead could
| scarcely be imagined. A spacious and ar
| tistic home. the sanctuary for the OCCASION
| an assemtlage of persons of official as well
| as more than ordinary social importance,
| even for the capital, two family circles
| that of the bride, now so pleasantly iden-
| titled with the most hospitable of the
wealthiest residents, and that of the groom
| in the front rank of the leaders of public
| thought and infiuence-were the elements
| contributing SO successfully to AN event
| which has brilliantly opened the social
| season. But beyond and above all such
| material considerations was the charming
| wedding scene, old but always new, of two
| happy young people upon whom Dame
| Fortune has so pentifully showered her
| favor. whose choice of each other was
| blessed and approved by all who best loved
| them The floral decoration of Mr.. and
| Mrs. William c. Whittemores fine home.
| while most elaborate had received just the
| artistic touch which subordinated it to the
| permanent beauties of the house. The
| wainscoted hall. with its wide stairway
| was, both side walls and ceiling arbored
| with southern laurel Through its shining
| leaves the lights mere and there twnkled
| IKE stars. Up the stairs the balustrades
| were twiled with the shining green, and
|
| cilrys2nthemums nodded their stately
| heads.
| Throughout the drawing ROOM the music
| room. dining rooms and library a wealth
| or the choicest exotics. pink and purple
| orchids, American beauty and bride roses
and annurciation lilies lived their short
| hours of fragrant beauty. The colors in
| each apartment We're in harmony with its
| permanent effects. The wedding took place
| in the first drawing room. Each OF the
| VIDE doorways was arched in asparagus
vines, thickly studded with orchids and
| lilies, and the whole great bouquet in eacn
| instance seemingly held in place by fes-
| looms and loops OF broad ribbon IN the
| orchid shade From these masses OF flowers
| he asparagus vines were carried over the
| silken-co1cred walls. framing in feathery
| greens the paintings, until all met again
| in the wedding bower, arranged in the
| decD recess Of the tower window Palms
| and asparagus vines made the background
and the arch forming the front of the
| canopy was an artistic arrangement OF
orchids. lilies and ribbon garlands. A
| white plush-covered kneeling stool com
| pleted the chancel interior.
| These beautiful doorway effects were con-
| tinued through the entire suite. The man
| tells in each room Were banked with the
| finest maidephair ferns. studded with
| roses and orchids. Where the effect
| best obtained clusters of stemmed Ameri
| can beauty roses filed the vases on the
| cabinets or mante! shelves. The supper
| table. which spread IN the billiard
! room was decked with American
beauty roses, but their magnifcence was
| for once dimmed by the admiration viii n
| the beauty of the viands called forth
| Every possible dainty, prepared in its
| most novel and tempting manner, was there.
| and easily and quickly served that tie
supper hour WAS joy and comfort
| Champagne and punch accompanied the
| feast of good things.
! The company had all assembled AMI
| pleasantly filled the house when the bridal
| party came down stairs. Ribbcn barriers
| tah nv he hlrS r.
| entire length of the house, ard along this
path. further outlined by rugs. first ap-
preached Mrs. Whittemore, Mr. ard Mrs.
| Murat Halstead and their family, and Rev.
| Dr. Bartlett. This clergyman is Old
| friend of the household. and his accuaint-
| ance with the bride began with her bap-
| tsm. and later her reception into the
| church. and was renewed in this city when
| the family came here to reside. With the
| groom walked MS brother. Mr.. Robert Hal
| stead. and as the Strains of the Lohengrn
| wedding march sounded more clearly, they
! beickened the coming of the bridesmaids,
| Miss Cornelia Mcl.anahau and Miss Clar-
| iSsa Halstead. and the bride. with Mr..
| Whittemore With the bridal party group
| ed rear Rev. DR.. Bartlett, the ushers. who
| were Mr.. Walter Dwight Wilcox. brother
of the bride: Mr.. Arthur Espy. Mr. Loring
| andrews, MIR. Griffith Halstead. all of Gin
! t4rrati, and Assistant Secretary of the
| treasury Hamln. formed the outer edge
Of the ssmi-ciTcle.
| The bride. who has always been greatly
1
| ed particularly handsome in the radiant
| wh.teness of her bridal robes He- toilet
| was an expression of elegant simplicity.
| The traired skirt Of white satin was de-
| No,d of trimming. but the hgh-necked
| bodice was entirely covered with exquisite
point lace. The groom's gift, a diamond
| crescent. very large. and formed of clear
| white stones. fastened the lace at one side
| of the corsage. Her tulle veil was held by
| wreath of orange blossoms. and the bou-
| luet she carried IS of orchids and lilies
| Of the v4lley. Valley lilies formed the
| boutonnieres worn by all the men in the
| bridal party.
The bridesmaids wore white moire an
| tique dresses, similarly made. with pink
| ribbons adorning them and pink flowers as
| shoulder knots amidst the soft chiffon fall
| ing over the arms. They carried large bou-
| quets of bridesmaid roses. Mrs. White
more wore superb dress of pink moire
/ antique. with jeweled trimmings and many
| nne diamond ornaments. Mrs. Murat Hal
steads gown was pale yellow MORE, with
| rich lace trimming il.
| After I'D O'Clock. when most of the older
| guests had gone. the bridal party sat down
! to supper, which was spread in the library
| 1t was an ideal feast. Roses adorned the
| circle OF snowy linen. and the tapers
| burned under orange blossom shades At
| each cover was wedding favor. For the
ladies they were baskets of orange bios
SONS, concealing in their depths heart
shaped bonpons. Later. when Mr.. and
| Mrs. Halstead were taking their departure
| tiny pink satin slippers filled with rice were
| handed about. and their contents literally
| showered on the couple. The brides going
| away dress was of plum-colored Goth
| deliberately trimmed with mohair braiding
| aid Persian lamb. A jacket of the same
| fur was worn, and the hat was i'm the plum
| shades.
| The brides presents were displayed in an
| upper room, and completely filled tables ar
| ranged round the walls ard across the
| center. From her mother the bride re-
| ceived a case of silver diamond necklace,
| an antique watch from Mr.. Whittemore
| a gold cloth from Secretary and Mrs. La
| mont, a glass and silver fiagon, very
| unique and handsome, and from their chill
| dren gold and turquoise toilet set. Every
| member of the Halstead family was rep
| resented by elegant gift in gold or sill
| Yer plate. Employees of the Springfield
| Union, of which Mr.. Halstead is editor
| united in gift of Persian rug and cut
| glass bowl and mirror. and many beautiful
| gifts. with the cards of leading officials.
| helped to form the glittering pile.
Among the guests Were the Vice Presi-
| dent and Miss Stevenson. the Secretary of
| the Treasury and Mrs. Carlisle. the Secre-
| tary of War and Mrs. Lamont, the Secre-
| tary of the Navy and Miss Herbert, the
| Attorney General, Mrs. and Miss Harmon
Chief Justice and Mrs. Fuller. Ambassador
| and Mrs. Patanotre, Gen. and Mrs Miles
/ Mrs SartOriS. Miss Sartoris Jucfica opd