Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-25
THE WORLD OF SOCIETY
Something About Two Weddings in the
Belknap Family.
You Must Go From Home to Hear the
News - Personal
Notes.

Mr.. William E. Curtis. in a recent letter
| to the Chicago News from Brussels, con-
| tributes very interesting bit of gossip to
| the friends of a couple well known In this
city, whose engagement was first an
| nounced year ago. The proposed mar
rage met with great opposition on the part
of the young mans mother, but ii was I'M
derstood that she would accede. provided
after a years separation the sentiments
of both had not changed and that the
young lady would embrace the Jewish re-
ligion. Mr.. Mays recent return to this
country from Japan has stimulated the
interest in the matter among their friends
here and elsewhere. Mr.. Curtis writes:
Paul May, the young gentleman who is
to marry Miss Alice Belknap. daughter of
the late eX-Secretary w. w. Belknap of
Iowa, makes his home in this city, al
though at present he is secretary of the
Belgian legation in Japan. 1t is generally
understood that Miss Belknap is going to
marry title. but that is a mistake. Mr..
May is an ordinary citizen, but he is very
rich. His father. the late Joseph May, was
a native of Frankfort-on-th e-Main, and
came from a well-known Hebrew family.
When he was young man he emigrated
to America, and followed the gold hunters
to California, where he made a large for
| tune. He returned to Belgium about fif-
teen years ago. and carried on considerable
business here, loaning money and handling
a good deal of wool. He left widow, three
| sons and daughter. all of whom. except
Paul, reside in this city at % Place de I'm
dustrie.
Paul May commanded sufficient influence
to secure a position in the foreign Office as
clerk, and afterward a commission as at
tache to the Belgian legation at Wash
ington, whence he was transferred to
Japan. 1t was in Washington that he made
the acquaintance of Miss Belknap, and
asked her to be his wife. AS the property
iS aTlti 6or ha nf M her
it impossible for Mr.. May to marry
without her consent and she being an or
thodox Jewess of the strictest type, would
not permit her son to wed Christian. 1t
is understood here that Miss Belknap has
| met that difficulty by adopting the Jewish
faith.
Mrs. May is a woman of strong char
acter, frugal habits and business ability.
Much of her husbands commercial success
was due to her advice and assistance. They
were plain people, and when Mr.. May came
to the consulate to have an invoice certified
his manners and appearance were so
humble that the consul never charged him
the usual fee, supposing that he was some
poor American struggling to make living.
After Mr.. Mays death it became necessary
for his wife to secure consular certifi-
cate to a power of attorney to authorize
the settlement of that portion of the estate
| which was invested in America, and. still
being under the impression that the family
were poor. Mr.. Roosevelt. our consul, re-
mitted the fee. He was considerably
astonished when he learned short time
after that the amount involved was over
$400, 600 in American gold.
The me rriage of Miss Meta Steele and
Representative Hugh r. Belknap will take
place September % in the Marion Gethse-
name Episcopal Church. Miss Steele, who
has won the heart of the handsome young
Chicago congressman. is daughter of
George W. Steele, who is serving his sixth
term in Congress from the eleventh district
of Indiana in which Marion is situated. She
is one of the most accomplished and beau
tiful of the younger bellies of Washington
society.
Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Otterback, Miss
Annie Prospect and Mr.. John Schine We're
members of jolly party who have just
returned to the city from an extensive
trip east. Their itinerary included Boston
and Halifax by sea. thence a railroad trip
through Nova Scotia. From Yarmouth the
return to Baltimore was made via Boston.
DR.. and Mrs. Green of Anacostia joined
the party at Boston on the outward rip,
but fingered some time longer than the
others in Nova Scotia.
Misses Estelle and LOWE Randall, the
| daughters of Captain E. S. Randall are
| spending some days at Atlantic City.
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew B. Graham and
/ family have moved in their new country
seat, Fort Richardson, Virginia. They will
not return to their 10th street residence
until the late autumn.
Mrs. T. F. MalIan and sister, Miss Nina
| Blaine, are at Atlantic City.
| Mrs. henry .Pfister who has spent the
| month of August with the family of Mr..
II. j. Shoemaker, at their cottage on Point
Abino. Canada, will. after September /, go
| from there for a few weeks stay at At
| lantic City, in order to entirely regain her
health, that has been poor ever since last
winter, when she met with an accident
which broke her arm.
Mrs. Lucy E. Andersen has returned from
Ocean City, Md, where she has been
| spending her summer vacation.
DIR. l. hermann and family have gone to
Ocean City, Md, to spend the remainder of
the summer.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edwin A. Goodwin and son
of 1900 Vermont avenue have returned
from Cape May, after having enjoyed their
summer outing Exceedingly.
Miss Stella Hart of Capitol Hill has gone
| to York Beach, on the Maine coast, for a
stay of three weeks expecting, also, to visit
points in Canada.
Mr. and MIS-. H. o. Hall and Miss Ethel
wyn B. Hall have returned from a three
weeks stay at Atlantic City.
Mrs. Susie R. Jacobs and Miss Elizabeth
Conner of Takoma Park have gone to Buff
falo end Niagara Falls.
W.. S. Baker and family of 24OO Bright
wood avenue are spending few days with
Nd.
MISS aooie "A. uiier Oh lSll hhode
Island avenue, and her nieces. Mabel and
Mary. have gone to Atlantic City for the
| remainder of the season.
Mrs. J. Spliedt and daughters have re-
| turned from Harper's Ferry, w. Va, to
their home 907 East Capitol street.
Mrs. E. A. Tyler and son, formerly OF
this city, now a resident of Edison Park,
| ILL.,, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Mary FL
dredge, ITO 14th street.
The ladies of Linden have issued invita-
| tions for hard times party August a.
The gentleman and lady looking most
shabby will receive a prize.
THE FINAL CEREMONY.