The times., 1898-05-29
A DAUGHTER OF TIE GODS.
Miss Edith Dresser Is Six Feet Tall
and DiyineIy Fair.

Miss Edith Dresser Is Six Feet Tall
and DivineIy Fair.
A genuine daughter of the gods, di-
vineiy tall. Is the young lady who is
shortly to become Mrs. George Wander
bilt- The curly brown head OF Miss Edith
Dresser rises quite to a level with that
of the average well-developed man. She
in her low-heeled walking shoes, and
yet she Is one of the shortest members OF
her family. Two of her sisters, who are
married. fairly and squarely reach the
| six-foot mark when they stand without
the aid of any artificial heels, while her
brother towers four inches and a half
| above these stately women.
For a number of years Miss Dresser
has lived with her eldest and unmarried
, sister. Miss Susan Dresser. in Paris. and
| there. because of her unusual height, her
handsome face, and her perfect French
accent, she is as wellknown to the fash
ionable Partisan as that equally tail and
beautiful English woman. Lady de Gray.
Society in the gay capital fairly huns
with delight and interest IN this most
brilliant match of the season, with curl
osity to witness the wedding and with
| fanciful stories as to the first meeting
| between Mr.. Vanderbilt and his future
wife.
AS q matter of rather unromantic fact
this quiet gentleman has known Miss
Dresser a number of years. She was
always one OF the chosen friends of his
niece. Miss Shepherd, and in his sister 5
house he saw her frequently. 1t was
not, however, until last Summer when
| Miss Pauline Dresser's marriage to the
Rev. GrenvilIe Merrill was celebrated at
Newport. that anything like romantic
| coloring was given to the friendship long
| existing between the two. When Miss
| Edith Dresser went over from Paris 10
attend the Newport wedding Mr.. Van
| derbilt was travelling in Europe; but. with
| the devotion Of lover, he sailed all
the way 10 New York IN order to gain
permission TO recross the ocean in Miss
Dresesrs company. II was on the way
back 10 France that happy understand
ing was arrived at, and since then the
mutual distaste Of the pair for notoriety
induced them to keep their secret as long
| as possible
Those who know the tall sisters have
smiled appreciatively when the story
Of the ocean courtship became known.
for in the circles OF their friends it is
well-recogrized fact that at sea the
Misses Dresser have been all but ire
sistible. 1t was Miss Natalie Dresser
who. on an ocean greyhound, met her
future husba nd, the younger Of the two
wealthy Brown brothers. These young
men fell heir each TO six millions at the
death of their father, and the brother
who, among his friends, was affection
ately known as Little Six" went the
| way of the average small man and laid
his heart and hand and fortune at the
| feet OF the tallest beauty he had ever
| seen. The second sister, Pauline, has
likewise welded a man whose inches fall
far short of her own. and yet It has been
undeuiable beauty OF face and character.
their accomplishments, and exceedingly
| gracious. graceful bearing that have won
for these sisters so much admiration in
| whatever society they have appeared
The future Mrs. Vanderbilt is slender
with luXuriaut waving brown hair. dark
| hazel eyes. a clear rosy skin and bold, ir-
| regular features. There is not an outdoor
| sport, from casting for salmon 10 driving
a four-in-hand. in which she does not ex-
| eel. Three languages beside her own she
| speaks ffuently. yet her keenest delight
| is in flowers. II is no secret among her
| friends that the flowers at BiltmOre. the
| huge gardens. and the famous terraces of
| mezzo- tinted rhododendrens. will induce
| her to spend the greater portion of every
year In her husbands North Carolina
| home
! Partisan society will be grieved to the
| heart when they learn how small a
group of guests and those chiefly mem
/ bers Of the Vanderbilt and Dresser fam
| lilies, have been invited 10 the wedding
| at the American church; but verify the
| Partisan tradeSman will bear no inwill
| toward the happy couple. The jewels
that Mr.. Vanderbilt has given his bride
were nearly all bought unset in London.
but handed over TO the French gold
smiths for appropriate arrangement, and
the English agent, to whom was given
| the order TO collect the jewels, bought
the most gorgeous sapphires of the col
lection in Spain. Since war with the
! United States has been declared the pow
| erty, not only of Spanish nobility, but
of Spanish royalty, has forced the pri-
vate sale of herlooms dating from the
| reign of Isabella, Columbuss patroness.
| BY this circumstance the London dealers
| in jewels have profted and the spoils Of
| Spanish mis-rule are destined to glare
on the throat and arms of fair Ameri-
/ can.
In Paris as well the various Vanderbilt
/ relatives have gone shopping for their
| wedding gifts, and here the brides trous-
/ seau has been prepared. The wedding