The evening times., 1899-04-04
WEDDING OF MISS FAIR
TO MR.. VANDERBILT
Married at Noon in an Impro-
yiSed Cathedral.
Immense Wealth Represented b!
The Guests of the Occasion.
Orchids and Roses Decorate the 0el-
rich Mansion, Where the Cere-
mony Was Performed.

New York, April Miss Virginia Fair
second daughter of the late United States
Senator James G. Fair of California, was
married at noon today TO William Kissam
Vanderbilt jr., at the residence of the
brides sister, Mrs. Hermann Oelrichs. No
l East Fifty-seyenth Street. Not since
the marriage of Consuelo Vanderbilt to
the Duke of Marlboro has wedding at
tracted so much attention. There have
been other Vanderbilt weddings since them
but circumstances prevented their exciting
great public interest. One of these was
the marriage of Miss Gertrude Vanderbilt
TO Harry Payne Whitney: the other was
that of Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr., TO Miss
Grace Wilson.
On account of the vanderbilts'
strong opposition to the latter
match the wedding was not ac-
companied by the usual festivities
While the chief recommendation to prom
inence in the marriage of Consuelo Van
derbilt was the fact that genuine English
duke was the other contracting party, il
cannot be said that public interest has
been less excited by the distinctly Ameri-
can character of this affair Mr.. Wander
bilt is a good type of the American youth
who has received thorough schooling can
put in a good hand at athletics, and who
he Was Vanderbilt and the heir TO mil
lions. Miss Fair is a handsome young
woman, known and liked for an unaffected
athletic girl by all who know her on both
coasts.
A feature of the marriage of Mr. Van
derblt and Miss Fair was the difference
in their religious faith, the young man be-
ing Protestant, while Miss Fair is de-
vout Roman Catholic. This made church
ks-.atff iF.,Far hi.a IErf
tunity for some wonderful transformation
effects in the ballroom and conservatory of
Mrs. Oelrich's mansion.
Since they could not go TO church, the
church was brought to them. and the brid-
al party moved into a miniature cathedral
with an altar, burning candles, and two
boys from ST. Patrick's Cathedral, who car
ried incense before the bridal party. The
room was a bower of flowers, roses pre-
dominating. Probably at no wedding here
tofore have flowers been used in such pro-
fusion. Near the altar was a fountain
which was hidden completely with vines
studded with Bridesmaid roses. Around
the base were banked orchids and white
roses. The walls were covered with ferns
In which were set all manner of rare cut
flowers. The main aisle through which the
wedding procession passed was made Il
leafy lane Of roses. Thousands of them
were trained up to represent trees which
met in fiower-laden canopy overhead
An appropriate feature of this American
wedding was the employment of 48 600
Dewey roses in the decorations.
Miss Fair was literally a rose herself.
as was her bridesmaid, Miss Mary Bald
win Tolfree, Of New York Miss Fairs
wedding gown gave the appearance of Sc
7ere simplicity, as no satin was in evil
dence, and the style was not elaborate
The skirt was cut close to the figure, sweep
ing on in an extremely long train. Old
irish lace was alone used for trimming
II ran down the front of the gown and all
around the train. The frillings beneath
were caught up with tiny rose buds Rose
buds were similarly in evidence on the
eorsage. which was entirely of lace.
Miss Tolfrees costume was of white silk
adorned with chiffon. She wore an enor-
nous bat made of roses and green leaves.
and instead of bouquet carried a floral
muif made of pink roses.
Ar. Vanderbilt wore the conventional
black frock and gray trousers His best
man was Mr.. J. p. Kellogg of New York,
. lifelong friend.
The ceremony was performed in the con-
servatOry. which opens on the ballroom.
by the Rev. Father Murphy. He has been
the guide and cOnfessor of Miss Fair since
childhood. The conservatory was decorat-
forming perfect and pleasing background
for the altar. The bridal party moved
slowly down the fiowered aisle of the ball
room 10 the music of the wedding march
from Lohengrin,' performed by a prom
inent orgaRist on an organ erected Cor the
occasion in corner of the ballroom.
All daylight had been excluded from the
room, and scores of ciouded electric light
bulbs shone through the flowers and foli-
int Er.,
These were gradually dimmed as the par
ty approached the altar, and the rows of
candles upon it concentrated the light on
the young couple who kneeled before
Father Murphy through the rather solemn
service OF the Catholic Church.
The ceremony which made the two man
and wife. also created another of the great
alliances CT millions. Both the young peo-
pie Will be heir TO great fortunes to come
TO them on the death of parents or rela-
tivss. Their joint possessions at present
foot up S1l.0o0.0OO Miss Fair received a
dowry OF S5,000000 and young Vanderbilt
has had $s.100,0O0 (some say $40. 900 000)
settled on him with which TO start in life
One hundred and fifty guests witnessed
the marriage ceremony. In the front chairs
sat members OF the Vanderbilt Fair, OeI-
rlchs and Whitney families. Prominent
among the others present were the fami-
IitS VI u. osutH Mills, fituIy 1iSNS, the
Rockefellers, and Havemeyers. 1t would
be difficult to estimate the millions those
present at the wedding represented
After The ceremony was over and the
young people had run the gantlet of con-
gratulations the guests formed in line and
proceeded to the dining room where an
elaborate wedding breakfast was served. In
the dining room, on the stairs and
throughout the house were festoons of
Dewey roses, and lilies of the valley. and
the walls were almost hidden by potted
plants. The tables in the dining-room
were cleverly arranged. The bride and
groom and dozen of their young friends
occupied table across one end command
ing view of four tables running at right
angles at which the other guests were