The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-24
SUCH FINE WEDDINGS
As Miss Ashbridge's Occur
Very Seldom Indeed.
WAS A POLITICAL AFFAIR
Entire Hotel Chartered RES
ents From de Push"
WAS. A POLITICAL AFFAIR

New York, March pa special 20 the
World from Philadelphia says: When
was there such wedding as that recently
Of Miss Karlene Theresa Ashbridges,
step-daughter of Mayer Samuel B. Ash
bridge. to Schuyler Armstrong, one Of the
most prominent young uudertakers in
Philadelphia?
The only one that ever approached IL
was that of Boss Tweed's daughter
1t was a purely political wedding. To
it were hidden every man in Philadel-
phia who has. had. or hopes TO have po-
litical influence. and an invitation was
equivalent to present. There were $780,
600 worth of presents.
No fewer than 500 people attended the
ceremony in Grace Temple. The car
riage question was a serious one. Every
thing that could go on wheels and carry
people in Philadelphia, Chester. West
Ches ter. and Comden was pressed into
service to carry the guests TO the church
and from there to the reception, except
few cabs belonging to the Pennsylvania
Railroad
This was about the only institution in
Philadelphia that doesn't bow before
Mayor Ashbridge. He is the whole thing
in this city. The power of Richard Crok-
er in New York is a weak and pitiable
thing compared with that of Mayor Ash
bridge in Philadelphia. The Gar of Rus
STA is no more absolute.
Therefore, when Mayor Ashbridgt an
nounced that he proposed giving his
daughter the grandest wedding that ever
was, every office holder and every poll
tician dived deep into his pockets. The
word of the Mayor was the law.
There were only 5000 invitations issued.
The number was limited because it was
estimated that a larger number could not
be cared for in the Stratford Hotel, where
the reception was held. The Mayor had
to take the Atratford because it was the
only swell place where he could get po
session of the whole ground floor. This
being a great occasion he refused TO take
anything upstairs.
But it was given out quietly that as
many people as could be seated would be
admitted to the church, and that seats
more than five thousand people. 1t was
crowded, of course.
The ceremony took place at p. m, but
a
the guests arrived nearly an hour before
The poor ushers had painful time. Be
ing a political wedding, the men with
strong pulls" naturally insisted upon
having the best places.
An effort was made TO seat the guests
after the manner of a political conven-
ton. OF course the members of the Sc
lect Common Council, who subscribed
something over $1,000 Jointly for wedding
presents, besides making individual ones,
were greatly favored So were the other
high city officials and judges of the high
er courts who also subscribed most lib
orally. Then the neergic vote-getters
along the river fronts had to be-cared for.
Pretty nearly everyone had "given up
for a present and naturally they wanted
TO get as much return possible. Also
Mayor. Every city official and employee,
members of the police force. the park
Wings" contributed to a wedding pres
ent.
Not only the city officials attended the
wedding but other politicians OF high de-
gree. And there were some strange and
wonderful combinations possible only a.
a political wedding. There were Judge
Ashman, Of the Orphans Court. and
Buck Devlin, Clayton MacMichael ana
Uncle Bill Van Osten, the most popular
saloon keeper in the Sixth Ward. ].
Hampton Moore. the Mayors private
secretary. and pete" Costello. A B. En-
glish. director of Public Safety. and Leo
Meyer, the most successful of prize-fight-
ers in Philadelphia.
There were men and women in gor-
geous gowns that would attract atten- !
ton anywhere and others who We're ar
Cayed in a wild and fearsome fashion.
Dressmakers and tailors have been |
busy for weeks and there was ont a suit |
Of evening clothes for rent IN the whole I
city Of Philadelphia yesterday. Men APP
peared in evening clothes that have been I
packed away IN camphor for hrteen years /
and in some that onght to have remained 4
so forever.
As for the church. It was profusely dec /
GRATED with flowers and was rented for
the occasion Not long ago there was
talk OF selling this church for nUn-pay-
ment Of S900 taxes, because it vas said .
that It was the custom TO rent It for hire.
and thus it was outside the law OF exemp-
ton That talk has been dropped since
the wedding has engrossed the attention
OF the city officials.
Being so great an occasion Il was deem
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