The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-28
His Marriage at Nice, France,
in Way, Becomes an Inter
national Incident.
CONSUL PERFORMS CEREMONY.
Religious Rites Will Be Celebrated
in Historic Notre Dame and in
American Church To-Day
To Start Home January 1.
SPECIAL BY Cal

| Nice, France, Dec. N.-Cnfted States Sen
ator Chauncey NJ. Depew and Miss Ma!
Palmer were married here at 2 p. m. 20
day in the American Consulate. by Unitef
States Consul Harold 8. Van Buren. wht
conducted the civil ceremony under a spe
cial dispensation granted by the Secretary
| Of State.
Miss Palmer being Catholic. the hrst re
| liEious ceremony will take place in thu
Church Of Notre Dame tomorrow at II a
m. Then a wedding in the American church
will follow at II noon. There company OF
sailors from the American squadron will
form a guard.
The church wedding, however, and not the
one at the consulate, will be the legal one
ip France. The bridegrooms witnesses were
James Gordon Bennett and Count de Sers.
Senator Depew Is the guest of Countess
de Sers. his cousin. q granddaughter OF
Commodore Vanderbilt The Countess gave
a reception after the ceremony. Senator
and Mrs. Depew will start away directly
after the wedding and will sail from Eng
land for the United States on January l.
Miss Palmer Is staying at the Hotel les
Britanniques.
ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULT1Es.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Washington, Dec. H.-Cupid escorted Sem
ator Chauncey NJ. Depew to the altar at
Nice. but the laws Of France made the road
olmcult. It developed to-day that, in order
to avoid the vexatious formalities of
French law. Senator Depew deemed it ad-
yfsable to appeal to the State Department
Tor advice and assistance.
This appeal was made before the de-
parture of Senator Depew from Washing
ton. Good lawyer as he is, the Senator was
ND tell
law. required foreigners desirous to wed to
pursue a tortuous legal path before they
can have the ceremony solemnized. He
made special study Of the French stat
utes. and then came to the conclusion
that he had better consult Secretary Hay
In order to make the way to matrimony
smooth.
The Senator called on the Secretary and
found him ready and willing listener.
The Secretary concluded the conversation
by informing his visitor that he would give
instructions to the American Embassy at
Paris and to Consul General Gowdy, sta
toned at the French capital. to make all
arrangements possible to prevent any COM
plfcations arising in connection with the
Senator's marriage.
Mr.. Depew also determined to consult,
upon his arrival in France. an able lawyer
Of the country who could give him all the
advice needed to remove obstacles from the
path Of an eager bridegroom.
An International InciAent.
Since Mr.. Depew's departure from WASH
ington the State Department has not heard
from him. 1t Is known that Ambassador
Porter and Consul General Gowdy have
obeyed the Instructions Of Secretary Hay
and. to this extent, Mr.. Depew's marriage
will be recorded on the files Of the State
Department as an international incident.
o. %
Consul General Gowdy that he was author.
lied in person or by the Consul at Nice. Mr..
Harold 8. Van Buren,, to perform the civil
ceremony in case the French law permitted
.he consular regulations state that "a
officer OF the United States has
10 power to celebrate marriages In a Chris
tian country between citizens Of the United
States unless specifically authorized by the
laws Of the country to do So"
Mr.. Gowdy must have found that the
laws authorized consular officers to conduct
the civil ceremony. and instructed Mr.. Van
Buren to oflciate. It Is provided by statute
that marriages in presence Of any con-
sular officer Of the United States, in for
eign country. between persons who would
be authorized to marry II residing in the
District Of Columbia. shall be valid to al.
ntents and purposes. and shall have the
same effect as II solemnized within the Uni
led States"
Certificate to BE Sent to Washington.
The statute does not exclude modes of
other than that In the pres
.nce Of a consular officer. Marriages abroad.
when not in the presence Of a consular Of
icer. II otherwise valid. are not invalidated
by the above statute. In all cases Of mar
rage in the presence Of or by consular
,fiicer, he shall give to each OF the parties
/ certificate Of such marriage.
Besides furnishing the Senator and his
bride with certificates. Mr.. Van Buren, will
send certificate to the State
oficials Of the French Embassy say that
here will be no disposition on the part OF !
heir Government to make rough Senator /
Depew's road to matrimony. On the other |
rand. their Government Is friendly disposed
oward Americans. and especially to such
| distinguished American as the New York |
senator, and exerted. they have no doubt. /
very means to remove any difficulties that |
night have been in the way.