The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-14
HEAD OF The
HOUSE WEDS.
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt i
United i'm Marriage
To Miss Elsie French, His Play
mate Of Childhood.
CEREMONY AT NEWPORT
Guests Brought From New York
on Special Trains.
Church Was Decorated With
Gorgeous Lavishness.
Nature Smiles on the Union of
Hearts and Fortunes.
IMMENSE SUM SPENT.
Cost Of Wedding is Estimated at
S354,OOO.
The Brides Gown Was of Ivory
White Satin.
Nature Smiles on the Union Of
Hearts and Fortunes.
IMMENSE SUM SPENT.
Cost Of Wedding is Estimated at
$4,000.
The Brides Gown Was of Ivory
White Satin.

Newport r. T., Jan. 14.-Although in
the depth Of winter this well known wa
tering place today took on a semblance
Of its summer gaity because of the we'd
ding of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, prob
ably the most wealthy OF the third gen
Grafton of the Vanderbilt family. and
Miss Elsie French a charming Newport
girl and former playmate of the bride
groom. the daughter of Mrs. Frederick
Orme French a resident of the city for
many years.
A brighter sun never shone for any
bride. and in spite Of q crispness in the
air, it did not seem to be a winter day
The ceremony took place at noon in
the Zabriskf memorial church of St
John the Evangelist far up in the old
north part Of the city on the very shores
Of Narragansett Bay, once the center
Of Newport's fashion, but now far re-
moved from the social whirl Of Belle
Vue avenue. Miss French made the
choice Of her own place of worship and
her own home for the scene of the mar
riage, instead of selecting the more pre-
tentIous but less familiar surroundings
which would have ben found in New
York.
Under these conditions. the hundred
or more guests We're forced to make a
journey to a city as quiet at this time
Of the year as an obscure country vii
lage.
The festivities however did not suffer
-ron these unusual circumstances The
church decorated with gorgeous lavish
guests, the invitations having been linn
tied to relatives and close friends of
the couple
SERVICE WAS ORNATE.
The service was as ornate as the
highest forms Of the Episcopal church
could make it. the wedding pro
cession picture of Ioveliness
ana fine gowns and the breakfast
tne day, was one of the grandest ever
served in this city
Although the ceremony was set for !
noon. an hour or more before that time
"a" the arrival Of some of the guests at /
the church. and those who came about 4
II clock had the pleasure of listening
10 an organ concert and found leisure 4
70 marvel at the floral decorations.
Pink. green and white in many charm
ing combinations were the prevailina- 4
coiors, the distinctive flowers being tbe I
Glolre de la RENE Bengoras. the Golden
Nrats roses with white azaleas and the /
specimen palm
The center aisle was a lane Of he I
gonias and asparagus standards eight
1eet nigh being trimmed with the faath-
cry Foliage OF the asparagus at regular
inJerV2is from the entrance TO the chan
Gel Baskets of delicate pink flowers
depended from the standards
specimen palms 30 feet high lowered
niBh above the altar. Interspersed
among the ferns and foliage which
Danhed them We're great clusters of
Mhlte azaleas and medaIIions OF Golden
fdtE roses on the altar was an i'm
nense cross Of Ascension lilies.
ORGAN CONCERT
The programme of the organ concert
which occupied the hour precedins~ +i5e
ceremony was selected by Miss French
4 he eH3lr Doys Of the church marched
7 -rn u 7..u
~ INNS assigned to them The pro
Overture. -Tannhauser" WAGNER.
FESTIVAL prelude. Guirand; serenade
jeffrey. sung by the choir. Coronatio~
narcn- lie Prophete-1Ieyerbe Bridal
chorus. "Lohengrin.'' Wagner. sung bv
the choir -
march breathed softly forth fI1a 7,,-o
clergy men, Rev Geo F.. Beatty rartor
o1 the cnurch- and Rev. G. Brinlev Nor
gan. rector Of Christ church. entered
bridegroom and his brother ResinaifI
vanderbilt. the best man. At the sans
time the bridal procession started uD the
mann aisie, the ushers leading. followed
b. the four bridesmaids.
Eight personal friends az thA brias
groom acted as ushers. They vrera
Messrs- WorthinEtun Fitzhuph vVaita-
nouse: rieaerick Martin Davies. Rob
srt LIVINGSTONE. Gerry Ord Preston.
Ernest Isehn, VIM P. Borden. Poffer
Palmer. jr.. and W. Bayard Cuttine ir
The bridesmaids were Miss Paulina
French, the brides niece. Miss F,lsa
Bronson, daughter of the late Frederiel<
Bronson; Miss Isabel @. StilIman
Laughter % Mr. James Stillrnan. of New
ork, Wne viii shortly become the bride
II Percy Avery RockefaIlpr ana Nrs-
Edith GRAY. daughter Of Judga c.
" Albany ~
The bridesmaids gowns were Of rssr1
ray crepe de chine combined vim lS5
srty gauze Of the same color rr-l,si.
rats were also Of gray. elaborat telv
riIIed. with a knot Of gold in fronf
each carried "a bouquet OF American
ae&nty roses The maid Of honor. Miss