Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-15
A TRUE LOVE MATCH.
VanderbiIt-French Wedding,
Monday, at Newport, R. |.
Youth, Beauty and Millions Joined
Amid the Happiest Surroundings.
Many csts--Reauti!u Presents The Erida!
Ccu7 e '.o1 at Boston.

Newport, r. l.. Jan. 1t.-Although in
the depth of winter this well known
watering place was transformed, Mon
DAY, INTO something resembling sum-
iner gaiety through the wedding of Al
1rcd GWinne Vanderbilt, proba bly, the
l-cheSt of the third generation of the
NahceFb.ft family, already famous for
lis great wealth. to Miss Elsie French.
a charming Newport girl. an Old play
mate, and the daughter Of Mrs Fred
crick Orme French, a resident here
fer many years.
hflghter sun never shown than dane
ca in the blue morning sky for any
bride, rich or poor. while the entire
ais nee Of snow. with only a slight
orispineSs of the air. scarcely reminded.
one Of the midst of an ordinary New
England January.
The ceremony which united the heir
eas of millions to still greater wealth.
took place at noon in the Zabrskie
Memorial church of st. John the Evan
Gelist. far up in the old north part of
the city on the very shores of Nara
Eansett bay. once far removed from he
social whirl Of Bellevue avenue. IN
willing to appear amid familiar sur
roundinGs of a metropolitan church or
hosiery. Miss French chosc her OWE
place Of worship and her own home
| for the scene of the great event of her
| life SO that those who witnessed the
interesting ceremony and partook Of
| the lavish hospitality which preceded
and followed it, were forced to make
a long journey 10 a city. as quiet this
| time Of year as an obscure country
village.
Some hundred or more. however
gladly made the effort and were fully
| lee compressed. The church decorations
were If the most gorgeous description
The assembly which only half filled the
| edifice made UP in spcndor and com
bined wealth what it lacked in mum
| hers: the service as ornate as the high
est forms Of the Episcopal church
| could make II. the wedding procession
a dream of loneliness and fine gowns
while the nuptual breakfast which
closed the formal proceedings Of the
day was one Of the finest repasts ever
served in this city.
With all this formality it is but lit
tie wonder that TIE cxuberance Of the
youthful element broke forth at the
| last and the farewell to the bridal
| couple as they departed for their hon
| eymoon was strictly American in it's
hilarity with showers of rice and flying
| shoes as its principal feature.
The wedding was probably one OF thu
most elaborate. Vet strictly family af-
| fairs that ever took place at Newport
| While both the bride and groom en-
| joycd the presence of many Of their
| most intimate friends, fully half the
| company was made up of members of
| the great house founded by old Com
modore Vanderbilt there being only a
| few of the French family in attend
anCe.
Although the ceremony was as usual
| that time saw the arrival Of some Of
the guests at the church. and those
who came about II O'Clock had the
pleasure of listening to a delightful Or
gan concert. and at the same time
plenty of leisure to marvel at the
floral decorations 50 profusely yet art
istically arranged about the edifice.
Pink, green and white in many
charming combinations, were the pre-
vailing colors. the distinctive flowers
being the Glerre de la Refine bengeras
the Golden Gate rose and white azaleas
and the specimen palm.
The center table was a lane Of be
SCnias, the standards eight feet nigh
trimmed with the feathery asparagus
being arranged on the pews at regular
intervals from the entrance of the
church to the chancel and supporting
baskets of delicate pink flowers in a
form not unlike a profusion of apple
blossoms.
Specimen palms 20 feet high lowered
above the altar and formed back
ground for the choir stalls while inter
sperscd among the ferns and faliage
which banked them We're great clus-
tiers of white groups of azaleas ana
Golden Gate roses, arranged in the
from of great medalions on the al
tar was an immense cross of Ascension
lilies which shown out strikingly fIom
the white and green background.
Eight personal friends of the groom
acted as ushers and leaders of the brid-
al procession. They We're Messrs
WOrthingt0n. Fitzhugh Whitehouse,
Continued on paSe 80