Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-07
WHITNEY-HAY.
Most Notable Event of WASH
ington's Social Season.
Payne Whitney and Miss Helen Hay
Married, Thursday Noon.
Distinguished Company Present-Hun
dreds Of Valuable Presents.

Washington, Feb. 6.-Helen Hay, eld-
est daughter of Secretary of State John
Hay. and Payne Whitney of New York.
son Of ex-Secretary Of the Navy Whit
ney, We're married. today, at noon, at
the Church Of the Covenant. The wed
ding was the most notable event of the
season in Washington. being celebrated
in the presence of the highest officials
in the land, including the President
and his cabinet and of what is recog-
nized as the best Of New York and New
England society.
The Hay family has been in mourn
ing since the death Of Adelbert Hay.
but for this one day the mourning was
put aside and the wedding was cele-
brated with all the pomp and circun-
stances that would have characterized
. il otherwise.
For several days the guests have
been gathering and preparations have
beer making for the wedding. The
grcom's father, ex-Secretary VIM. c.
Whitney, came to. Washington with a
party of distinguished friends includ-
ing Sir Edward Colebrooke, C. I. Bar
Eey. Miss Barney and Mrs. Gerald Pa
get, while PAYNE Whitney. the BRIDE
groom, had gathered about him at the
Arlington large number OF his college
chums and fir ends.
Presents almost without number have
been pouring into the Hay home for
the last fortnight: it is believed their
number exceeds 400. many being arti-
cles of almost priceless worth. But it
has not been possible, owing to the re-
luctance of the family to obtain a COM
plete list of these presents, though II is
known that they include houses and
l7nd. yacht and Jewels and articles
Of virtue and art without number.
The church where the ceremony was
performed was deliberately and artisti-
c. lily decorated with flowers and green's
Back of the pulpit and before the or
gan, tall. graceful palms formed a
great bower of dark green, and be-
meath. like a miniature Niagara, great
sprays Of Easter lilies trailed to the
ground. Candelebrum. twice as tall as
man, stood at either corner of the
pulpit platform, each bearing II lights.
Down the center aisle was beautiful
conception, bridal path made up of
Easter lilies attached to the peWs on
e1tneT sue. 1T Willis OF the CnuTCn
were festooned with Southern smilax.
topped off with great masses of Easter
lilies caught up by bows of wide white
ribbon. The church was crowded.
The ushers were all bachelor friends
of the bridegroom. namely Henry
Clews, Jr., Frederick kernochan. J. n.
Waterbury, Jr., Milton s. Barger. Gou-
veneur Morris of New York; James
Wadsworth of Geneseo. n. Y, Hugh D.
Scott Of Philadelphia. and Major
Charles L. McCawley, u. S. NJ. c. of
Washington.
Mr.. Whitneys best man was Eugene
Hale. Jr., son of the senior senator from
Maine.
The bride was assisted by two maids.
her sister. Alice Hay and Dorothy Whit
ney. the 15-year-old sister of the BRIDE
groom. They wore gray crepe de chine
over white silk. and great picture hats
of white felt with long white ostrich
plumes. The bride wore neither jewels
Tor lace and her toilet consisting Of a
gown of plain white satin completed by
q tulle veil caught in place by coro-
ret Of orange blossoms.
Half an hour before noon the church
Continued on page 81