The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-20
A GIFTED


New York Letter in Philadelphia Press.
Matchmaking mammas of society are
happy and apprehensive. Happy they are
because one OF the most eligible heiresses
IL New York-Miss May Goelet-has left
The field by accepting the hand OF the Duke
Of Roxburghe; apprehensive. because the
announcement draws the inference that
Mrs. r. 7. Wilson. known for years as
the most successful matchmaker in society,
mad returned TO the fray.
Even those not OF an analytical turn of
mind were aware that the decision of Mrs.
Wilson's granddaughter-who for several
seasons had amused herself by rejecting
ducal and princely %Suitors, trying half the
coronets OF Europe on her pretty head, as 1t
were, only to find them too small-was not
uninI1uenced by her wonderfully wise ana
successful relative.
To some persons in society it seems that,
having married her five children with a
degree OF success unparalleled in the
history of New York families, this dainty
gray-haired old lady should have retired
gracefully from the matchmaking arena
But Mrs. Wilson, to whom the pulling or
the various wires by which the society heart
is operated had become second nature, did
not agree with them And having no more
daughters or sons TO give in marriage, she
has begun, naturally enough, with her
grandchildren.
Therefore society-that portion of II
which attends balls that its daughters may
have some one TO fly TO between dances,
and sits in stolid expectation of supper
what carefully nurtured bud not of Will
son stock can hope TO attain the full per-
lection of bloom that comes TO her who
marries millions?
record of successful matchmaking which
in brilliancy of number can rival the mar
riages of Mrs: Wilson, a tiny, shrinking
white-haired old lady, who came to New
York in the early Os, has arranged for her
five children. Orme Wilson married Caro-
line Astor. Mary became the wife OF
woman whose engagement to the British
peer is the chief topic in society circles.
Belle was married to the Hon. Michael
Herbert, British ambassador at Washing
ton. Grace became the wife of Cornelius
Vanderbilt, jr, and r.. T. Wilson, jr., last
year married Miss Marian Mason. a beauti-
full Boston heiress. Richard L. Wilson, jr,
was the last of the quintet to marry, and
when news of his engagement was circu-
lated the matrons with m~arriageable
daughters, who had wondered at and en-
We'd Mrs. Wilson's success, were convinced
that she had left the field open to them
But the fact that it was she who finally
brought her spoiled granddaughter to ac-
cept Rcxburghe and so add a British duke
to the Wilson family, has made them aware
that the most successful society diplomat
of the last twenty-five years Is still alive
to the matrimonial situation and can con-
troll il whenever she is so inclined.
The story of Mrs. Wilson's success as a
matchmaker for her sons and daughters,
when written, sounds as improbable as a
musical comedy plot or the scheme of the
latest religious fad.
Before they came to New York the VIII
sons, who were of Southern origin, had
lived in Kentucky and Tennessee. X. /.
Wilson had specialized successfully In cot
ton and other commodities just after the
civil war. and when he had acquired a for
tune, moved TO New York.
Society at that time was very narrow.
Mrs. August Belmont was the leader. The
AStorS were not the power that they are
to-day, and save In the financial world, the
Vanderbilts were unknown. When the Will
sons came TO New York Mrs. Goelet, the
Oldest daughter. was about eighteen; the
her and her brother, Marshall Orme Will
son. a very exclusive dancing class was
selected by their astute mother.
There the young Wilson boy met and
danced with little Caroline Aston, daughter
of Mrs. William Astor. A boy and girl
romance developed. But Mrs. Astor had
other views. Miss Astor was taken abroad:
But Orme Wilson persisted in his suit, and
his sister Mary, who in the meantime had
married Ogden Goelet, one of the heirs OF
old Peter Goelet's $4,000, 00o, favored it, and
after her daughters return from Europe
Mrs. Aston withdrew her opposition and
announced the engagement, scoring the sec
ond of Mrs. Wilson's ,triumphs.
In 1886 Miss Belle Wilson made her debut
and was so much sought after by New
York eligibles that society was greatly sur
prised two years later to read of her en-
SaSemeut 10 the Hon. Nllcndel f1eTDerl,
an attache of the British legation at Wash
ington. To be sure, young Herbert came of
a distinguished family, but the match
makers VINO know that he was not par
ticuiarly well endowed with the worlds
goods began TO hope that Mrs. Wilson's
power to arrange successful marriages for
her children was waning.
But since the young diplomat, after a dis
tinguished career abroad, has returned to
America as British ambassador, they lave
been forced TO admit Mrs. Wilson's fore
sight in selecting him for a son-in-law.
About thirteen years ago Miss Grace
tiest of the Wilson sisters and when after
several seasons in society she captured the
heart of young Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr.,
no one was surprised save the young mans
relatives. The details of Cornelius Van
derbilt's opposition to the Wilson alliance
are we'll known, and the fact that the
young man married the girl OF his choice
at the cost of the major part of his inherit
ance made him many friends.
The Vanderbilt marriage was Mrs. Will
sons greatest triumph. And when her
youngest and only remaining child, r. Il.
Wilson. jr., married Miss Marian Mason,
society heaved a sigh of relief and the
stock of other eligible young men and
maidens went up several points.
But Miss Goelets engagement shows that
they riumphe too soon. And that they
will now have to wait till the rest of Mrs.
Wilson's grandchildren have been disposed
of In marriage to the wonderful old lady's
liking before they can be sure of the mar
ket's best.