The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-11

ot'iNuNo Huo pIetby BIls, GAINS W hno"
q set in the smaller society Of those days
that would be quite impossible to any
casual hotel jewellers to-day.
Different stories as to the social inn
portance OF the Smith family in Mobile
have been told here. Mr.. Smith is said to
have been q descendant Of Lord Harold
Stirling and a cousin OF the wife Of Prince
Of Virginia and Kentucky.
Other stories have it that the Smith
family was so little known In Mobile that
even the news OF Miss Alva Smiths en-
gagement to W. X. Vanderbilt created
no excitement there. For Mrs. Smiths
first SUCCESS for her daughters came in
enga cement to W. X. Vanderbilt. Mrs.
Elliott F.. Shepard had introduced the
two. and although w. H. Vanderbilt had for
q while opposed the match, he is said to
have approved it SO completely afterward
that he bought beautiful trousseau for
the bride.
The Yznagas and Smiths had become
friends at the old New York Hotel, and
their fortunes. now that the two oldest
girls had made brilliant matches, were
destined to bs even more closely con-
nectsd. Young Mrs. w. X Vanderbilt,
not in family 30 powerful socially then as
afterward, wanted the assistance Of her
titled friend in making her way here; so
LAhy mdiueVllle IetuIneu 70 tnls Guy III
1883 as the guest of Mrs. Vanderbilt, who
named her daughter Consuela after her
friend.
Fernando Yznaga, brother OF Lady Mande-
vile, married Mary Virginia Smith. That
marriage was not happy. and Mrs. Yznaga
after her separation became Mrs. William
Tiffany. W. X. Vanderbilt put Fernando
Yznaga into Wall Street firm, and he died
q millionaire.
Mimi Smith, youngest sister Of the pres
emit Mrs. o. H. P. Belmont, married Baron
CASTOR de Fontenilliat, and the two were
supported for many years by MIR. Wander
bilt. Thus Mrs. Smiths marriage Of her
daughter to one Of the Vanderbilts made
the fortune Of the Smiths.
her daughter to a prospective Duke led
to the fortunes Of her children. Her sec
ond daughter, Natica. married Sir John
Lister-Kaye on Dec. S, 1881, having made
his acquaintance at her sisters home
The marriage Of Fernando Yznaga to Miss
Smith enabled him to win the Vanderbilt
support and make fortune.
Brilliantly az the Yznagas and the Smiths
had done in New York recently, it remained
for the Wilson's to illustrate what family
can do In the matter Of notable alliances
when the women are attractive and tactful.
Millionaires were fewer in the days Of the
Smiths and the Yznagas, and it remained
for the Wilson family TO ally itself with
such fortunes as the Vanderbilts', Astors'
and Goelets'.
Mr.. Wilson, to be sure, was wealthy
sos, and his position as banker gave
his children advantages that many others
never enjoyed. Like some other families,
the Wilson's left no high social position In
the South. and first enjo yed In New York
association with the most fashionable
people Of the town they lived in.
Mrs Wilson, who was a Miss Johnston
family OF that region. She Is to-day a
remarkably distinguished looking woman,
and has the satisfaction OF being allied
with more old New York families than any
other mother-in-law tnat ever came here
from another city.
Her one son. Orme Wilson, married
Caroline Aston; May L.. her daughter
il the widow Of Sir Michael Herbert. the late
British Ambassador to Washington; and
Grace, her youngest daughter, Is the wife
Of Cornelius Vanderbilt.
That Is the record Of the most successful
Southern mother whose children married
in the North. They have married into
the wealthiest families and those most
conspicuous in society here.
When Cora Urquhart came from New
Orleans as tho wife OF James Brown Potter,
the marriage was looked upon a. brilliant.
1t introduced the young wife into the most
exclusive society In New York, where she
did not evince the least desire to remain.
Among recent marriages OF Southern
girls with New Workers are TO be mentioned
those OF the Langhornes OF Virginia.
Mrs. G.. ID. Gibson, wife OF the artist. was
the first Of these to come to New York, and
she became In very short time one OF the
most popular young women In society.
Her sister. Mamie, married the young
millionaire Robert Shaw Of Boston; and
Phyllis Langhorne. youngest OF these
beautiful sisters, became two years ago
the wife Of Reginald Brooks.