davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03
A Ceremony Which United an Aged Rus
sian Minister and the Most Beautiful
Girl in Georgetown.

|HE colonial doorways OF George
town have opened Hospitality on
4 many notable company. In
old days and new they have looked down
on a society distinguished for the intel
lectuality and position OF its men and
the charm and grace Of its women But
the society which now makes George
town distinctive in The eyes Of the newer
CITY. across. Rock Creek is much less dis
tinguished than it was in the days when
the silent mills and gaping warehouses,
which now border the canal, creaked
with industry and bulged with com
merce.
washington was squalid from the day
the city emerged out Of Davy Burns
farm until after the war. Up to the day
of its redemption by Alexander Shepherd
It was choked with dust in fair weather
and clogged with mud in the wet
Police Protection Shy.
1t was overrun with cows. goats.
loose horses and pigs at all times There
was little or no police protection And
the society Of the Capital City picked
its way along so prominent a street as
/ Pennsylvania. Avenue with the help OF
separated hagstone on the south side Of
tho street only
What a contrast all this offered to
4 Georgetown The one city a mud para
disc" the other a thriving commercial
lcenter; Georgetown far from the city II
is today, but vastly superior 10 Wash
lsngton; and so it was that nine Con-
tgressmen out OF ten boarded there,
many officers Of the Government lived
there. and all the foreign ministers who
could find suitable houses TO rent main
hained establishments there which put
Washington 10 the blush.
Social Glory Denied.
Ultimately. however this last source
Of social glory was denied the olde:
city. through a general decision Of The
nations Of Europe that their repressn-
ftatives should live IN the Capital City
and in no other place.
The year 1897 Joined to this circle il
Georgetown a figure destined 70 dazzle
all beholders-the elegant Baron Alex
ander de Bodisco. envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary to the
United States from Russia. Var Buren,
had been fnaugurated IN March Of that
year. and two months later all the banks
of the nation had suspended specie pay
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03
Witnessed by President Van Buren, and the
Most Brilliant Company the Capital
Gould Assemble.

turning into dowdies. instead Of keep
ing their place in the world and having
handsome house to receive their
friends IN"
Happiness in Spite of All.
Yet there is no evidence that beauti-
full Harriet Williams was unhappy. An
old merchant in Georgetown. who sold
her shoes for many years. said that she
grew more lovely and sweet season az
ter season, She also grew more plump.
season after season. until there was
only memory to remind her friends that
once she had been 1.-THE and stately like
a my. Seven children were born TO her
and all but one Of them died. several
being lost on a steamer on which they
had taken passage 10 Russia. The sur
vivOr, Costie. entered the Russian I'm
perial Guard, became chamberlain 10
the late Car. and only a short while
ago his daughter. Olga de Bodisco,
made her debut in St. Petersburg and
was then given the signal honor OF a,-
pointment as first maid Of honor TO the
Czarlna
Baron Bodisco died January .. 1884. in
the house TO which he took his bride.
and was buried ~ Oak Hill Cemetery.
The widow subsequently married again.
choosing for her second husband Capt.
Douglas Gordon Scott, Of the British
army. and removing with him to India.
where she continued 10 be very happy.
Many who made merry in the old 30
disco house the day of that memorable
wedding assembled there also for the
kindly old mans funeral. The ceremony
was apparently somewhat Ill arranged:
for the clergyman Of the family, who
had been asked to make an address"
embarrassed everyone who heard him
Mrs. Fremont. she who had stood with
the great Mr.. Buchanan as a fourteen
year-oId girl, was OF the party. and she
relates that when the minister repeated:
And If our departed brothers spirit
could look down on US now he would
say
The scholarly Mr.. Seaton leaned over
to her and whispered:
He would say: What a badly man
aged ceremony.
what might have been said" OBJ
serves Mrs. Fremont. was what we all
knew and felt-that there was a man
who had filed the law OF kindness to
his family, and who had made himself
the careful ard wise head OF the whols
family Of his young wife-whose life OF
ceremonies and show had not changed
the real goOdT5 ss of a nature which
In this later light won many friends for
him. And man. who had had their jest
at the marriage had now only sin
cere prayer for the good old Russian
minister"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03
Not All From the Country.

EGN/ OF would be surprised" said
veteran hotel clerk who has
held positions IN several of the
large hotels Of the city. Ito know what
green specimens we run up against in
this business sometimes. You would
think that the average city man would
be thoroughly familiar with the Ordi-
nary customs Of a hotel. but now and
then questions that make US stand and
wonder are asked US by guests who
have every appearance OF being sophls-
ticated.
The other day a weH-dressed man
came in and registered. We gave him
a good room and did not hear from
him until the next morning. He came
down TO the desk, fooled around a min
ute or two, and then leaned over and
asked me in a confidential tone II guests
had 10 register every morning.
zone time, several years ago. when l
was at work at another hotel here, the
most peculiar incident Of this sort that
! ever heard Of happened. AS l came on
one morning at O'Clock one Of the bell
boys came to the desk and told me he
had found man sitting on the stair
way who wanted to see me. l went
around and found a man who had reg
istered from Philadelphia sitting on the
bottom step Of the flight between the
second and third stories Of the hotel.
wish you would SLOW me how to
get out Of here he said. Il walked
down three flights. but L can't get any
further
The stairway ran down around the
elevator well, which was enclosed, and
when he got down 20 the second floor
he found the shape o. the hall in front
OF him was different from that or those
on the upper floors, and he thought he
had reached the jumping-Off place. As
the elevator could not be seen going
up and down he thought he was fast
ened In"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03

envoy. and slender. rose-tinted girl
OF sixteen.
Bodiseo as the fountain-head of all
the ceremony. had written out all the
parts like a play. He was much dis
turbed as to the order of precedence.
Should Minister Fox precede Mr.. Bu-
chanan. or Mr. Buchanan precede Mr..
Fox? Was Russia to give England or
America first position? A compromise
was the answer: Mr. Fox. "a withered.
cynical, silent, gray, little old man.
stood near the groom with his brides
maid of thirteen on his arm, and Mr..
Buchanan. clean. fair. noble of pres
ence. with steady blue eye and firm
mouth. next the bride with Jessie
Benton. at the ripe age of fourteen, on
his arm.
Bishop Johns. in fun canonicaIs. per-
formed the ceremony in the large draw
ing room. When ii was ended the bridal
party gathered about the wedding cake
with its ring. and distributed it among
the guests. Then came the retiring pro-
cession to the carriages when each of
the girls in the party put on great
wrap OF white satin and swansdown
with a tippet like her gown. and passed
gravely through the fine company which
oPNtAc0 the way DOaAiB III Slience TO
the salutations. Finally the procession
moved slowly down the hill. and the
wedding was over.
Asleep Between Ceremonies.
The wedding was over-yes; but not
the festivities. A formal. heavy. weari-
some wedding breakfast followed; then
a great dinner Of forty covers; he.next
day great dinner at the White House
in honor Of Madame Bodisco and Mrs.
Decantzo. another bride: am then. at
last. rest for them all Indeed, rest was
needed long before. for when the we'd
ding breakfast was over. and the young
girls Of the party were sent upstairs to
play. kind old aunt OF the bride who
saw them there gravely put them into
bed and the eight dashing young ladies
OF an hour before went sound asleep
like the tired children they were
In our clearer light OF today. the AIad-
din-like brilliancy with which Bodisco
staged his wedding could not hide the
fact. as Mrs Fremont has expressed 1t.
that the wedding was April and De-
cember all through" But not everyone
saw it in that light then. One of the
ladies who sat near the cake as it was
being cut gave evidence OF this by say
ing:
Now. this is a good match-the first
since Mrs. Calvert drove away from ST.
Johns Church in her carriage and four.
The Washington girls have been MARI
ing poor army and navy ohicers ana
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03

just as ! reached the door I heard the
pirate remark to his fellows, 1 jis spect
dat man goin' home ard make his wife
cut his hair He look like one Of them
mean kind
Now. don't you think if I should
shoot that razor wlelder. and the insult
1 received should be elOquently eX-
pressed to twelve good men and true,
that not a single man would be found
among my peers in the jury box who
would consider my offense PUNISHABLE
The Times man admitted that the ag-
s~ravation was a serious one.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03

Macalzau in her charming book, EARLY
Days Of Washington"
For the first Christmas season spent
in Georgetown, Baron BOdisco gave a
characteristic yuletide entertainment
for his two youthful nephews. Boris and
Waldamar. and invited all the young
people Of the city. The party was de-
scribed by one Of the guests that night
and the following excerpt from that de-
scription gives us a fine view Of the
baron as a host:
cit was a snowy night. and as there
was no gas then the approach up the
hill was marked out by beacon lights
faring in the stormy wind. All the
house was Illuminated, and an empty
square in front had great fires burning,
for the coachmen to go to, as in St.
Petersburg: and a strong temporary
room Of wood and glass. rrightly lit and
carpeted, had been built out TO cover
sidewalk and entrance and atone for our
wretched outdoor system OF entrances.
A Scene Of Beauty.
Once within. fairyIand began. The
flowers and lights and pretty refresh
ments we knew. but this great double
house. opened to the third floor, with
everywhere everything children little
and big could fancy-this we did not
know.
The galleries had been permanently
inclosed, curtained, mirrored, carpeted,
and pictured. Now IN two Of them were
wonderful red and gold swings. Tables
were covered with toys. games. picture
books, and stacks Of little satin bags
with 'Bon-Bons' in gilt letters. And
/ these were for US TO take home
Dolls, tool And in the dressing room
| whole boxes of little white SIid gloves
| and pretty fans. and bolts and bolts Of
/ all colors OF light ribbons. and such
| pIcturesQuely dressed maids TO repair
any damage to our hair or dresses. We
! danced, too-but that we did not care
/ for-dancing was only lessons; but this
world Of toys and sweets and pleasant
/ faces was the real 1oy."
Won the Baron's Heart.
Among the guests at that party was a
young girl who attended Miss English
! Seminary, and who although fifteen.
was not too old to play with the host s
young nephews. Her name was Harriet
! BeaH williams; she was the daughter Of
/ Brooke Williams. ST., or fine old Revolu-
| tionary stock, and her home was one
Of the most impressive Residences In
/ the Heights" Even al her school she
had attracted wide attention for her
sweet girlish beauty. and Baron Bodisco.
| impressive, dignified, dazzling. and In
/ spite of his own fifty years. wa quite
| overcome by II.
After that party It became a not in
frequent practice for the old man 70
walk up the long hill TO the Williams
home and escort the light-hearted young
lassie 10 her school. We can imagine
what a stir all this created in George
town-how Harriet's fellow pupils peak
| ed out the windows 10 see them coming;
how staid and severe Miss English
| frowned alike on the curiosity and the
| cause Of it. and how the other folk OF
! the old city looked on in wonder at the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03

most any man. I imagine. is
willing to admit" said an ap-
parsntly angry man to a Times
reporter last week I'VE let him
take hold OF our noses. pat our
faces, and take other liberties
with our headpieces. and so long as he
keeps his mouth shut or talks only on
business he is all correct. 1 had a
little experience in a tonsorial empor-
ium-' continued the taIker only today
that just made me a whole heap angry.
and have just got to tell II TO some
one, or / Will bust with Indignation"
The reporter indicated a willingness TO
be a victim and listen TO recital Of the
choleric citizens wrongs. and this is the
story the irate man delivered himself Of.
y was convinced this morning that
my beard needed a close trim" he re-
marked. ''and walked into sort OF
high-toned looking shaving parlor. wher'
was a perfect stranger ard made
known my desire. Hair cut first said
a stumpy little African before 1 was
settled in the execution chair. l told
him no. didn't want a hair cut first or
last The disciple of Jack Ketch Just
ran his hand over the nape OF my neck
and said. Deed L can't let no gent go
out of my shop with struggling hair
like dat. / suppose ne meant to be
pleasant but his manners made me
cross. l Got up and put on my coat, and
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03
THE MAGIC LOOM.

From Town and CoEntry.I
Fact and Fancy met one DAY,
One TO work, the other 20 play
Weaving the web of a story
Fancy's thread was gold ana me-
Facts was coarse and common tWIne'
Better for use than for glory
In and out the shuttles new
Weaving in the pearls Of rue,
Gold of joy and threads OF duty
And when III the work WIS done,
Light and darkness were as one
Fancy was truth and Fact was beauty.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03
-Gennie Williams. the thirteen-year-oId
sister of the bride.

Gennie Williams, the thirteen-year-old
sister Of the bride.
Ministers as GroOmsmen.
For groomsmen there were the British
minister Henry Fox, who wore his
scarlet court dress; Mr.. Dunlop. the
minister from Texas; ChevaIier de Mar
tint, minister from the Netherlands; Mr..
Buchanan, who had been minister to
Russia and was then in the Senate;
Baron Saruyse. the Austrian minister.
and two younger men Of high social sta
tion. Mr.. Paulding and young Mr.. Van
Buren,. Each OF the ministers drove TO
the William house that afternoon in his
own carriage with the livery Of his lega-
ton much in evidence.
There were present. Of course, many
relatives Of the bride-including four
grand danes Of most advanced age-all
the members of the Diplomatic Corps,
and such national figures as Daniel
Webster and James Gordon Bennett.
and greatest honor Of aIl-the President
and his Cabinet As Mr.. Williams was
dead It was arranged that Henry Clay
should give away the bride.
The brides trousseau has been OBJ
tanned from abroad. Her dress was
that of Russian brides, and was Of rich
white satin with much silver lace-soft
and flexible as silk lace, but Of most
rich and luminous effect
Coronet of Diamonds
ION her yellow hair rested a corouet of
red velvet covered with diamonds, and
from that fell over the shoulders. and
far down the long train. an exquisite
veil Ct silver lace, light and sparkling as
cobWebs on the grass when the first
| level morning sun lights up the dew
drops on them. Large earrings OF dia-
monds trembled against her rose-leaf
cheeks and shone on her long white
/ throat She was
d" Is fair bride
As e'er the shOne on
The bridesmaids dresses were very
I long. Of white figured satin, with blonde
/ lace about the neck and sleeves, high
/ full wreath of soft white roses. fan Of
| ivory and white feathers. and great
bouquet OF white camelias-"
Brilliant Gathering on the Lawr
! The great day was a clear, beautiful
day in spring. The company overfiowed
out on the lawns, therefore. with great
freedom. What a picturesque sight It
must have been Yet how much more
picturesque TO our eyes. Beneath the
/ high old tcee a hundred beautiful wO-
men in rich gowns, cut low, with their
| shoulders sheltered by capes of lace
and silk; officers OF the army and navy
/ In the brilliant, strange uniforms and
/ flashing swords of the early century;
the officials Of the government Of every
rank; the diplomatic representatives in
their court dress of scarlet. gold, and
blue; the blithe, light-hearted little
/ bridesmaids impressed by their mo-
mentous responsibility into silence; and
| all conferred on an ugly old man OF fifty
! in the gorgeous costume OF a Russian
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03

ment under the stress Of the greatest
panic for generation. But the new
Russian envoy overshadowed all such
events as these. He was. indeed, a fig
uro to attract attention even in our own
time.
Half a dozen residents OF Georgetown
recall with keen interest his removal to
the house he had selected as the seat
Of his legation. It stood on what is now
o Street. about half way between Thir-
ty-third and Thirty-fOurth Streets In
those days the square north Of the
house was vacant, the trade Of the city
paralleled the canal. and society was
divided between the Heights. the dis
trict now traversed by U Street, and
the parallel district which has the pres
emit n Street for its axis. The house
has been little changed IN its exterior,
excepting that the piazza on the east
ern siGs has been added; and then. as
now. it was distinctly one af the great
and snowy mansion houses Of the Dis
trict.
SpIendor of Russia.
Every feature Of the new legation ex-
pressed the splendor Of the great capt.
tai the minister had left behind. His
house was furnished lavishly. The en-
tertainments given there were marked
from the first by bounty and display
The servants Iiveries were brave and
distinctive. But the carriages were
most notable Of all, that used by the
minister being snowy white and drawn
by four prancins long-tailed black
horses caparisoned with the most gilt
teriIsg leather and brass harness.
Three stately old ladies live now in
/ the block dignihed by the Bodisco house
and all of them recall clearly the min
ister's appearance. One Of them de-
! scribes him as a man OF short figure
and burly frame. with a huge head and
/ bushy whiskers. He was imposing, %
/ said the gentle-spoken grandmother,
/ but he was also remarkably plain. We
/ girls did not hesitate to call him ugly.
Loved to Please.
There was something the matter
with his mouth, I remember. II was all
I drawn up at one side. and he wore a
/ wig OF curly brown hair. But then he
was amiable and kind and loved TO give
| pleasure. and I often heard my father
speak Of him as most intelligently vers-
ed in the affairs Of our country" That
verdict is fully sustained by the written
/ testimony Of Jessie Benton Fremont in
her Souvenirs OF Ny Time" and Miss
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03
Uprising in Schoo

unconscious conquest made bv little
school girl not yet in long dresses.
Uprising in School.
Along in April there was an uprising
in the seminary. The girls had elected
for their May Queen a candidate whose
friends urged strange qualifications in
her behalf
First" one Of them explained, be
cause she was beautiful Then she was
a good-natured girl, who brought US
lots of flowers and fruits. and who
could play heartily" This is a dcscrip-
ton OF Harriet Williams. But this reg
ular election was calmly set aside by
the principal and all the teachers" be-
cause Of the constant, repeated, and
unconcerned Indifference Of the May
Queen to her studies.
The May Queen should be a girl, the
preceptress explained, who had the en-
tire appreciation Of all the teachers"
and thereupOn a "blushing. shrinking.
really lovely girl was produced who
obeyed that order 20 be May Queen. as
she obeyed every other.
The beautiful Miss Williams did not
care. She took her reduction with smiI-
ing composure. 1t would make her
father so angry, she said, that he would
take her away from school. and so for
while she would have holiday. But
her supporters organized a mutiny. had
a headache All round on May Day, and.
! though penaIized TO the suffering of a
tea cup Of SIENNA tea, remained away.
and spoiled the fete.
Bodisco TO Marry.
Judge, then, Of the pride-the triumph
we felt" writes one Of them, when
/ it was announced that Bodisco The
! Splendid was to marry our candidate!
| That he was far past sixty Inc was
really only hfty-threeI and she but six
teen was a mere letail-tne main fact
was that we were Endorsed by a higher
authority even than-.tke principal and
/ all the teachers"
| The wedding occurred in June, 1885, at
1 4 in the afternoon, and the ceremony
was performed at the Williams home
! by the Rev Holiday Johns, second
cousin Of the bride
/ It IS known that the Williams family
was much opposed TO the whole affair.
| Bodisco was in their eyes too old ahd
lCgly." But when the gray-bearded diplo-
matist and his girlish sweetheart per-
| sisted, the latter's relatives made the
| best OF it, and arranged that the we'd
| ding should occur as nearly as POSSIBLE
as the groom desired.
| The fact Of the matter was that Baron
! Bodisco arranged every detail OF the
/ service. He seems TO have had a genius
| for ceremony
/ For the bridesmaids he asked Miss
| Williams 20 select girls or her own age.
probably in order that Ihe extreme youth
OF the bride might not ba accentuated-
| Those chosen according to these require
ments were Sarah JOINS. Jessie Ben
| ton, Ellen Carter, Eliza Jane Wilson,
| Emily Nichols. Mary Harry, Helen Nor
! ris, daughter OF Commodore Morris, and
The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-06-09
NOTICE orINcoRPoRArIoN.
BY J. C. McNerney, her Attorney.

Notice Is hereby given that the undersigned
have associated themselves together Tor Inc
purpose Of forming a corporation under and
pursuant to the laws of the State OF hebrask q
with provisions as follows
l. The name Of the corporation shall be
Jacob North K Company.
O. The principal place Of transacting Its
business shall be In the city Of Lincoln and
State of Nebraska.
g. The general nature ofthe business to
be transacted shall be general printing and
book binding business and general wholesale
and retail business In paper and stationery
and~kindred articles and the buying and selling.
holding and leasing Of real estate and such
other acts and things as may be incident and
necessary to the business OF the corporation
herein before specified
a The amount of capital stock author
ICED Is s60,0O0O0 S40,000.00 Of which shall be
fully paid up before the commencement or
business
b. The time of commencement Of b usi
ness shall be the 18th day of May 1904 and The
termination thereof shall be the 18th day OF May
1904.
6-The highest amount of indebtedness
or liability to which the corporation may ut
any time subject itself shall be two thirds ofthe
capital stock.
THE business allarsofthe corporation
are to be conducted by the President, vice
President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Signed this 26th day OF May, 1904.
JACOB II. NORTH.
ARTHUR 3. NORTH.
EMMA NORTH.
SAMUEL w. NORTH.
The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-06-09
NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to an
order of f. +. Holmes, Judge of the district
court of Lancaster county, Nebraska made on
the 9th day of June, 1904. there will be sold at
the east front door Of the county court house,
In the city of Lincoln, Nebraska, on July z iyo4,
at P. M. at public yendue to the highest bidder,
upon terms one-half cash and one-half secured
by mortgage. lot twenty, In Yates & thompson 3
Subdivision of lot II, In north west quarter Oh
section 36, town 10, range East, In Lancaster
county, Nebraska Said sale shall remain open
one hour
Dated June 9Th 1904
T. p. Harrison, Administrator of the
Estate of Charles Harrison, deceased.