The St. Louis Republic., 1904-02-21
% THE ROMANTIC MARRIAGES OF TO-DAY LEAD TO HAPPlNf
American Parental Oppoaho DsnherH
Of og

With loves light wings did o'er-perch thesa
For sssny limits cannot hold love out;
And what love can do that dares love attempt.
Alack there Hes more peril IN thine eye
Than twenty Of their swords: look thou bu,
eweet,
And am p,oof against their enr,ity.
Romeo and Juliet.
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC
What a sorry world this would be were
one TO believe that all romance is dead!
We hear everywhere that the marriages
OF to-day-and In the phrase are included
those that have been made within the
last half dozen years, since We have
acknowledged ourselves to be truly mod
ern-we hear that without exception such
eihances are the result OF cold d-blooded cal
culation. an adjustment OF dollars and
cents. a gain in social position.
The Twentieth Century is not medieval
The knight Of to-day does not tilt lance
In defense OF his lady love- but he shows
his devotion in quite as effective a manner
as his armored predecessor.
Perhaps he is a trihe less inpulsive and
lAsh about assuming responsibilities which
he may not be able to meet properly.
looking back few years at the roman
t1c marriages that have become social his
tory. we naturally select the most Notable
and one that Is to all appearances the
bASeSo.AeSSt
match In which parental opposition, dis
Inheritance. flight and all the recognized
attributes of an affair Of this sort cut a
prominent figure. This IS the wedding of
Cornelius Vanderbilt. Jr.. and Miss Grace
Wilson.
THEIR ROMANCE
BEGAN IN NEWPORT
No prettier setting could be fp,a rtned for
this little love story than Newport where
the romance budded and reached full
bloom ere the respective parents of these
two young folk realized that the attach
nent meant anything more than q college
boys infatuation.
Wise ones nodded and smiled indulgently
et tho interesting devotion on the part Of
young Vanderbilt.
Walt until the season Is advanced and
the older men appear on the scene. and
then watch this youth fail to the rear"
said they
But Miss Wilson was no weather vane.
and the families Of the two young lovers
suddenly realized that this Romeo in i'm
maculate linen and broadcioth. instead Of
slashed doublet and hose, meant # all a.
seriously. as though he sighed and sang Of
his undying love.
AT this point In the romance v-e are told.
the father and mother Of Cornelius called
separately upon the Wilson's to plead and
nnaily demanded that the engagement. if
eucn existed, De broken on. and that the
young folks see no more Of each other.
We are satisfied with our daughters
choice" was the reply OF Miss Wilson's
parents. and they refused to put obstacles
IN the way Of her happiness.
Then We will do it" was the mental.
II not audible, resolution of the Wander
bits, and forthwith young Cornelius was
dispatched to the South.
His father and mother based their OBJ
sections on his extreme youth and Ill
health, for Miss Wilson's family is quite
the equal Of the Vanderbilts.
MET AGAIN AT
VIRGINIA HOT SPRINGS
Love laughs at good many moro bar |
riers than those raised by locksmiths, and /
II 1t was thought that Cornelius Wander |
bilt needed the air and waters Of Virginia |
Hot Springs. so did Miss Wilson think that l
she might be benefited by them, and with /
IN q few days after his arrival there she |
appeared on the scene with a companion.
The next act Of this little play took place
In Europe.
It is a matter OF national social pride
that this pretty young woman. who had
Joined her sister for yachting cruise