The Washington times., 1906-02-18

White House were thrown open at ii
o'clock. and at that hour considerable
number Of guests had already arrived.
From that time there was an uninter-
rupted succession of carriages. Through
the broad corridor that leads to the
stairway the long procession passed
slowly. Meantime those holding special
invitations were arriving at the south
entrance and were conducted to their
places.
The historic East Room had been rich
ly and even brilliantly decorated. In
The center of the east wall the great
canopy and altar of flowers had been
erected. and toward this, before the en-
try of the wedding party. every eye was
turned. From the altar a broad lane.
roped with white satin, led TO the west
door of the room. and the guests were
seated on eitller side of this aisle. All
about We're palms and flowers, roses.
red and white, amid the green.
Border of Human Beauty.
Whether by the arrangement OF the
ushers through IaudabIe purpose TO
complete the scheme of decoration, or
The delightful vagary OF chance, or the
imperious viii of the girls themselves,
the sides OF the aisles were lined with
beautiful young women, gowned in
every soft and delicate coloring that
fashions mandates stamp with ap-
prOvaL The effect was rarely striking
The flare of the broadening satin ropes
gave this fringe OF American loveliness
the appearance of coTnucopia of youth
ful bloom Never was that emblem of
plenty and happoness more spIendldly
depicted.
Around were more sober costumes and
quieter colors. The diplomats were not
in court costume and uniforms were
worn only by those officers of the army
and navy in immediate attendance upon
The President. The black of the mems
attire might have been somber had the
occasion been less joyous and enliVen-
ing or less free from even the sugges-
ton of d pOndeTOus and oppressive
solemnity, but as things were IL served
merely TO lend an appropriate setting
and give an appropriate background 10
the scene.
Enters Bishop Satterlee.
The celebrant of the marriage cere-
snony, the Rt. Rev. Henry 7. SatteHee,
Bishop Of the District of Columbia, en-
tered the room alone. arrayed in his
Episcopal robes, and took his place at
the altar. This was shortly before noon
"A few minutes after the hour. the bridal
party entered, the ceremony was carried
out, and the solemn benedictiOn of the
church was pronounced upon the plight
.ed troth of Alice Roosevelt and Nicholas
IOngWOrth.
y moment before the entrance there
had been the clatter of nearly a thou
sand tongues and the rustic of five hun
dred silken and satin gowns. Not an i'll
bred or distressing noise. of course, but
of En rDrfn Int ra1-
from so large a company on such an
occasion. 1t scarce seemed the noise
could be hushed into silence
And yet it was. In some teIepathic
fashion, the crowd became aware the
bridal party was approaching, and in
that moment the noise was stilled, as IL
q breath had passed over the great
room. and the hushed quiet Of the room
became profound. The clank of a sword
hilt against the metal trappings of its
wearer's belt was heard from one end of
the room TO the other. Everybody lean
ed forward TO see and hear It was in
this atmosphere of intense interest that
the solemn words were pronounced by
Bishop Satterlee that made the Presi-
dents daughter a wife.
Sword Cut Cake
The buffet luncheon that was served
to the guests offered abounding oppor-
tunity for merriment. 1t w2s a merry
crowd filled with the spirit of the day
and the occasion. and infected with the
brides temperamental determination TO
have a good time. At the wedding
breakfast. where the families and a few
Intimate friends were entertained there
was an even merrier company. The groom
showed himself the royal good fellow
y. he
cake with Maj. Charles McCawley's
sword. There were no toasts, save the
informal ones that We're drunk, in bump
ers. to the boundless happiness. pros
perity and long life Of Mr. and Mrs.
Nicholas LOngworth.
The whole town caught the infection
of it. and half the men and women on
the streets seemed to be under the i'm
preston they were going to be married
themselves There was no sorrow in the
prospect. either. but the general and
indelible conviction that everyone had
captured the first prize in the matri-
monial lottery.
BY I o'clock the guests began to leave
the White House. and from that time
until o'clock the exodus continued
slowly at times. and at other times
in rapid profusion The closer friends
stayed until toward the last and left
: reluctantly. one by one. The crowds
that had thronged all day around the
White House began to disperse. in tired
recognition of the fact that to see the
bride was not for them. Only few
of the faithful fingered on. They were
distributed at the several entrances to
Jhe grounds. each group firm In the con-
] Niction that it had selected the place to
watch the departure.
Of in Automobile.
1t was the faithful at the southeast
gate who were finally rewarded. The
big Mclean automobile, that all the
afternoon had been lowering about the
grounds, now at one entrance and now
at another, and which finally seemed
to disappear, drove up to the south
portico. The anxious watchers beyond
the gates saw brilliant company leave
the White House and gather at the
steps of the car; saw the bride and
groom make their way through this
party and a shower of rice to their