The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-18

One of the most arduous. yet most in
terestng, tasks which will occupy the
spring days of Mrs. Nicholas Longworth,
Alice Roosevelt that was, will be the DIS
position and arrangement in her new
home or elsewhere of the hundreds OF
valuable wedding presents which were
showered upon this fortunate young
woman. OF course, the Presidents daugh-
ter would like nothing better than to
surround herself in her new home with
every last one of her numerous trophies,
for assuredly one of the chief Joys of be
ing bride Is found in the privilege OF
proudly displaying the gifts to ones
friends, but. unfortunately, the creation
of such a fairy treasure house Will be Inn
possible.
In the first place the house which Rep
resentatlve Longworth has leased as the
nrst home for his bride, although 1t Is
four stories in height and three rooms
deep, is scarcely large enough to serve
as a wedding present museum and also
afford living Accommodations for the fam
lily and servants. Then, too, there is the
consideration that many of the gifts of
Jewels received by the White House bride
are so valuable that 1t would scarcely be
wise to assemble them all in one place
with only such protection as can be af-
forded In a private house, and so many of
the almost priceless tokens are 10 be
safely stored away In safe deposit vaults,
and will be removed only when the Pres
dents daughter wishes to wear them on
some special occasion.
The task of protecting the wedding
gifts has, by the way, proven the biggest
kind of a problem ever since 1t first be-
came apparent that Miss Alice Roosevelt
was to receive more valuable mementoes
than were ever before bestowed upon any
woman in the New World. To protect
from harm an accumulation OF nearly
1000 different gifts, valued at several
hundred thousand dollars and all con-
stantly spread out for display. was per-
haps the greatest of the unusual respon-
sibillties which the White House we'd
ding placed on the shoulders of the police
force at the national capital.
During the time the treasure trove of
wedding trophies remained at the White
House they were assembled in the H.
brary on the second door of the presiden-
tial mansion. This is, with the exception
of the East Room where Alice Roosevelt
and Mr.. Longworth were married, one
of the largest rooms In the house. and 1t.
was filed to overlooking with a gittering
array. Just outside the door q police
man was constantly on guard, and under
the only windows looking out upon the
White House grounds other bluecoats
paced two and fro. Indeed, there were
two dozen policemen on duty in the
grounds surrounding the Executive Man
sion, and nearly score were on the
watch inside the house, so that 1t can
readily be appreciated that 1t would have
been virtually impossible for either so
,ciai highwayman of the Rallies type or
any other class OF burglar 10 have laid
hands upon the brides precious posses
sions. With the transfer Of the gifts TO
the brides own home, however. such eab-
crate perpetual watchrulness would have
been impossible, and SO II came about
that many of the eostliest presents We're
sent direct from the White. House 10 safe
deposit boxes.
or these valuable presents the costliest
and certainly one OF the most beautiful
presents received by the Presidents
daughter was the s25. 900 pearl and dia-
mond necklace the gift OF the Republic
Of Cuba. This wonderful strand of gems
cost s25 600 In Paris and was, of course,
brought into the United States free of
duty, so that 1t is a gift which, had 1t
been purchased In any American jewelry
store, would probably have cost not less
than 5000.
The Cuban gift was exceptional In more
than one way. Weeks before the marriage
President and Mrs. Roosevelt decided
that the wedding must not be considered