The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-04-04

Washington, D. C.-In the beautiful
white and gold East Room of the
White House, a few minutes after
noon, the venerable Right Rev. Henry
Y. Satterlee, Protestant Episcopal
Bishop of the Diocese Of Washington.
pronounced the words which united in
marriage Alice Lee Roosevelt, eldest
daughter of the President Of the United
States, and Nicholas L~ongworth, the
Representative in Congress from the
First District o. Ohio.
The ceremony-the service of the
Episcopal C~hurch-waS attended with
all the Splendor of a grand official
function and with all the devotional
beauty of cathedral rites. 1t was wit
messed by one of the most brilliant and
distinguished ~assemblages ever gath
cred in the White House-by far the
largest company which ever graced the
executive mansion on a similar Occa-
sion.
Beautiful at all times. the historic
East Room was exquisite in its splen-
dor. The shades were drawn at all the
windows and the handsome brocaded
draperies in gold harmoniZed perfectly
with the ivory white of the interior.
From hundreds of softly shaded cleo
trio lamps in the magnificent crystal
chandeliers perfect light was ditused
throughout the room.
At the great centre windows, direct
" opposite the main entrance of the
room, and overlooking the east terrace,
q superb floral bower had been con-
trived with exquisite skill and artistic
taste. A semi-circular platform, twelve
inches high, was constructed before
the windows. On this the ceremony
took place, so that all in the room had
practically an unobstructed view of it.
The platform was carpcted in green,
OF handsome design, and over the car
pet was thrown, with artistic careless
ness, an elegant Oriental rug designed
in curios and intricate figures.
Members of the Roosevelt and Long
worth families were received at the
north entrance to the executive man.
sion. The gates surrounding the build
ing were closed early in the morning,
and only those who could show cards
of invitation were admitted within the
grounds.
All the thousand guests. without re-
gard to rank or social station, with the
exception of the members of the two
families, were assembled at once in the
East Room. There was no line forma-
ton and nothing to distinguish the title
Of one guest from another. All met on
equal terms in the great East Room,
where the ceremony was performed.
The guests began to assemble in the
East Room as early as II o'clock. The
rooms to the west of The East Room,
which include the Green, Blue and Red
Parlors, were closed to guests by bands
of white ribbon. Later in the day
these rooms were thrown open, but
prior to the ceremony all the State de-
partments on the first floor, except the
East Room, were closed to all except
the members Of the bridal party and
the relatives.
A few minutes before noon Mrs.
Roosevelt, accompanied by the mem
bers Of her immediate family, descend
ed the main staircase and, under the
escort of several military aides, en-
tered the East Room by the main
doors. She was escorted to 4 position
on the left side of the platform, which
was reserved for the brides family.
Designated members of the bride
groom's family, including his mother
and sisters, already had taken their
places on the right side of the plat
form.
Mrs. Roosevelt graciously acknowl-
edged the greetings which u re-
ceived on her entrance. She wore a