Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-26

Richard Fl. Townsend and Mrs. Charles
Fl. Strong of Erie. Pa. The two sisters
are devotedly attached to each other as
are their two daughters. the bride of to-
day. Mrs Peter Goelet Gerry. and Mrs.
Reginald Ronalds, who was Miss Thora
Strong. The latter was a frequent visitor
at the Townsend home, before and since
her marriage. and, it is said. that it. was
while both were her guests that.the BRIDE
and bridegroom OF today first met each
other. Another bit of gossip anent the
wedding OF today is that the couple be
came engaged three months ago. The
announcement was made public as ru-
NOR April is last and was corroboratcd
a day or two later.
The Bridegroom.
The bridegroom OF today is the young
est son of Mr.. and Mrs. Elbridge T.
Gerry and is by profession a lawyer. His
brother, Robert Livingston Gerry, mar
ried Miss Corneha Hartman, and he has
two unmarried sisters. the Misses An
gelica and Mabel Gerry. He is a mem
Der of the Knickerbocker. Racquet and
Tennis and Metropolitan, the Rockawa
Hunt. the Turf and Field and the Auto.
mobile Clubs Of America. His mother
was Miss Louisa M. Livingston, and
on the side of his father he is descended
from EIbridge Gerry. fifth Vice President
Of the United. States. His grandmother
on the Gerry side was a Miss Goelet and
lived for many years in the old Goelet
house at Broadway and 10Th street, New
York city.
Mr.. Eibridse T. Gerry is the commo-
dore OF the New York Yacht Club and
the owner Of the yacht Electra. He has
New York residence and Seaverge is
the name Of his villa at Newport, R. L.
The Townsend Home.
At the time that Mrs. Townsend built.
or rather rebuilt the house where the
ceremony took place today which made
her only child wife it was regarded as
the finest residence in this city, and most
closely deserving the oft-used and not
always true term, 'palatiaf." When Mr..
and Mrs. Townsend bought the property
the Curtis Hillyer mansion. a double
house with high steps leading up TO the
terraced front, occupied the center OF the
garden. That house was not thrown
down, but the new one was built around
A year after the additions, changes
and general transformation had brought
it to its present appearance, Mr.. Town
sends sudden death occurred following
an accident in which he was thrown
while out horseback riding with his young
daughter. That event postponed Miss
Townsend's debut more than year the
interval being spent travelling abroad
with her mother Subsequently the man
son was .reopened to society and has
since each season been the scene of some
of the handsomest entertainments given
at the capital.
In many. respects the Townsend house
is as we'll adapted to the purpose of large
hospit alities as any of the later construc-
tions, notably the Larz Anderson. the
Thomas F. Walsh. the Perry Belmont,
the Edison Bradley. the John r. Nc
houses The marble entrances, SHOWING
small rooms on the first floor, and the
splendid staircases lead up to the main
foor where on the front are the drawing
rooms and library, with the ballroom in
the one-story wing on the west.
The hall which divides the house makes
ar imposing apartment in itself. II eX-
tends it's entire width. opening on the
ballroom at the west and on the dining
room to the north. This latter room sug-
gests the state dining room of the White
House in dimensions. It's woodwork
adornment is very beautiful. The bed
room suites on the upper floors are. the
uuintessence of luxurious appointment,
Miss Townsends suite In connecIion WIN
those used by her personal attendants be-
ing a feature which gave her mother in
tense pleasure in arranging. Last year
Mrs Townsend added a conservatory to
the already spacious accommodations. 1t
adjons the library on the east side.
1t is on the east side of the mansion
that the flower garden attracts admira-
ton. 1t has trim paths and many beau
tiful plants and shrubs. A good glimpse
of it is afforded the casual passerby on
the west side: space as great as that
on which the house stands is inclosed by
probably the tallest and heaviest iron
fence in this city. Steps lead out from
the French windows of the ballroom to
a broad balcony and thence to the gar
den There is a sun dial in the center
and deliberately carved marble benches
are at set intervals. msssing of rho
dodendrons and a low mimic forest of
shrubbery. ivy vines and frs border the
garden near the fence and are
high that but little OF the interior can be
seen. The garden has. moreover. a num-
Der Of fine old trees whose spreading
branches make inviting shade.
The stables and garage are ornamental
structures at the back of the garden and
are in keeping with the house, which sug-
gests the finest establishments of the old
world.
The furnishings of the house are largely
European and art treasures in pictures.
bronzes. marbles, etc, have their appro-
pirate setting.
this city. When her father lived here
during his term in Congress she presided
over his establishment for him. 1t was
the house on X street. now the winter
residence of Mr.. and Mrs. c. G.. Glover.
She gave many gorgeous entertainments.
as she did subsequently in % Lafayette
square. to which she also built sddi-
ton and where she gave her first famous
flower eetfiior. The favors on that &C.
casion at which assisted the social
grandees, young and old. of the capital.
were rolled. in wheelbarrow. This house
was used0by President Roosevelt as IA
temporary residence pending the altera-
tions which gave the White House it's
present appearance. The famous confer
ence which ended the coal strike took
place there during that period.
Meeting the Guests.
The large party OF New Workers. and
others who arrived last night ana this