The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-03-28
A Notable Event Took Place This
Afternoon al Washington
MAS IN EMBASSY CIRCLES
Countess Luise Alexandra Won Bern.
storff Became the Bride Of Count
Raymond PourtaIes, an Attache Of
the German Embassy-The Recep-
tion was Attended by Thousands.

Washington, March 27.-Not in
long time has the capital witnessed
such an outpouring OF distinguished
representatives of official and resident
society as filled Loncordia church, a
modest little place OF worship OF the
German Lutheran denomination, at
the wedding this afternoon of the
Countess Luise Alexandra Won Bern
storff, daughter Of the German am
bassador and Countess Won Bern
storff, and Count Raymond Pourtales,
an attache of the German embassy.
The wedding was a notable event,
both In social and Official circles, for
the guest list included the names of
the President and Mrs. Taft, Vice
President and Mrs. Sherman. the
members of the cabinet, justices of
the supreme court, senators and rep
ressntatiyes, foreign diplomats and
many other officials and their wives.
Owing to the limited accommodations
of the church only about 500 guests
were invited TO witness the marriage
ceremony, but the wedding reception
that followed at the German embassy
was attended by several thousand per-
sons well known in social circles in
Washington. New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and a number OF. other
cities.
The little church was a bower OF
white lilacs. white roses and apple
blossoms when the bride. leaning on
the arm Of her father, walked up the
:iower-marked aisle. The usual Gus
toms of wedding in Germany were
followed. with an adoption also of the
forms In vogue In America. Follow
ing the custom of the fatherland the
bridegroom escorted the Countess von
Bernsforff The bride had no maid Of
honor, but was escorted TO the altar
by her father. preceded by her four
bridesmaids, Miss Alys Meyer, daugh-
ter OF the secretary of the navy; Miss
Elsie Aldrich. daughter OF Ex-senator
and Mrs. Aldrich; Miss Cecilia May,
who Is soon to be tae bride of Mr.
Robert l. Bacor and Miss Mary r.
Southerland. daughter OF Captain and
Mrs. Southerland.
Instead Of a best man there were
four ushers for the bridegroom. They
were Count Guenther Won Bernstorff,
brother Of the bride: Jonkleer II. IA.
van Weede, secretary OF the Neither
lands legation; Lord Eustace Percy,
British attache. and Baron Harden
brock, German aftache. The four
ushcrs chosen, according to American
custom we're Count Elemer Pcjaese-
vich, Austrian attache: Major Won
Herwarth. German military attache;
Commander Retzmann. German naval
atfache. and A. c. Morstmann. Ger
man attache.
The marriage ceremony was in ac-
cordance with the ritual OF the Ger
man Lutheran church. and was per-
formed by the Rev. Paul A. Mentzel,
pastor Of Concordia church.
A coincidence OF today's wedding OF
special interest in the United States
Is that the mother Of the bride and
the stepmother OF the bridegroom both
we're Americans. The wife of the Ger
man ambassador and mother. OF the
bride was Miss Jeanne Luekemeyer. OF
New York; while the stepmother OF
Count Pourtales was Miss Helen Bar
hey. OF New York City. and Tuxedo.
The bride was born In Berlin
twenty-five years ago and when she
was eighteen she was given a brilliant
debutante party at the diplomatic court
IN Cairo, where her father was then
minister from Germany. Since COM
ing to America In 1905 she has been
extremely popular in Washington So
elety life and noted for her beauty.
her wit and social charm. In spite
Of her youth she is a thorough going
cosmopolitan and speaks several Ian
guages fiuently.
The acquaintance Of the bride and
bridegroom began a year ago when
Count Pourtales first came to Wash.
lngton. This marked the counts en-
/ try into the diplomatic service. Pre-.
yiously he had served six years In the
Berlin guards. The count. who Is
twenty-eight years old. was born in
Switzerland and educated In Munich
fIta fafhnr fsn,tnt IfarNnuu. tr0...f.fa.
was soldier Of the German army
His mother died In 1Sss and two years
later his father narricd Miss Barley
Count Hermann pourtales died In
itpI and bis widow has since con.
tinted 10 live In Europe. spending her
summers In Germany and her winters
IN Rome.
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Their Dealings Are senflr.