The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-12

A modest paragraph inconspicuously
placed In n column of tho Richmond
Enquirer of March 49, 1917. records
the wedding on Tuesday evening.
March IL, of General Winfield Scott,
United States Army. and Miss Maria
ID. Mayo. daughter of Colonel John
Mayo and Mrs. Abigail de Hart Mayo,
famous OF Richmond suburban homes
AS an example of brcvity. good taste
and refinement of expression, tho
paragraph might be offered ns IA model
to Richmond brides OF the present day
Beilvtllc then stood II short distance
In front or the spot on which the main
building Of Hichmond College has
since been erected. The approach TO
the mansion was by carriage road
winding among surrounding cottages
ana helds. John Bell. Il .;"otchman, de-
signed the house, and had 1t built and
named for himself during tho first
years OF the nineteenth century. Re
verses In business obliged Mr. Bell
TO sell the home on which he had cx-
pended so much thought and care, and
Coloner John Mayo. residing at the
hermitage. became ita owner. Colonel
Mayo was the son OF the fourth John
Mayo of his name In Virginia. who
married Mary Tabb. of Gloucester
represented Chesterfield, Henrlco and
Cumberland counties In the House of
Burgcsses and the Conventions OF l775
and 1875. and was buried with his wife
at Powhatan seat Ills son. John
Mayo ". was born at Deep Creek
Powhatan county. October u. 1850.
educated at William and Mary College
and married. In his turn. Miss Abigail
dc Hart. of El!zabethtown, New Jer-
sey. In the year 1871 he was livint,
at the Hermitage, n little more than
mile from Richmond. Hermitage
Golf Club has been built on its site
His daughter. Maria. brilliant and
handsome, was a re!gning belle. pos
Sessed of rare quality that rendered
nor attractive alike to men and wo-
men. Other children OF the household
were: Edward e. born in 1891. ana
Julia. the wife Of DR.. Robert ii. Cabcll
or Richmond. Edward c. Mayo and
MS wife, Adclinc. daughter OF Joseph
Marx. OF this city. were tho grand
parents OF Edward G. Mayo. of 5l1
west Franklin Street the owner of n
fine collection OF Randolph portraits
ana miniatures through his mother
VINO In her gtrihood days was Miss
Kate Randolph. OF Wilton.
Arbiters OF Good Taste and Good
Breeding.
To be reignlng belle in carly nine
teenth century Richmond society was
prestige indeed, for entertainments
then given b. people OF quality
brought together many guests of ma
tional well as State Importance
many who had formed their standards
by what they had seen and known at
foreign courts and In older civIliza-
ton. and Were considered arbiters In
questions Of good taste and good
breeding. Innumerable are the stories
told OF Maria Mayo's triulnphs, of the
lovers who knelt IN vain at her feet
OF her determination to rank General
scott as the hundredth in the list OF
those who had sued for her favor, and
10 keep him waiting. II need be, until
his ninety-ninth rival had been sent
about his business by this adept mis-
treas in the arr of winning and re
lecting hearts and hands.
The return OF General Scott from
France carly In the year 1917 brought
about the ending Of one phase OF Miss
Mayo career ana iuaugurated another
period in which she. as a mutron
shono resplendent beside her husband
for years. Bcllvillc made n splendid
setting for the browning event of her
life. celebrated within it's walls on
March II. Wedding presents in this.
Miss Mayo's. day came only from the
groom or near relatives, and were not
put on display. But In the main halls
and the drawing room at Bcllville the
magnificent cutglass chandeliers were
hblaze. Every door was thrown hos
pitably open and carriage after car
rlagc. driven by pompous family coach
men. rolled UP the driveway and de-
posted guests. who passed up the
double flight of marble steps. and SO
into the splendid interior beyond
Tho quality and sheen OF the brides
satin gown was not commented upon
by the Enquirer Nor did the press Of
the day say what her jewels and laces
were. nor whether her -ridal wreath
was OF real orange blossoms That
she was a charming picture in every
respect there Is no room TO doubt nor
that the groom was gallant and
striking figure as he took his stand