The Washington herald., 1912-03-01
Mammoth Wedding Cake.

For the FIRST time in the history OF
Spanish royal weddings. on the occa-
sion OF the marriage of King Alfonso
with Princess Ena of Battenberg, did
wedding cake grace the festive board.
1t was in three tiers. each surrounded by
Corinthian columns and panels. on which
were the initials of the roya couole, sur
mounted by the Spanish crown. The
whole was crowned by group Of Cupids
in Parian marble. The cake stood on
Ia silver salver employed for a like pur-
pose at the wedding OF the brides mother
and was cut with a specially made lold
and ivory knife.
Nautical in design was the wsde:ng
cake made by a Scottish firm for The
wedding of King George OF England
then, Of course, Duke OF York and Prin-
cess Mary OF Teck. II was decorated
profusely with representations of vari-
GUS naval tackle. and when finished
weighed 4e0 pounds and stood six feet
high. So great an interest did the good
folk OF Edinburgh take in the gigantic
confection that for two days IL was
placed on exhibition in the show win
dow OF the makers store, when a special
stan Of policemen were required to keep
the crowd moving.
Almost of an international character
was the wedding cake of the Duke and
Duchess of Albany, the lower tier being
decorated with four groups. adapted
from those of the Albert Memorial. rep
resenting Europe. Asia Africa, and
America. while the columns above were
topped by vases containing the national
flowers OF England. Scotland. Ireland.
and Wales. At the base OF these col
umns were seated four Cupids engaged
in reading. to symbolic the bridegrOom's
favor!te pursuit.
One Of the marvels OF the marriage Of
Miss Gould and Mr.. Anthony Drexel was
the wedding cake. which surpassed any
thing Of the kind that had been seen
previously. The first layer OF the con-
lection. which in itself was embIamatic
II youth, prosperity. and love. was deco
rated with the four horns Of plenty. rep
IesentIng the S20.OOC.0OO to which the con-
trscting parties we're heirs. From this
fell garlands of orange blossoms. Above
these was the second layer. in the shape
of the fountain OF youth. ornamented
with Cupids and dolphlns. supporting the
third layer. a temple OF love made from
cIystallized sugar. within which a Gu
pid. with drawn bow, stood ready TO
speed his dart.
Almost as beautiful and magnificent
was the cake made for the wedding Of
Mr.. Alfred C. Vanderbilt and Miss Elsie
French. which contained articles OF jew
elry to the value Of no less than f25.OOl.
II was placed. as will be remembered.
upon trolley. and when the bride, by
means OF a siIken guide. had pulled the
contrivance toward her and made the
first cut its rich contents were divided
among the guests.
Preparations are far advanced in Lon
don for the Royal International HortI-
cultural Exhibition. which is to be held
next May in the grounds Of the Chelsea
Hospital King George has promised to
open the great show on May -. and
also has presented a cup to bP awarded
TO the most meritorIous exhibit. while
Queen MARY. Queen Alexandra. and
most OF the members OF the royal family
have added their active patronage TO
make the AFFAIR 2 splendid success.
TwCnty-One acres Of ground OF the
Royal Hospital which include the Rane-
lagh Gardens. will 10 available for the
exhibition. Tho eNsition. in many re-
spects. is ideal. ac.poE its advantages be-
ing two ample entrances from Queens
road and the Chelsea enbankment. only
few squares walking from Sloane
Square station. There g. open space for
tents covering nearly FIVE acres. and in
addition there are several broad and
shaded avenues which with the sheltered
gardens. offer a fine example OF Inid-Nic-
torian landscape gardening. and will
make perfect background for outdoor
exhibits and for the roCk-and-water beds.
which are expected to eclipse anything
previously attempted in this direction.
II is proposed TO illuminate the grounds
and to engage the best military bands
available, so that provided the weather
is fine. a series OF delightful floral fstes
will take place during the nine days
over which the exhibition is TO extend.
according to the present programme. But
the chief characteristic OF the great
show. in all likelihood is TO be the all
around quality Of the exhibits rather
than a supremacy OF any one class. eN-
cepting perhaps orchids. For these
flowers there is TO he provided a vast
tent OF about 10000 square feet. II
will contain treasures not only from the
collections of the amateur and profess
sionaI growers in Britain. but also from
collections abroad. The display. IL is
promised. will be unparalleled in this de-
partment. IL in no other.
The largest OF all the tents In Chelsea
will cover almost three and a half acres
and will total a length of some 80
yards It will be forty-hye feet in height.
with gangways twenty feet wide. Special
attention is to be paid to the ventilation
of this huge place. This il 10 contain
the pot and cut flowers. the table run
alone extending nearly half a mile.
Foreign exhibits have been booked most
numerously from France. Belgium. and
Holland. Italy and Germany will also
he represented. So will the United States
In fact. one American gentleman has
placed an order for = remarkable piece
of garden statuary on the expressed
condition that il Is shown at the Chelsea
exhibit. Canada and Australia have
promised to send some fine specimens,
and quite an interesting number of the
species will come from Japan.
Forty-siN years have elapsed since the
last international exhibition was held in
London. and the development OF horti- |
culture during that period has been most
remarkable. In 1856 there were eight
classes for roses. This year there will
be twenty-siX. in addition to the novelty |
classes. In the last exhibition the largest |
class was for twenty roses in eIEht-inch !
pots. This time prizes are offered for
groups not exceeding 5oo square feet. |
Rock -and-water gardens were not seen |
at all in 1865. nor any quantity of the |
flowers in culture by florists |
as we know them to-day.
Visitors from all parts OF the world |
have been booked for the great exhibition
ard they will receive much hospitality