Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-07-29
SENSIBLE 100000 HE|REsS
Drudgery of Kitchen Work Has
No Terror for Her.
Won Consent Of Guardian tO Marriage
with Childhood Sweetheart by
Promising to wait until FL
Years Old.

OF much interest to summer brides is an
insight into the trousseau of Miss
Catherine Barker, the $3O.O0,ro heiress
who will be married to Howard II.
spaulding. Jr., of Chicago at her sum
mer home at IIarbor Point, Mich, this
week Saturday. The wedding dress is
largely Of white tulle embroidered in
pearls over the softest white satin and
made on rather stright lines. with tulle
and satin train from the shoulders. She
has given her bridesmaids gowns for the
wedding, also very lovely hats loaded
with flowers. The girls are to wear peach
color satin and tule with fine silver
made n trifle high wasted. short-skirted
and straight The bride is a robust girl
and instead of n voluminous veil, the
designer has made her a close tulle cap
with a filet of orange blossoms and a
small veil.
James Il. Forgan. president Of the First
National bank Of Chicago, was appointed
guardian of the interests of Miss Barker
when her father died in 1910. The girl was
an only child Her father was the head
of the Haskell & Barker Car company Of
Michigan City, Ind, the largest manu-
facturers of freight cars in the world.
Just before he died, Mr.. Barker called
Mr.. Forgan to his side and made the re-
quest that the Chicago banker serve as
his child's buffer against the world. 1t
was not Mr.. Forgans desire, but he
acceded to the last wish of his old friend.
Following the probating of the will the
fact that young a girl was heress to
so large an estate was given widespread
prominence This was the signal that
started into action fortune hunters from
all over the world. Letters proposing
marriage and asking aims came from all
parts of America, and France, Germany.
| Spain. Austria. Russia. Australia, Eng
| land. ireland, China and many other
countries. There were 1000 letters from
| Italy alone. The missives We're given 10
Mr.. Forgan. who read some of them. His
secretary read few others and the re-
mainder were consigned to a big box.
Miss Barker education has been the re-
suit of private schools in part and the
work of tutors al the Barber residence in
I Indiana. She took her finishing at the
| Finch School in New York Household
| accounts emergencies and three classes
in cooking made school life a pleasure
! to her. Kitchen work-usually consider
| ed drudgery-had no terror for her She
devoted herself to mastering all culinary
problems and intricacies with as much
zest as If she expected a cottage after
marriage.
More charming than the prospective
BRIDES devotion to household affairs Is
the story Of her roma nce--iust a simple.
sweet. o1d-fashioned American love affair.
The Ba rker fortune was made at the car
works in Michigan City. The family had
a summer home at Harbor Point Howard
Spauldings parents had the next cottage.
Howard was three years older than Cath
crime. Boy and girl they played together.
AS the girl grew older she often visited
the Spauldng home. In the summer they
sailed. fished and swan together; in the
winter they went 10 parties and danced
together. When Mr., Barker died five
years ago young Spaulding had gone away
to Yale. He still saw Miss Barker often.
After he graduated he was to study law
two years mora In Yale Law school
but he didn't. He and Miss Barker fell
in love and decided to marry He was
made secretary and then president of the
car company that he might learn how to
manage his future wife's business.
Then the stern guardian interfered.
mo. said Mr., Forgan. promise me
YOU won't marry till YOU are 81" Miss
Barker promised and then won he,
qua rdlan's consent.
Then came travelling Two years 90
Miss Barker, accompanied by Miss Edit
Harrison and chaperoned by Mrs. May
Ashcroft, made an extended tour of Soutl
America and then crossed to Europe
Rumors Of princely suitors reached he,
guardians ears, but he only laughed H,
knew and she knew what their futur,
was to be.
Miss Barker Is an enthusiast at out
door sports and has spent much time OF
the links at Pottawatomie Country club
: She enjoys riding. sailing and swimming
Miss Barker is the owner of one Of tn,
most costly motorboats on Lake Michiga II
She has christened it Katy F'tz, and by
the name of Katy Fttz the fair owner I.
known by her many friends at thi:
northern resort. When the excursion
steamer Arizona from Chicago raj
aground near Harbor Point during foi
a few days ago. Miss Barker, in com
mand Of Katy Fritz, was one of the frs
to render assistance to the stranded pas
sengers The Katy Fitz did yeoman serv
ice in carrying passengers ashore.
Miss Bankers estate consists of mil
lions I'm bank stocks, the Barker ant
Haskell Car Works in Michigan city
much valuable land and farms and larg,
holdings Of railroad stocks and bonds
The young hcircss now receives an In,
come Of sec, 100 a year She will receive
a part of the principal when she is u
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