The Washington herald., 1916-09-30
YOUR WEDDING DAY
September 3O-King James H and
Mary of Modena.
And the Famous Men and Women
who Have shared 1t.
By MARY MARSHALL.

When Mary OF Modena was told that
she had been chosen to become the wife
of the Duke OF York who would some day
probably be King OF England, ''she had
been so innocently bred" writes the Duke
in his diary, that she did not know of
person as the Duke of York"
When she was told that she, a girl OF
Is, was to marry a prince past 40, she
broke into passionate tears and suggested
that her aunt, who was 30, should be
chosen in her place. Her mother, who
was especially anxious to bring about
this brilliant match, assured the princess
that "the fancied objection Of too great
juvenility in a girl of her age would be
very much obviated by time, while every
day would render a lady of 30 less agree
able to a prince like the Duke Of York"
AS was the custom of the time, Mary
Of Modena was married by a proxy sent
over from England to represent the Duke
of York The place for the service was
the chapel in the palace where Mary
and her mother made their home. I'm the
name Of the prince" writes Mary's biog-
rapher, the noble proxy placed the nup-
tial ring on the finger OF the bride. This
ring she always wore; it was set with a
fair diamond, which she was accustomed
to call the diamond of her esposals."
The ceremony was over at about noon
on September 30. 1873 and following that
at l o'clock a brilliant dinner was given,
at which the princess with the English
proxy sat under a rich canopy at one
end Of the long table. That night a great
ball was given at which, we are told, the
saddest heart present was that Of poor
little Mary Of Modena, who was already
married to a N-year-old prince whom
she had never even seen.
Although Mary of Modena had been
brought up by her ambitious mother
with the greatest care and with the
hope that some day she might be chosen
to be the consort of some ruler OF Eu-
rope, she did not conduct herself in a
very queenly manner during the days
that followed Immediately after her
marriage. For when the time was
come for her to go to England to meet
her husband she cried and screamed
for two whole days and nights, and II
was only by force that she could be kept
in bed" Finally when she was told that
her mother would accompany her to
England she was pacihed. and the little
party set out, crossing the Channel in 6
gale toward the last OF November.
When at last Mary and her mother
reached the court OF the Duke of York,
Mary actually sulked on meeting the
prince and was little moved by the deep
admiration that the duke professed for
her beauty Doubtless it amused this
King, who had been courted by half the
beauties OF England and who had won
the favors OF so many women OF all
ranks, that this young woman to whom
he was already married should possess
such ill-feigned Indifference to him. AL
most as soon as they had arrived in
Dover Castle the confirmation of their
, marriage took place. On this occasion
James welded Mary with small ring
with a ruby set in gold.
When. twelve years later, Mary and
James were called to the throne of Great
Britain. a great change had taken place
in Mary's manner toward her husband
In spite of his follies and his many
faults she was entirely devoted to him
and absolutely constant in her affec-
tions. When, after twenty-eight years
Of married life, King James died, Mary
was so utterly heart-broken that she
chose to spend the rest of her life in the
convent OF her favorite nuns. Although
but S3 years old. she vowed never to
wear anything but black, so great was
the love that little Italian princess had
acquired for the English king she mar
ried.
Copyright 1857