New-York tribune., 1920-04-25
White House
Entourage Sets
Nuptials Record
Marriage of Miss Benham,
Social Secretary to Mrs.
Wilson, to Rear Admiral
Helm Adds to Number
Event Came as Surprise
Presidents Wife at We'd.
ding of Miss Nancy Lane
to Philip C. Kaufman
Special Dispatch to The Trisun.

certainly has been established for the
number of marriages in the immediate
encourage of the White House. The
last, the marriage of Miss Edith W.
Benham, social secretary to Mrs. Will
son since she became "First Lady of
the Land" to Rear Admiral j. M.
Helm. U. S. N, was one Of the most In
caused a furry of pleased comment.
1t came as surprise to all
but few of Miss Benham's most init
mate friends, for there had been no
formal announcement of the engage
ment. There had been rumors, but
Miss Benham had been Ill for several
weeks and nobody was prepared to
have the wedding take place almost
before her convalescence was COM
plete. For this reason it was quiet,
with Mrs. Wilson the only person
present except the immediate members
of the family.
The Presidents own marriage to
Mrs. Norman Calf qualities as a
"White House wedding" of course, al
though it took place at the modest
home of the bride. 1t had been pre-
ceded by two other White House we'd
dtings, the marriage of Miss Jessie
the marriage of Miss Eleanor Wilson
to William Gibbs McAdoo, then Secre-
tary of the Treasury. And it was fol-
lowed after an interval of several
years by the marriage Of the Presi-
dents niece, Miss Alice Wilson, to the
Rev. Isaac Stuart McE.roy, which took
place in the historic Blue Room.
Grayson's Wedding in List
When Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson,
the Presidents physician, naval aide
and close friend. was married to Miss
Alice Gertrude Gordon President and
Mrs. Wilson went to New York, where
the bride was then staying, for the
wedding. 1t was an event in which
Gordon, who was a Washington girl,
was close friend and ward by affec-
ton" of Mrs. Wilson.
Miss Isabelle Hagner, who was social
secretary at the White House in the
regime of the first Mrs. Wilson, re-
signed her position to marry Norman
James, of Baltimore. This list should
prove that Dan Cupid has camped on
the White House steps, but if that
were not enough we could cite the mar
riage of one or two of the Wilson's
relatives who have been occasional
visitors at the White House and a
whole grist of weddings among the
members Of the White House staff.
Miss Benham, now Mrs. Helm, sue
ceeded Miss Hagner-after brief in
terregnum. AS social secretary to Mrs.
Wilson she accompanied the Presiden-
tial party to Europe and was included
the President and Mrs. Wilson by
foreign royalties. Tact and discretion
are necessary qualifications for the
White House social secretary, who
naturally exerts great deal of influ-
ence In quiet way, and these qualities
Miss Benham has displayed in a con-
spicuous degree.
Well Fitted for Task
She was we'll fitted for her delicate
task by birth, breeding and the cultiva-
ton which comes from travel and con-
slant association with gentle people.
The daughter of the late Rear Admiral
Andrew Al y. X. Benham, she christened
the destroyer Benham, named for him,
and she is charter member of the
Society of Sponsors. Admiral Helm,
who Is senior member of the commits
sion on navy yards, and Mrs Helm will
make their home in Washington.
From Miss Benhams wedding, which
took place in her mothers apartment,
Mrs. Wilson went to St. Johns Church
to attend the marriage of Miss Nancy
Lane and Philip C. Kaufman, two
weddings In one afternoon being some
thing Of q record for the mistress Of
the White House. This was quite the
loveliest wedding of the spring. The
church, which has been newly done
over and is tinted in ivory and gray,
was banked with rambler roses and
fruit blossoms. with rarely graceful
australian ferns for background, and
formed a perfect setting for the bride
and her bridesmaids in their rainbow
tinted frocks. Gowned in apple bios
som pink, crocus yellow. defphinium
blue, orchid and lettuce green, the at
tendants looked like Spring herself: and
the brides gown was of loveliness
quite In keeping with its sentimental
lnterest-the material of which it was
maoe nad been worn by her mother,
and her lovely lace veil had also done
duty y'1or three generations of brides.
Notables at Wedding
Incidentally, the company assembled
was the most distinguished which has
come together for any wedding this
season. Mrs. Wilson was accompanied
Dy ner sister, Miss Bertha Boiling.
mo French Ambassador and Nina
1usserand were there. Also the Chill
San ambassador and Nine Matthew. the
.SIav,an Ambassador and Nine. Pezet.
son secretary Hsry Of the Treasury and
M II u houston. the Secretary Of War
navy and Mrs. Daniels, the Min;sMtar M
W me Serbs, Croats and Sloyenea@sl.
1oss Az, In fact, of the leaders ~ ~ |
I.ai .,ie with whom Miss Lane's mar
ents' mr.: and Mrs. Franklin K. Ysns
," mers Intimately associated during his
ts,m az secretary of the Interior Tne
oto resident set, with which Nj and
"rS. victor Kaufman, Mrs. Kanff-
'hannS parents, are affiliated also wa.
well represented. '' was
>, win their note Of good wishes The
president and Mrs. Wilson sent M;s.
Lane Charming coffee service snd
tray OF Belleek lightly incrusted w;,h
sii"er' and the Vice-President and Mrs
harshalrs gift WAS fine old Enolish
Rriht. The young people will live in
washington, but have gone West to
remain until autumn and will spend
several weeks motoring in California.
Inc other important weddings Of III.
week were the marriage of Miss Eliza
beth Lee Grinnell and Lieutenant Com.
mander Henry Livcrmore Abbott on
Saturday. and the marriage on Weones-
Gay OF Miss Kathryn Osgood Clifton
daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs. Claude
Eecieston Clifton, and James Barclay
: oung. The last took place in All
sonls' Memorial Church and waa fol-
loved by an informal reception at the
yufton home. Miss CrinneU and
commander Abbott we're married In
y. johns, and there was q reception {
'tteFwasd a, the home Of the brides /
grandparents, Brigadicr General and r
drs, Dswaid Ernst. with whom shc and