Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-24
Historic Dwelling Now
Permanent Home of
Mr.. and Mrs. De Wolf
State Department. Official
Occupying 0 Street House
Noted for Brilliant FESTIVE
ties of Other Days.

Mr.. and Mrs. Francis Colt De Wolf
will move within a fortnight to the
house at 1922 o street, which they have
purchased, recalling the brilliance of
the many festivities in the house dur
| ing "other days" Mr.. and Mrs De
Wolf have moderniZed the quaint place
without changing its lines" or period"
nor yet losing the atmosphere" of
those times now interesting history.
Mr.. De Wolf is one of the assistants to
the solicitor Of the State Department
and has occupied the house at 1882
Thirty-third street while having his
new home put in order"
This new home of Mr.. and Mrs. De
Wolf was the Russian legation during
the regime of the famous Baron Alex
ander de Bodisco, who came to this post
in 1887, fabulously wealthy bachelor
Baron de BodiSco brought with him to
this country his two nephews, who were
students at Georgetown University, and
put life into the Russian legation of
that time. Baron de Bodisco gave
many parties for young people and at
the famous Christmas party for these
two young men in their teens he met
Miss Harriet Beale Williams, schoolgirl
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Brooke Will
liams, who lived in Linthicum house on
Georgetown Heights. This house is still
standing and in much its original form.
Miss Williams was just 16 when she
married Baron de BodiSco, the wedding
taking place in Linthicum house fol-
lowed by a large reception in the Rus
sian legation.
The bride, beautiful blonde, with
grace and poiSe, wore a gown of exqui-
site brocaded satin and fashioned in the
Russian style of that day. Her veil of
rare Honiton lace was held by a red
velvet coronet, which Shimmered with
diamonds, and her only other orna-
mentS were pearl necklace and pin
Her distinguished bridegroom wore his
colorful court costume of blue and his
several decorations studded with pre-
ctous stones The coat had a frill down
the front of deep silver lace and there
were deep frillS OF the lace at the cuffs
Bride Given in Marriage by
Senator Henry Clay.
Senator Henry Clay gave the bride in
marriage, and in the wedding party was
Senator James Buchanan, who had
served as United States Minister to
Russia and afterwards was President of
this country. He escorted Miss Jessie
Benton, who later married John C.
Fremont.
President Van Buren,, during whose
administration the wedding took place,
was among the guests at the ceremony
and later gave a dinner party in the
White House in honor of the Russian
Minister and his bride, Baroness de
Bodisco, became a leader of Georgetown
society as well as that of the National
Capital, not then the city of great
beauty that 1t now is. She was inStru-
mental with the aid Of Harriet Lane of
the White House" In making a better
understanding between the citizens of
Georgetown and those who came to the
District of Columbia on business for the
Government.
Baron de Bodisco gave his handsome
wife the rarest of gems which she wore
to all state festivities, riding in an open
carriage, when the weather permitted,
and always escorted by mounted po-
licemen. She usually wore creamy
white satin and costly old lace and
was said to be more beautiful than the
famous Eugene and to have the same
superior tact and grace.
The Minister and Baroness de Boz
disco were lavish in their entertain
ment, one party standing out in the an
nails OF old Georgetown as perhaps the
most brilliant. The reception was in
honor of the birthday anniversary of
Emperor Nicholas and the guests num-
bered 800 and included officials of this
Government, diplomats and those resi-
Va NCOlBCbOWA WIIO ulUNSu
fashionable society of that day The
diplomats appeared in their court dress,
always colorful, to honor the Emperor
whose natal anniversary was being cele-
brated.
Wife Of President Tyler
Attends Fete as Guest.
The sumptuous hot supper was served
at l O'Clock. the ladies of the company
being served at small tables in an
apartment" on the second floor Of the
house, while their escorts gathered on
the floor above for their repaSt. The
tables were laid with gold service and
scores of servants waited upon the
guests. Mrs. Tyler, wife of President
John Tyler, wrote in letter in 1912:
II very seldom go to parties, but, of
course, I could not refuse Baroness de
BodiScos invitation. Her ball was ex-
pected to be the grandest affair Of the
season. Baroness de Bodisco looked
lovely and was attired in pink satin
and lace, flowers and such splendid dia-
monds, stomacher, earrings, breast pin
braceletSl-I never saw such beautiful
diamonds. Most Of the furniture was
Of European make, and the house was
filled with a variety of curioS, bric-a-
brac and works of art the china service
unsurpassed, the plate magnificent"
Baron de Bodisco retired as Minister
in 1854 and remained in Georgetown,
where with Baroness Bodisco he occu-
pied her family home. Linthisum house.
and where he died some years later, be-
ing buried in Oak Hill Cemetery