Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12
Famous Parties at the White House

House wedding were there no doubt to take
notes.
Senator william M. Stewart of Nevada was
a very wealthy man for that period and upon
this occasion spared not the purse. His home
was one Of the most expensive, beautiful and
up-to-date in the city, as might readily be
imagined from the name it always bore
stewards Castle"-until it destroyed by
fire on December &c. 1879, with damage Of
$4,000.
Senator Stewart, who died here in Washing
ton only little more than 20 years ago, did
much toward improving and increasing the
value of land in the vicinity of Dupont Circle
then but a desolate waste of unimproved
streets and clay banks, and the building OF
his castle" back in 1873 showed his great
confidence In Washington real estate, espe-
cially at time when the country's financial
status was anything but steady.
SEVENTEEN days after the Hooker-Stewart
wedding, the Sartoris-Grant ceremony
took place in the White House, and for sem
sible arrangements and splendor has rarely,
ever, been exceeded in this country. No doubt
ever so much more money has been spent on
other weddings, but the spending and lavish.
ing of money does not always mean results.
It, indeed was a great and notable affair.
The day before the wedding we find the fol.
lowing announcement in The Star:
"a marriage license was issued by the clerk
Of the court here today to Algernon Charles
Frederick Sartoris of Wars-Ash House. Tich-
field, Hants, England, and Ellen Wrenshall
Grant of Washington"
The invitations are said to have been very
plain, script type being used on parchment pa
per, without monogram or other device, and
read:
1.-The President and Mrs. Grant request the
pleasure of your company at the marriage OF
their daughter, at the Executive Mansion ON
Thursday, May 81, at IL o'clock am
Such" The Star tells u.s. was the invita-
ton that gladdened the hearts of about 160
persons during the past week. 1t was not the
desire of the President or any of the parties
concerned that this marriage should have the
publicity which 1t has obtained. compromise
was made between strictly private wedding
and a general invitation. The friends and rela-
tveS who were nearest were invited and re-
Sponded Some complimentary invitations were
sent to distant cities, so that about 800 in all
were issued"
CONTINUING, The Star gives an excellent
account Of the wedding ceremony itself,
which took place in the famous east room,
gorgeously decorated for the purpose. The Star
says:
THE marriage took place in the east room by
gas light This room is particularly suitable for
so august an occasion. Its decorations en-
tirely Of white and gold. The many windows
are QrapeQ WITH lace. Inc crystal cnanQellerS
are magnificent, each one containing 40 burn
ers. Today the room was in its glory, for the
floral decorations added to its great beauty.
These were superb. The east window, which is
double the size of those at either end of the
room, was converted into bower of exquisite
flowers The das was just in front of this win
dow and a marriage bell of white flowers was
suspended above it. The dais was carpeted
with Turkey carpet. The guests present were in
groups at both ends of the room white rib
bons being stretched across the room from each
side the dais, leaving the space open from the
wide double doors to the dais, which is opposite.
THE bridal party having assembled upstairs,
descended by the private stairway and pro-
ceeded down the hall in the following order:
Mr.. Sartoris and his best man advanced to the
foot of the dais, where Rev. DR.. Tiffany await
ed the bride. Miss Conkling and Miss Freling-
huysen were the first of the bridesmaids to ar
rive. They paused just after passing the center
of the ROOM Miss Porter and Miss Sherman
advanced beyond them, Miss Drexel and Miss
Dent passing the last two. and Miss Barnes and
Miss Fish passing to the foot of the dais Then
came the bride with her father AS she ap-