Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15

clergyman literally struggled. for he was tau
and thin, whereas the father of the bride WA
short and-er-stout.
THEN down the long stairs made without
turn the wedding procession-six
bridesmaids and six bridegroomsmen Each
hoopskirted maid but walked with
young officer equally picturesque in his gold
bedecked uniform. Catherine Mason wa
escorted by Lieut.. Sydney Smith Lee brother
of the bridegroom; Mary Goldsborough by
Lieut.. Thomas Kennedy; Marietta Turner by
Lieut.. Chambers; Angela Lewis by Mr.. Tilman;
Julia Calvert by Lieut. Prentiss; Britannia Peter
by Lieut.. Thomas Turner.
Into the room north of the magnificent hall
way marched the wedding party and under the
graceful center arch Mary Anne Randolph
Gusts became the wife of Robert Edward Lee
Portraits of the couple painted about ths
time of their marriage and in the possession OF
their son, George Washington Gusts Lee until
the time of his death give credence to Oft
repeated phrases about the beautiful bride and
handsome bridegroom. MeticulouSly parted
brown hair falling into curls frame features
that suggest Marys modesty and reserve Her
glowing brown eyes bespeak their charm for
the Engineer officer whose stately collar bearing
the laurel wreath and star reaches the tip of
his ear. His clear-cut features and straight
forward glance call to mind that he ranked
second in the West Point class of 1929. The
fashionable sdeburns betray the young man
who recognized the mode of the day.
After the ceremony a handsome supper" was
served in what is now known as the stats
dining room. Like other pretentious mansions
of the time, the construction of Arlington House
lasted over period of years. It was not en-
tlrely completed until few years before the
war that was to terminate its use as a private
dwelling. However, it is known that the wings
OF the house were built first and that the
pSSiU diT1in
Washington Parke Gusts occupied one d
them. The rooms now called the family parloV
and dining room were then in use, and Il waa
in one of the archwayS between them that ki1O
marriage vows were exchanged It was during
the residence of the Lees in Arlington Hoase
that the formal drawing room decorated
and furnished.
It is easy to SurmiSe that baking had guaO
on for days in the ovens beside the huge flr0s
places in both the Winter and Summer kitcIf.
ems: that thousands of footsteps were directed
to the family and state dining rooms; that the
wine racks in the cellar were relieved of their
precious burdens until they were nearly an
empty they today, for there were many
guests to be shown the hospitality for WhicA
the Custises were famous. and the wedding
party did not leave until several days after the
ceremony.
Nor did the bride and bridegroom leave for
wedding journeys were not then in vogue. The
ceremony took place Thursday and the
party kept together till the following Tuesday"
Entertainment provided at the house of
Gen. John Mason for the young couple and
after returning to Arlington for a few quiet
days they went to Fortress Monroe where
Lieut.. Lee was stationed
A THOUGH the soldier who was to be &C.
claimed of Americas greatest was
so appreciative of the happiness that day
brought him that he remembered it 80 years
later in time of stress, an anecdote belonging
to this same troublous time reveals that he
appreciated none of the trappings.
During the days when his men were starving,
cold, and Virgnians had forgotten the taste OF
coffee, he was told that young Richmond girl
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