The Washington times., 1933-03-29

OAAN VANPAo "AAN WAAO WOO SAAJOJ
ing the swim all unmindful of
the danger, refused to bulge.
In the end they pulled him out
over his protest. but when he
learned the reason for taking
such heroic measures, I under
stand his attitude underwent a
sudden and radical change. .
Uneventful Excursion
Otherwise ours was an un-
eventful excursion, but upon
our return home thrilling events
were to loom upon our family
horizon. Franklin, unknown to
any of us. had become engaged
to his distant cousin, Anna
Eleanor Roosevelt, a delightful
child of 10, whom I had known
and loved since babyhood. Her
father, Elliott Roosevelt, had
been godfather to my boy, and
I had seen Franklin when he
was but 4 trundle Eleanor, then
only 18 months old, about on
his back in the nursery at Hyde
Park. Even Lathrop. who had
roomed with Franklin, shared
in our surprise and had known
nothing of the impending ro-
nance until he had a letter
from Franklin telling him the
wonderful news.
I suppose one should not
have thought it unusual that
Franklin, without so much as
an intimation to any one, had
fallen in love. 1t probably sur
priSed us only because he had
never been in any sense a
ladies' man. I don't believe
I remember ever hearing him
talk about girls or even a girl
except on that memorable oc-
caSion when he had taken a
young lady driving in a dog
cart on Long Island and found
to his CONSERVATION that she
had tainted. He was SO taken
aback by this unlocked for
turn of events that he dropped
the relnS-at which the horse
ran away. While Franklin was
debating whether first to revive
the young lady or to try to
regain control of the horse,
Providence intervened in the
form of an obstruction, and the
cart came to a sudden, abrupt
halt, and the day was saved.
Entered Law School
Once the natural excitement
that goes with a brand-new
engagement had subsidized and
the family feting had abated a
little, the children went ahead
with their plans, Franklin en-
tering Columbia Law ShooI, and
, Eleanor making her prepara-
tionS for their wedding. On
st. Patrick's Day, March II,
1905, they were married at the
home Of Eleanor's cousin, Mrs.
Henry Parish, jr. It was a
beautiful ceremony, performed
by DR.. Henry Peabody, rector
Of Groton School. Theodore
Roosevelt, then President of the
United States, gave his broth
er's only daughter away, and
his daughter, Alice, later to
become the wife of Nicholas
Longworth, was one of the
bridesmaids.
Eleanor and Franklin often
to this day laugh over their
chagrin when, Immediately after
the service had ended, and they
took their places in the receiv-
ing line, they found that their
guests were more concerned in
greeting the President than in
congratulating them. For an
awful moment, the children in
SiSt, they were left entirely
alone while the crowd lowered
around Mr.. Roosevelt, shaking
him by the hand.
While Franklin did not for
get the ring - which is the
proverbial fear of every bride
groom - he nearly put in a
rather tardy appearance at the
altar. It seems that DR.. Pea
body, Franklin and Lathrop-
who was his best man-while
waiting for the bride, were so
deeply engrosSed in a conversa-
ton about the old days at
school that they did not realize
until the wedding procession
was we'll under way that the
music had actually started.
However, they met the bridal
party in the approved fashion,
and no one suspected how close
they had come to missing their
cue.
Ceremony Drowned
No sooner had the ceremony
started than the Ancient Or
der of Hibernians passed en-
masse along Fifth Avenue, sing
ing the Wearing of the Green"
So hearty was their enthusiasm
and so lusty were their voices
that they all but drowned the
words of the ceremony. Moth
ing, however, could have marred
the beauty of that day, and I
shall always remember how
straight and young and glow
ing both of the children looked.
AS soon as law school was
over for the year, Franklin and
Eleanor went abroad on a be-
lated honeymoon and stayed
for the summer. When they re-
turned they took a tiny house
just IL feet wide-in Thirty
sixth Street. They loved to
have people around them and
entertained as much as they
could without interfering with