The Washington times., 1935-06-21
NOW
Lesson in POmp
From Gay '9Os
HINTS ON GIFTS
By HELEN ESSARY

candleStlckS were beCCer UTAH
cocktail shakers, and showing
other signs of poverty of ideas
and Observation-Disclosures you'd
like to know that when Pauline
Whitney, daughter of William
c. Whitney. Secretary Of the
Navy for President Cleveland,
was married to Almeric Hugh
Paget in New York during the
Gay Nineties. she received pearl
necklaces. ruby bracelets, collar
Of diamonds, a blue enamel
heart, a little gold chain neck
let "on which quivered a large
diamond and emerald" tiaras,
diamond pendants, a diamond
ribbon two yards long. sapphire
collarette and other fine jewels.
We know because Mrs. George
Barnett has loaned us The
American Plutocracy." published
in 1895 by Representative M. w.
Howard, a man of the people
from Alabama.
President and Mrs. Grover
Cleveland gave Pauline Whitney
"a large, two-handled center
piece" Mrs. Henry F. Dimmock
presented a silver center basket.
! And her Connecticut country
place for the honeymoon. From
Joseph Letter was an openwork
silver centerpiece. From the
Misses Mary and Mamie Letter.
who later married titled Eng.
liShmen, came a silver dish with
cover. Mr.. and Mrs. Orme
Wilson thought of a silver low.
ing cup. And Mr.. and Mrs. Ar
thur Barney (she became Mrs.
Christian Hemmick before she
died) gave a silver-framed,
heart-shaped mirror.
It's too bad there isn't space
to give the full account of this
notable wedding" managed lin
tasteful splendor" which the
Alabama Representative took
from the New York World to
prove the crimes of the rich"
But we are convinced since
reading the story that in spite
Of Mr.. Franklin Roosevelt's
feeling about the concentration
of wealth, we, in 1885, are mere
pikers in plutocracy.
The floral decorations at the
church alone cost 100000.
IAN ARROWS flight away from
such folIy nd ttayagal eS'' ]
says Representative Howard.
thousands and tens of thou
sands were suffering for bread"
The old record observes:
"The wOmen's heads were a
forest of aigretteS. Moreover,
they wore tippetS Of priceless
furs Of ermine and sable and
seal. They wore capeS of lace
and satin and jet and rich en-
brOidery.
"Sixty-five policemen were at
the church doors to see that no.
one without a ticket got in.
NOrdica and De ReSZke sang.
And Frankie fiddled.
"'MiIliOnaireS' daughters filled
the aisleS. Their sons were be-
ing crushed against the walls
and pillars Of the church. The
air was heavy with the comm
Gled OdOr Of perfumes.
Gust before noon Grover
Cleveland, a very old friend in
deed of MIR. Whitney, and the
President Of the United States.
walked down the aisle to the
front pew among the family.
Nine hundred women of Amer
lean upper crust raised their
lOrgnettes and looked through
them at him. The President
appeared grave. He wore a
frock coat, dark trousers and
brown gloves"
The bridegroom, it seems,
wore no gloves. He chose the
inevitable frock coat, dark
trousers and patent leather
shoes. His white satin necktie
was tied with studied careless
ness.
The brides gown was of the
very richest white satin, simply
made, ''fit for a princess"
Even q man could see that
It fitted her fine figure to per
lection. The sic e YES we're
enormous to the elbow and then
became close. To many of the
women, the problem of the cost
of the magnificent point lace
veil presented itself.
"When the bridemaidS in vari-
cOlOred MORE pOplin, trimmed
with sable. with plumed hats of
velvet like those in portraits of
Henry of Navarro, with muffS
and with EliZabethan ruffS of
gauze, passed, the women whis-
pered to each other, Worth
made those dresses, my dear
The costumes of the guests
were truly magnificent. When
women of the Gay Nineties
dressed - they dressed. Mrs.
John Jacob Astor wore purple
velvet with bonnet to match.
Mrs. william H. Vanderbilt
was in a very rich costume OF
black dotted brocade with jet
trimmings.
Mrs. John P. Kernochan
wore royal purple velvet with
fur and lace. And Lady Col
brooke, of England, sister of