Evening star., 1937-05-30

one Of his vessels Just In time to be
OF the greatest value. He amAssed
a fortune. Indeed, 1t is said that at
the time Of the marriage of his
daughter Elizabeth, he was the richest
man in America, next to Charles
Carroll Of Carrollton.
There was little If anything said
in the press Of the day regarding the
approaching marriage. Everybody
seemed to feel that Miss Patterson was
playing with fire, but love and reason
do no always go together. At first,
Mr.. Patterson reluctantly consented,
then withdrew his consent, only to
give it again, much against his better
judgment. Jerome was admonished
by the diplomat, Pichon, without
avail. and sought among his advisers
even Mr.. Jefferson, who was then
serving his first term as President,
but probably received little or no en-
couragement from him.
Disregarding all obstacles and ad-
vice, both parties were determined, and
the wedding finally took place in the
old Patterson home at South and Gay
streets, Baltimore, on Christmas eve,
1903. the bridegroom being at the time
little over 19 years of age, the bride
nearly three months younger. The
ceremony was performed by the Right
Rev. John Carroll Bishop of Balti-
more and primate of the Catholic
Church in America. Jerome's cos
tune included a purple coat of satin,
skirt lined with white satin reaching
to his heels; knee buckles and dia-
mond buckles on his shoes, and he
wore his hair powdered.
The bride. We are told, wore a
gown that had done service before,
for she wished. to use her own words,
ito avoid vulgar display" and, to
quote her further, she said, And
truth to say, there was little as pos
sible of any gown at all, dress in that
day being chiefly an aid in setting off
charms of advantage"
Young Bonaparte and his bride
started out upon a honeymoon
and among the places they visited
Was the Federal Capital, where Jerome
is recorded as having stopped at the
old Union Hotel. just the other side
of Rock Creek, in Georgetown, where
Louis Philippe. another noted French
man, stopped upon one or more oc-
casions while he WAS exiled from his
native country Here Nine Bona
parte entered into the activities of
Washington's gay society. and prob
ably went them one better, If early re-
ports are true. Indeed, upon one
occasion, in 1903, according to Mrs
Samuel Harrison Smith, she almost
created riot by the scantiness of the
costume worn by her at select party
given in her honor. OF this event,
Mrs. Smith says:
But Of Nine. -, I think 1t no
harm to speak the truth. She has
made great noise here. and mohs Of
boys have crowded around her splen-
did eQuipage to see what I hope will
not often be seen in this country, an
almost naked woman. An elegant and
select party was given to her by Mrs.
Robert Smith Her appearance was
such that it threw all the company
into confusion. and no one dared to
look at her but by stealth. The
shutters being left open. a crowd
assembled around the windows to get
look at this beautiful little creature,
for every one allows she is extremely
beautiful. Her dress was the thinnest
sarcenet and white crepe without the
least stiffening in it, made without
single plait In the skirt, the width
at the bottom being made of cores: