Evening star., 1938-10-02
By John Clagett Proctor.

"HERE were few people who
listened to Mr.. Chamberlain
speech last Tuesday who as
Sociated his family with q
very important event that occurred in
this city so years ago, in which his
father. Joseph Chamberlain, was one
Of the principal actors. OF course, so
years, in some respects. is quite long
while, and many things can happen
during that time to claim ones at
tention. But surely every old-timer
does, or should recall the marriage of
this distinguished Britisher to our
own Mary Endicott, which took place
here in Old st. Johns on November
Is. 1888.
Neville Chamberlain is great man,
and undoubtedly merits the highest
esteem Of the American people, and all
the peace-loving nations as we'll, and
his efforts to preserve the tranquility
of the world will go down in history
as the crowning efforts of life well
spent. But so was his father an able
man and a capable diplomat, and we
could not expect less of his son.
Joseph Chamberlain, the father,
came to this city in November. 1887,
and remained here until February,
1888, as the head Of British repre-
sentatives upon the American British
joint high commission which was to
negotiate a treaty for the settlement
of the long-standing fisheries dispute.
In a way he succeeded, for an agree
ment was arrived at and the treaty
signed But the United States Senate
refused to ratify it then, due to politi-
cal party differences at the time.
But while Sir Joseph Chamberlain
was in this city talking over diplo-
matte matters, he was also making
love to Miss Mary Endicott, daughter
of William c. Endicott, Grover Cleve-
lands Secretary Of War, or as some
might say, he was killing two birds
with one stone.
Chamberlain was a widower indeed
he had been a widower before, when
his first wife died in 1868, leaving him
one son, Joseph Austin. Later he mar
ried the first Mrs. Chamberlalns
cousin, and she died in 1875. and it
was by this wife that Arthur Neville
Chamberlain was born in 1869. Sir
Joseph Chamberlain was born in 1886,
and was, therefore, So years of age
when he married Mary Endicott, she
being somewhere around half his age.
do pn1iSPn ThonnnRV
Depew and Grover Cleveland, who
were much older than their wives.
he undoubtedly had winning ways.
At any event the wedding was one
of the great social events of Washing
ton and everybody approved OF the
marriage. The Star printed an ac-
count of it on the day of the marriage,
telling who was present and the cos
tunes worn by the women, what kind
of day it was and all the details the
reporter could crowd into first-class
write-up. 1t is too good not to repeat
at this time, 50 here it is:
The weather bureau, which has
made an effort to furnish Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain, since his arrival, with
every variety of weather produced in
the British isles, succeeded this morn
ing in laying before him fine Scotch
mist. This for his wedding day. BY
noon awnings had been erected in
front Of the Endicott mansion and St.
Johns Church. This provision against
the rain seemed to propitiate the
weather department, for the rain
ceased to fall and mild London
fogginess shrouded the city. Before
2 o'clock, the hour fixed for the
wedding, the church was well filled
with company Of distinguished
guests. After Mr.. Sigourney Butler of
Boston, Mr.. Walter V. r. Berry, Mr.
Woodbury. Lowery and Mr.. Blair Lee
Of this city seated the guests there
was pause and all realized that
the long-expected Anglo American
alliance Of Miss Mary Endicott, only
daughter Of Secretary and Mrs. Will
liam c. Endicott of Salem, and Hon
Joseph Chamberlain, M. P, of Birm-
tngham, England, was to be con-
summated. In a few moments the
groom appeared at the altar unai-
tended, wearing Prince Albert coat,
with a boutonnaire of white violets.
The bride approached the altar, lean
Ing upon the arm Of her father. Her
many friends thought never in all her
bellehood days did she look more
stately and beautiful than in the
simple travelling dress in which she
was wed. 1t was pretty puritan
dress Of French gray camel's hair