Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-08
Count Bodsco Russian Envoy and Young Bride History Here
Georgetown
Found Scene
Impressive
Ceremony Brought
National Leaders
To Rich Event
By John CIaeeH Proctor.

came into public notice after so long
a time, when the Baron Arvid de
Bodisco, whose great-great uncle
was the Russian Count Alexander
de Bodisco, stopped with the Baron
House.
The Baron de Bodisco is the Paris
correspondent for a number of Es-
tonian papers and is also the music
critic for La Vie Parisienne," but
Washington and this country, being
more attractive for some months
past to those on the other side of
the Atlantic, the baron thought a
trip to the United States, on the
luxurious Rex, would not show bad
judgment on his part at this time.
And, no doubt, we all agree with
him.
However, although we were glad
to learn of the baron'S visit to us,
we were indeed doubly pleased to
know that he had brought with him
several of the Bodisco family por-
traits, especially those of the old
envoy and his American countess,
our own Harriet Beall Williams, to
whom he was married 100 years ago,
on April 9. These were assumed to
be rare pictures.
OF course. many of the old-timers
are familiar with the marriage OF
this celebrated couple, a marriage
that joined in bonds of holy we'd
lock what was chronicled at the
time to be "a homely old man of 60
and more summers and an equal
number of winters, and a beautiful,
bashful blushing girl of sweet l6."
Their Ages.
Bodisco had been sent to this
country to represent Russia as En-
voy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary, and. probably ar
rived here in 1897. He took up his
residence in Georgetown, where he
soon met Harriet Williams, daughter
of Brooke williams, then serving as
chief clerk of the Adjutant Gen.
erals Office with an annual salary
of $1,000. At this time, Bodisco,
according to the inscription on his
monument in the cemetery, was 81,
and Harriet was around 49, making
him at the time of the marriage,
three years later, 81 and she l6.
Russia was then on very friendly
terms with the United States, as 1t
seems to have always been under
the Czarist regime, and, conse-
quently, its minister was more than
highly regarded.
Miss Williams was tall and the
handsomest girl in Georgetown.
The count. at times, found it quite
agreeable to escort her to school,
which she was still attending. He
proposed, and she accepted, and, as
true love never runs smooth, there
had to be some objection, and this
was supplied by Miss Williams. fam
lily. They said the count was too
old and too ugly. However, Harriet
was willing to accept his offer.
Bodisco was one of the bralnlest
diplomats ever sent to this country,
although. in appearance, he was
Enthusiastically far from being pre-
possessing, and this, and the youth
fulness of Miss Williams created
more gossip than any other mar
rage which ever took place IN the
District of Columbia.
Counts Appearance.
If all the things said about the
count were true, one must surely
agree he was not favored with good
looks. Old, ugly, stout, with
broad, Kalmuck face, much Wrln-
killed., prominent eyebrows and
shaggy whiskers; his bald pate
covered with shiny brown wig.
This sums up a few of the counts
reputed unfortunate characteristics.
In addition to being OF tender
age. the bride was great favorite
with her schoolmates, handsome
and amiable. Some said 1t was
the bringing together OF May and
December, while others, less gen.
erous, compared the contracting
parties to Beauty and the Beast"
But there was no secrecy about
the marriage, which was first an
nounced in the Advocate OF George
town of April II, 1910, which said:
Married in Georgetown, D. c., on
Thursday, the 9Th April, by the
Rev. Mr.. Johns, His Excellency
Alexander de Bodisco, Chamberlain
of His Majesty the Emperor OF all
the Russias, his actual Counsellor
of State, Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary to the
United States, to Miss Harriet Will
liams, daughter of Brooke Williams
ESQ, of this place"
Report of Marriage.
Three days later the following
vrite-up appeared in the same
paper:
ister-
Though opposed to the general
practice of building anything that
relates to the private affairs Of in
dividuals, we have deemed the fol-
lowing, from the Baltimore Patriot.
an honorable exception, and as
such. publish it as a just tribute
of respect to those to whom 1t re-
lates:
1.-The marriage of M. de Bodisco,
the Russian Minister, to the young
and lovely daughter OF Brooke VIII
liams, esq, of Georgetown, which
took place on Thursday, created a
great sensation in the fashionable
world. The distinguished bride
groom has. during his residence here,
secured universal respect and esteem
by his kindness of disposition, his
urbanity of manners and his splen-
did and cordial hospitality. The
bride had just appeared above the
horizon (to use the metaphor OF
Burke) and her exceeding beauty
and accomplishments had just be-
gun to decorate and cheer the So
ciety of the metropolis, when they
won the heart and hand Of the
Minister.
1.-The marriage ceremony took
place at the residence of the brides
father. Several intimate personal
friends of the Minister assembled at