THE VANDERBILT WEDDING

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2145, 21 March 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE VANDERBILT WEDDING

REGAL SPLENDOURS. Miss Gladys Vanderbilt, possessor in her own right of £2,400,000, on tlie 27th January, became ,the wife of Count Leazio Jeno Maria Henrik Simon Szeelienyi, fourth son of Count Emerich, chief of tlio ancient Hungarian house of Szeelienyi. American papers io hand state that the wedding was one of tlie most exclusive, most expensive, and magnificent over held in America.. It was conducted with a pomp befiting a royal marriage in “effete, king-ridden Europe,” But the scene among which this pomp was unfolded was one eminently distinctive of tlie New AA orlil and its supreme consciousness of its immense and unparalleled wealth. As one of tlie 300 guests admiringly observed, they could together, if such a, thing were for sale, buy up a good sized European kingdom. Ot this thought in the power of riches Americans never tire. Though only the cream of New Yoi'k society was privileged to witness the ceremony, thousands took part in it- in imagination. From an early hour in tlie morning they assembled outside tho Vanderbilt mansion, braving a bitterly cold wind in prder to qatcli a mere glimpse of tho plutocratic participants.. It- was little they got for their pains. The carriages of the guests drovo past swiftly and deposited their occupants at the portals of the great mansion, which immediately swallowed them up. The home of the Vanderbilts, both in its interior and its exterior, is symbolical of wealth. Massive, ostentatious, and oppresive, it is furnished in splendid taste. But more wonderful, if possible, than its permanent beauties were the floral decorations of t.lie various rooms. It is estimated that £IO,OOO were expended on these ephemeral embellishments. The guests were received by Mrs Vanderbilt in the drawing-room, which is in the style of Louis XIV., and as they arrived they were greeted by tlie seductive strains of . tlie movements of Tschaikovsky’s Symphonic Pathetique, the love music from tlie second act of 'Wagner’s “Tristram and Isolde,” anil tho andante from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. These were 'flayed with exquisite effect by an orchestra of six-ty-five instruments concealed behind flowers and palms in one of the largo reception rooms off the ball-room. The wedding gifts, exceeding in splendour any previous collection, were displayed on the second floor of the Vanderbilt' mansion. Their estimated value, is £250,000, but it is explained that many presents await the bride in London and Hungary. The Vanderbilt- mansion was ruthlessly invaded last night by a host of Custom inspectors, who acting on tho intelligence conveyed by an anonymous informer, insisted on ransacking tho treasure-room, and examining minutely tlie gorgeous dresses of tho bride and her relatives. It was in vain that Mrs Vanderbilt, supported by the indignant remonstrances of her sons, invoiged against this preposterous intrusion. Tho inspectors evamined tlio tecture of all tlie dresses of the trousseau, questioned the uicnibe'rs of tlie family as to tlie price paid for them, and for various gifts, and finally returned to the Customs house to compare tlie data thus supplied with those contained in the official records. In regard to tlie trousseau, tlie officials ultimately discovered that tlie duty had been properly levied. But the incident greatly incensed tlie Vanderbilt family, reminding them ou.ee more of the disadvantages of living in a democratic country.

Of the presents as displayed to the enchanted guests, one of the- most striking was from the Dutchess of Marlborough, cousin of the bride. It was a rope of pearls with diamond tassels. A pendant of sapphires and diamonds was from-Mrs Almeric Paget, of London. But the most splendid of all was from the mother of tho bride—a diamond tiara and collar, tho gems being of magnificent size and matched with the utmost accuracy.