Second Edition. MISS ASQUITH’S WEDDING

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 43, 26 January 1916, Page 6

Second Edition. MISS ASQUITH’S WEDDING

Writing from London; under date December 2', 191-5 ,' the correspondent of

the Sydney Daily Telegraph states

The socia] event of this week has been o the Downing Street wedding—. Miss Violet Asquith to.her father's secretary, Mr Bonhani Garter. It took place in St.'"Margaret's., Westminster —the little church which stands in the shadow of the Abbey. To be married in St. Margaret's is next best to being married in the Abbey itself. For fashionable weddings it has displaced St. George's, Hanover Square! In spite of a particularly abomin-, able specimen of London's winter wea-

ther, crowds of people stood in the rain to see the bridal party. The church decorations were curious, the approach to the altar between the choir stalls being adorned with orange plants in full fruit. The coloring of these toned with the bridesmaids' frocks, which consisted Qt chiffon of. a ripe apricot hue, veiled in grey, out in Russian- 'style. Over these were Russian velvet coats in a shade between orange and apricot, edged -with skunk. The folded sashes of velvet had long ends embroidered with gold, and the pockets were trimmed to match. Worn with these costumes were hats?pf gold lace, fur, and velvet, and they carried skunk muffs, the. gifts of the bridegroom. The bride's dress was mediaeval in style. It was carried out in ivory white satin, with broad bands of point de Venise round the bodice, and again beneath the, waistline, which, however, 1 was not defined. -'The long, hanging sleeves were of chiffon with broad armlets of point de Venise. She wore a tulle veil caught by a diamond sun. This ornament was given to her by the House of Commons, and 'was presented by the Speaker at a private' party, in Ins library, some days before the wedding, with a little speech to J the effect that "it was seldom he wa»j fortunate enough to find members so ( unanimous, but like the characters in 'The Critic'' when they did agree their unanimity was' wonderful," to which Miss Asquith replied that she regarded the gifl'as a message from all parties of confidence and affection towards her father.

Mr Asquith also responded. Ho said: "It is under these new conditions that members of all parties in the House have been pleased to offer this gracious and moving tribute—-the more moving, may I say, because it is offered, at a time when there is hardly a household amongst us which is not under a dark cloud of anxiety or of actual bereavement. In these days even our wedding bells ring with a sombre and muffled sound. I can onlv say for, myself that, having to bear, a' s I have, a heavy burden, there can be no greater alleviation to it than such an expression as this of the sympathy and regard of those whose good opinion is my most cherished possession and ambition. On my daughter and her future husband —she is almost, as familiar with the precincts and personalities of this House as lam myself—you have conferred a unique honor, of which these beautiful symbols will be for them and for all* of us an enduring remembrance. I can only thank you on their behalf and 'on my own and my wife's behalf from the bottom of our hearts, and I can assure you we shall never forget .this most precious testi-

mony of your esteem." But to return to the wedding. A guard of honor formed by wounded soldiers lined the entrance to the church. There were four pages Call hearing names famous in the House of Commons). The ceremony was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishop of Southwark, and among the names of the guests were many well-known to Australians—Lord and Laoy Beauchamp, Lord and Lady Brassoy, Lord and Lady Dudley, Sir George Reid, Lord and'Lady Derby, Lord Bosebery, Sir "Herbert and Lady Tree, Mrs Humphrey Ward, Sir Edward and Lady Carson, Sir Philip Burne-Jones. etc. The register was signed, after the bride and bridegroom, by the ■Prime Minister. Mr Bonham Carter (father of the bridegroom). Mr Balfour, Sir Edward Grey, Lord Kitchenei, and Lord Haldane.