A Fashionable Marriage. (PROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 32, 12 January 1884, Page 7

A Fashionable Marriage. (PROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT. )

The great' social event of fchepreseni autumn took place on fcjaturuay last, when Lord Woolmer, son and heir of our Liberal Lord Chancellor (The Earl of Selborne) was married to Lady Maud Cecil, eldest daughter ol the great Oorservative leader, Lord Salisbury, How such a strange union came about no one seems to be able to say. Naturally neither family were particularly anxious for it. Professedly, of course, politics are not carried into private life here in England, but whether Liberals and Conservatives can be closely connected by family ties without inconvenience or occasional discomfort arising is, I think, doubtful. The olla podrida of swelldom which met together at St. Andrew's Church on the wedding morning was fearfully and wonderfully composed. Mr Gladstone (a very old friend of Lord Selborne's) came up from Hawarden specially to do honour to the occasion, and those who watched him shake hands with his great rival, the bride's father. «ay it was a "sight for the the gods. " Lord Salisbury had naturally to welcome as guests many other Liberal statesmen, but he is nothing if not polished and urbane, and got through his duties in the happieso fashion. Amongst the 300 odd guests at the wedding breakfast were, I notice, Sir Arthur Gordon and Lady Wilson, erstwhileof Melbourne. 'Thebride" says the "Court Journal," worea very beautiful dress of the rioliest white satin duchesse, trimmed with fine Did Brussels lace and orange blossoms. A small wreath of orange flowers was arranged in her hair ,übder a une tulle veil, fastened with five diamond stars, her mother's gift. Her other jewels included a diamond brooch, given by the Prince and Princess of Wales; diamond and sapphire bracelet, given by the" Lord Chancellor and Countess Selborne } and diamond earrings. The bridesmaids were attired alike in simple dresses of coffee-coloured lace over white silk, the bodices and drapery being of white nuns' veiling ; bonnets compos id entirely of the same lace with small white feathers ; and each wore a jewelled pin of different design, the bridegroom's, gift. The bride's travelling dress was of pneasanfc blown velvet, with bonnet and mantle of the sanle material. The wedding presents were very numerous. They were displayed on numeious tables in the small drawing-room for the inspection of friends who bad not previously viewed them. Her Majesty the Queen presented the bride with a beautiful Cashmere shawl ; the Prince and Princess cf Wales sent her a valuable brooch, consisting of a sword and coronet composed of brilliants j Princess Christian of Schleswig Holstein sent Wo silver castors. The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury's presents to their daughter included a handsome dressing case with silver-gilt fittings, a suite of five diamond stars, and a pair of single stdne diamond earrings. Among the Lord Chancellor and Countess bf Selborne's presents was a gold bracelet set with five fine sapphires surrounded by brilliatits ; from Lord and Lady Eustace Cecil, a gold bracelet set With pearls; the EarlandCouritessof Derby, iriagh'ificent pendant and bracelet set with diamonds and pearls ; the Duke of Richmond} a diamond brooch ; the Duchess of Bedford, a pearl brooch; the Earl of Eldon, diamond bracelet; and countless others, the list of which fills two fcblumns of the official journal.