A £10,000,000 BRIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 52, 2 March 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

A £10,000,000 BRIDE.

Miss Alia Rockefeller, dauglter of Mr John W. Rockefeller, the richest American and the Napoleon of trusts, was married the following Thursday to Mr Pannalee Prentice, a young barrister, of Chicago, whose share in this world's goods is liberally estimated at some £2.000.

The bride's father has, however, promised his daughter £10.000.000. and as one of the newspapers jocularly puts it, the groom can use his "£2OOO for cigarette money."

The wedding was a very simple affair 1 . There was no effort to> fill buildings with roses, no desire to draw gaping mobs, no statements for the newspapers. In short, there, was nothing spectacular about the ceremony. The. public was disappointed, for what interest is there iv millionaire marriages unless each is made to outdo in extravagance and ostentation those that went before?

There were many who up to the last moment cherished a hope that Mr Rockefeller would surround the wedding with such glittering accessories of pomp and circumstance that young Mr Yanderbilt would have to own himself eclipsed in nuptial magnificence by the Oil King- and trust builder.

The marriage took place in the. Rockefeller home, next door to the house given by the bride's father as a wedding present. There were 150 guests, few of them members of the smart set, but nearly all members of a grim secret coterie of millionaires, wdio work at their calling, and whose ambition it is to divide the United States into industrial kingdoms to be ruled by them absolutely.

The Yanderbilts are of the inheritors and revellers in money; the Rockefellers are of the makers of money, who have not time to stop and enjoy life. '

The millionaires sent presents, massive, precious, and wonderful, but no list of them was given out. It is known, however, fhat the total value is far in excess of that of the Yanderbilt gifts.

Mr and Mrs Prentice will go to Europe, as the bride is desirous of again consulting the Vienna specialist who cured her deafness, in order that, she may be assured that her recovery is permanent.