DIAMOND NUPTIALS. "ARABIAN NIGHTS" IN SOUTH AMERICA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXI, Issue 5602, 31 August 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

DIAMOND NUPTIALS. "ARABIAN NIGHTS" IN SOUTH AMERICA.

Dlamontlna (Noteuibor 10th) Correupoiulciiue of tlic "Albany Journal." Tho hour is midnight, and I liavo just come in a triilo jailed, but, boforo retiring, I purpose whib yet tho facts arc vivid in my mind to givo somo account of a wedding I attended this evening. It was a wedding, 1 make bold to say, tho liko of which was never pelobratod on cither continent. The high contracting parties to tho marriage wore Mali*, only daughter of Be Souza Cabral,

THE OltRVT DIAMOND KINO Of South America, anil Uoorgo Arthur Throokinorton, a native of Kentucky, United SUtes of America, who, for the post fiyo years, has been successfully engaged in railroading in this country, with head-quarters at Rio Janeiro. De Hour* Cabrftl is principal owner of nine of the rioheit diamond mines in South America, and from them, in the aggregate, he derives an annual income of not less than 20,000,000dol. His interests in goldmines probably amount to Mmuch more, ■ and I am cognizant of the foot that last 1 August ho sold a one-tenth interest in the oelobrated BahiaMine— of which, until then, he had " boon . the solo proprietor,— for 3,500,000dol. gold. His diamond interest in South Africa and Siberia ho had lately estimated under oath (in somo legal proceeding! before tho Court in Minos Ueraes)a.t the enormous sum of 50, 000, 000.1 ol. I He h«s besides a great ponchiuit for real estate, and I was but recently informed by one- of his. agents, a thoroughly trustworthy man, that Oabnd's rentals in London and Glasgow alone yielded over £150,000 annually. In 1808 ho purohasod the patent of a machine for making eyelets, from a poor follow whom be found starving in a garret at Maranhani for mioh a bagatelle as 183dol. To-day the machine in extensively used all over the

Moikl, ami Cabr.U draws. 2,.>00doL a day from thi* source alone. Anil then tlicie are Ins sou ing-m.u lunoroyalties that yield him soim'thing over 5,000dol. a day. The correctness of this last item is vouched for by a friend of niiiip, who is tho managfr of tho leading sewing-machine company in Jlrazil. Indeed, it is easy to tell what lie is interested in, out hard tu'thiuk of bomething that is anything in which he is not. It would be a puzzlo to name a leading railroad ia South America or England in which he has not a stake. He takessomothingovcr 1,300, OOOdol. a-ycar from hU steamship stock, and probably twice as much more from other sources. A cool, clear-headed man of 00, six feet high, straight as an arrow, with an eyo liko an eagle, a judgment as unerring as fate, and a decision as quick as tho lightning, with superb nerve, unconquerable boldness, and an apparent incapacity for blundering, Do Souza Cabrol stands to-day

TUB WEALTHIEST MAN ON THE GLOBE. Ho was lately asked by an intimate friend, in my presence, if he had any conception of tho sum total of his possessions. Ho thought for a moment, and then quietly replied, " I could not swear that I was not worth — presuming that I could roaliso on all my property—BO.OOO.OOO.OOOdol." He made this astonishing exhibit with perfect sang froid, but I must confess that as he spoke I felt something very like pity for him. I could not but think how specially difficult it might be for him to f satisfactorily solve the problem of the camel and the needle's eye. I would not have devoted so much space to the father of the bride of this evening, wore it not for tho fact that otherwise the account that followed of the wedding might bo received with incredulity. Tho bridegroom, young Throekmorton, ia descended trom one of the oldest and wealthiest families of the "bluo grass country," as he loves to call it. He eamo to. Brazil with a matter of 300,000 in his own right, and since has pro»pered famously, ao that to-day he cannot be worth less than 6,000,000dol. But a poor pittance in comparison with his father-in-law's overwhelmingly gigantic fortune, but still quite sufficient to relieve htm from the imputation of marrying the fair Malia Canral for money. lie met her first a year ago at a ball at Pernambnco, and tho result was a case of lore at first sight on both their parti (at least so they say). They make an exceedingly - prepossessing couple,—he tall, broad-shouldered, yellow of hair and moustache, and the, a tiny, graceful, lovelyfaced brunette. And now if I had the pen of a ready writer to describe to you in fitting terms the unqualified and

IMMEASURABLE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE of their wedding. But, alas, I cannot; and as I cost about for abeginningof my narrative I am much embarrassed with the riches that wait to be treated of. There were the invitations, for instance. They were written on parchment by artistic hands, in quaint text, exquisitely illuminated. Instead of being enclosed in paper envelopes they were sent to their favoured recipients each in a dainty box of sandal-wood. These boxes, 1,000 in number, were manufactured to order expressly for this wedding at Canton. Each one of them was furnished with a lock and key of solid gold, was exquisitely carved with Cupids, and hearts, and other designs appropriate to the occasion, and cost ISOdoL My own invitation lies beside me as I write, and I catch the delicate scent of the sandaL The residence of the Great Diamond King, at which the wedding took place, is situated a little over half a mile from Diamentina, which is, you know, the chief town of tho diamond district. I may attempt to describe its magnificence in another letter; let it suffice to say now that the house is the complete realization of tho ideal castles of the regulation English novels, and that the grounds connected with it are the hut expression of nature at her loveliest, reinforced by art at its consummate. This evening the place

SKP.MED A PARADISE. Wax candle* by the thousand, each caught and held in placu by a bronze figure, flooded the rooms within, and the miles of grounds without, with a soft, yet brilliant light. Here and there, on tho green slopes, or in the rustic bowers, or at^ the edge of some romantic ravine, large music-boxes, embedded and completely hidden from view in moss, played a soft mil dreamy accompaniinout to the voice of the fountain 1!. One hundred inusicbaxes were employed in this service, and the tunes that weru picked on their cylinders were composod especially for the nuptial night by a no less celebrated musician than Liszt. He had received a draft of 25;00Qdol. for his witobing work, and who shall say that he did not earn it? Certainly no oue that listened to the music, which was Jityle short of heavenly. The music-boxes will be distributed on the morrow among the bride** maids and other guests of this evening, as unique remembrances of the wedding. Each one of them was imported from Paris, is encased in mosaic, and elaborately finished in cold, silver, and a variety of precious stones. Two huudred boxes cost as many thousand dollars. The drawing-room in which the Kontuckiau and his " dark Brazilian bride " wore mode one fle»h, had one feature in its adornment which elicited the most fervent expression of delight and amazement from all who were present. I allude to the decorations of the four walls. Thoy were one mass of full-blown white camolias from ilonr to ceiling, and a good sized diamond was inserted in the centre of each to cunningly counterfeit the dew-drop. Tho effect was simply ravishing. "Words and phrases," as Mr. Webster said of eloquence, 11 may bo marshalled in every way, but they cannot express it." Ita every suggestion was sweetness, and light, and purity. It is estimated that the adornment of this one room called for au expenditure of not lens than

TEN MU.MONH Of DOI.LABX. .No diamond was given the rule of the dow drop that was not whito, and pcrfoct " as the bosom of a star." The entire distance from the Cabral mansion to the nearest railroad station, fioinothiug less than a quarter of a mile, was literally a way of flowers,—not under foot, but in graceful arches overhead. Thus, a long, snow-white bower, fashioned entirely of roses, was the connecting link betweon the drawing-room and drawing-room oar. Tho demand made on Flora for the materials for this picturesque covered way was unpre. eedonted. The flower bill for the wedding exelusho of the item of hand-bouquets — amounted to BO.OOOdol. But the iitraugest thing in regard to this bower I havo yet to tell. Its tloor for the entire length was covered with camel's hair shawls, to my own mind a piece of preposterous, aye, wicked extrag.ivance. But the father of the bride dcclarod that, so long as it was his only daughter aud only child whoso marriage he celebrating, ho would send her out of her homo to the steam carriage that was to carry her away from him, over a pavoinent not likely to be imitated in the future history of maniages in South America. The shawl* for this extraordinary purpose were purchased in London, the order being for " the best that can be had for gold, >T and the bill for the itom amounted to the enormous sum of 5(i8,500dol. After the bridal party entered tho train the shawls were gathered up, and to-morrow they wiU be distributed among tho poor of the dutriot.

THE BRIDE'S PR«8KNTrt. They were, by actual count, 1,840 in number, and the greater part of them, I noticed took the torm of either gold or diamonds Tho mother's gift was a dinner •et of 280 piece*, of solid gold. Koch piece bears the monogram of Oabral ami Throckraorton in diamonds. The cost of this proof of maternal affection was something ever 4,000,000dol. in gold. In addition, Mine. Cabral gladdonod the . bride's heart with 1,000 yards of point lace; 305 morning afternoon and evening costumes, one for each social division of every day in the year; and, to crown all, a certificate of deposit issued by the Bank of England—England being the objective point of the bridal tour—for £1,000,000. Docs this lost item seem the very apotheosis of prodigality ? It does so uutil you hear what the father did for his darling, aud then it takes a «ubordinato position. He gave her the title-deeds of a magnificent town and country-house in all the leading capitals of the world and the

more famoifs watering-places. These maiiy mansions arc tlioronglily furnished, and in each — as a tender reminder to Malia of her maidenhood — there ih an apartment that exactly corresponds in fnruitnre and adornments to her own room at her father's house. Not contenting himself with thin display of his bounty, Uabral presented her with as fine a steamship ns could be built on the Clyde, wit^i full complement of sailors under contract for ten year's service, and with salaries paid in advance for the full term ; one dozen milk whitu Arabian horses, and— this as a joke — 1,000 pounds of caramels, a confection for which the bride is said to have a profound liking. But his crowning gift was a necklace that deserves to r.viik among the enumerated

WOXriEUh OK THK WOULD. Sixteen years ago, soon after Malia's birth, lie began to collect the diamonds of which it is composed. Whenever or wherever he heard of a marvellous stone, he was on hand, in person or by agent, and- secured it. Ho had all Europe, Asm, and Africa ransacked in behalf of the proposed necklace, and at the time actually made overtures for the celebrated Pitt diamond, which cost the Duke of Orleans, according to history, 675,000dol., and which Napoleon at one time wore on his sword-hilt. He was baffled in his attempt, however, much to his di*api>ointtnent. bat, after ten years of unremitting hunting, ho at last got together thirty of the largest and purest diamonds in the world, no one of which was much inferior to the Pitt gem. Taking these to Amsterdam, ho summoned the best talent in that city, famous for its diamond-cutters, and stated what ho desired— which was that each one of the thirty stoiues should have a fantastic face cut upon it. Amsterdam at first said that the task was more than herculean, — that it was impossible. But when Cabral statal the stupendous sum ho was willing to pay for the fulfilment of his wishes, Amsterdam reconsidered, and consented to do ita best. It did its best for Jive year*, day ami night, mid the rosnlt was that a week before tire wedding, the diamonds, cut, carved, set on a golden string, and all ready to embraoe the snowy nock of the bi-ido, were placed in the hand* of the jubilant Cabval. 1 happened to be present when Malia lirat was shown the necklace, a couple of days before she was married. Sho wore a black ailk at the time, and her father, after throwing the brilliants, that contrasted so strongly with the colour of the dress, over her nead, stepped back a few paces to notice the effect. Having gazed at the flashing necklace for a minute or so he suddenly broke iuto a loud laugh and cried out merrily, "My dear, on my life you'd do for the

HEAD-LIGHT OP A LOCOMOTIVE. This necklace cost De Souza Cabral, stones, cutting, and carving, 11 6,000, 980dol. 88c. Cabral showed me the receipts yesterday, so that I am able to state the exact figures'. And yet this doting father, in naming the cost to me, added that he would willingly have paid what he did twice over rather than have missed his aim, or been unable to give his darling the wedding present he designed for her while yet she was in her cradle. There you have the man in his unbounded expenditure of money to obtain his ends, and in his absorbing love for his daughter. You must nut expect from me any description of the ornate and bewildering toilets worn at the wedding -no, not even ot the bride's rare raiment. I do not understand such matter*, and, venturing to discourse concerning them, likely enough I should call lace gimp, and peasant-waists polonaises Let me briefly state that, no far as I could judge, the great heiress was married in clothes befitting her position. I am indebted to a lady guest for the information that her dress was of point lace, flounced, or rather garlanded, to the waist with atriuga of seed pearls, with the voluminous train edged with a, filagree of gold thickly set with diamonds. Her neck was circled by her father's wonderful oiteriug, besides which there were diamonds banded on her hair and in bracelets on her Miista. Site was certainly

THE MOM 1 MLA/«.N(i BKVUTV I over gazed iiih>u. There wai ono feature of the wetlding arrangement* which struck idc might better have been omitted entirely, or at Toast vory materially modified, but which, nevertheless, iu the mock it made of expense, was ?uite iu keeping with all the other features, allude to the phenoii.en.ally hospitable provision made for the liackiuen who drove the giioiti to anil from the festivities On the velvet lawn just outside the Cabral mansion, * dozen or more exquisite Sevres vaiei were set,— corresponding in si%e and shape to an American peach basket,— -each one of which was heaped to the brim with the gold coin of the country. The drivers as they dropped their loads had their attention called to the currency in the vases, and were cordially invited to Ihelp themselves ad libitum. As often as th« vases were emptied they were promptly replenished uy servauts detailed for that sole purpose. One of the hackinen responded so heartily to the invitation that, when the time came for him to drive back to town, he was forced to request hia two passengers to favour him by taking a seat on the box. He explained, not without blushes and stammering, that the inside of his coach was occupied by the gold pieces he had accumulated during the evening; and that ho would not havo taken so many had it not been for the thought of a sick wife at homo. Having listened to him, his load, before mounting the box, returned to the house and related the incident to Cabral, who was so touched at the mention; of the sick wife that, on sudden impulse, he proposed a subscription for her benefit. The response was general, and in a short time the snug sum of lO.OOOdol. was raised among the guests, to which Cabral added hid own cheque for 40,0tKMol. more, saying that he did not wish any heart to be sad ou that joyful occasion. When the /lO.OOOdol. were handed to the hncknian,

11 V COIIUIAL FOU YOUR AlUXt/ WIFE, my man," a» Cabral put it, he burst iuto tears, declaring that there never was such a man iu the world as De Souza Cabral. And he was right. Bu<;hereimu»tston,for I have already written a long letter. A thousand and one things connocted with the wedding, each worthy of not«i mutt go undescribed— at least until another occasion. But from what I have told yon, you must judge of tne proportions and quality of what I have told you— ex pede Herculeuui, you know. Ah, if my old friend, Senator Webster Wagner, could have soon the bridal drawing-room car in which the bride left home, with its exterior composed entirely of carved ivory— but I find I have just time to save the 3 a.m. train. Illt'IIARD SlUDOER.

Hint about Courting : The man who courted an investigation says it isn't s>o good as an affectionate girl. A little girl, reading the history of England with her mother, and coming to the statement that Henry I. never laughed after the death of hi» sen, looked up and Ba'd, "What did ho do when he wai tickled !" " Do you like cod-fish balls, Mr. Wig gins?" Mr. Wiggins, hesitatingly, "I really don't know, miss; I don't recollect attending one." Ax Established Fact ! — That you can furnish moro economically from the large stock at the City Hall than from anywhere else. Holloway and Gar lick have the greatest variety of Carpets in the province — beautiful BrtiHcll (drawing and dining room patterns). Tapestry, Kidderminster, Dutch and other Carpets ; Felt Squares, Hearthrugs, Mats, *c. ; Coir, China and Flax Matting ; Linoleum, the* Cork Noiseless Floorcloth for offices, dining-rooms, halls, fcc, notod for durability and comfort ; well-seasoned Oil-cloth, from 2ft. to 24ft wide ; Swiss, Harness, Lace and Damask Curtains ; Table Covers, Blankets, Sheeting, Tick, Towelling, Antimacassars, Linen aud Wool Damasks, Ac; Drapery of every description, Dresses, Ladies' Underclothing, Baby Linen, Men's and Boya Clothing. Before buying, inspect the Stock of Hollo way and Gaiuick, City Hall| 230, Queen-itrett Auckland.— [advt.J