WEDDED. MISS VANDERBILT'S MARRIAGE

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 24, 29 January 1908, Page 7

WEDDED. MISS VANDERBILT'S MARRIAGE

VALUABLE PEESENTS. THE BRIDE'S FORTUNE. By Telegraph. — Press Association. — Copj'right. NEW YORK, 28th January. The marriage of Miss Gladys Vanderbilt and Count Laszio Szechenyi took place at tho Vanderbilt mansion yesterday, in the presence of three hundred friends. The presents to the couple aro valued at a quarter of a million eterling. It is stated that the bride possesses three millions sterling in her own right. UNBIDDEN GUESTS. CUSTOMS OFFICERS ON THE WARPATH. FLORAL DECORATIONS IN CHURCH. (Received January 29, 8.18 a.m.) NEW YORK, 28th January. Customs officers, acting on anonymous information which they had received, visited the Vanderbilt's house after the wedding and ransacked the bride's trousseau, demanding the prices of every imported article. They also examined the wedding presents, and found that the duty had been correctly paid. The bridal aisle at the church was formed of Japanese cherry treee in blossom and festoons of orchids. Miss Vanderbilt came of age in August last, when she received her share, amounting to £2,500,000, of the paternal iortmie. Ever since her debut three years ago at a magnificent ball given by her mother at the family residence in Fifthavenue, she has been regarded as the best "catch" of the younger circles of New York Society. Every true American hoped that she would wed one of her own compatriots. This hope was evidenced by tho frequency with which the name of the heiress was linked with that of Mr. Robert Walton Goelet, well known in Newport, and the owner of £1,000,000. Miss Vanderbilt, however, persistently refused either to deny this or any otli?r of the numerous matrimonial rumours concerning herself. Her silence ■earned her tho sobriquet of tho "American Sphinx." Now the riddle is solved (wrote the New York correspondent of the Daily Mail lately), and editors are ventilating their patriotic disappointment in characteristic headlines proclaiming, "Gladys, after all, is to wed a title." But the- title, according to the assurances made by Mrs. Vanderbilt, has nothing to do with tho match, which is purely one of love. Count Laszio Szechenyi, the bridegroom, is a Hungarian, and was born in 1879. He is the youngest son of the late Count Imre Szechenyi, AustroHungarian Ambassador to Berlin, who died in 1898. Count Lnszio served in tho Hussars as a volunteer, and was very popular in society circles, where he was generally known by his pet name, Lalla. The handsome and dashing Ressrvo officer is now in the Diplomatic Service; being • Secretary to the Paris Emba-^sy. He is very rich and (in aristocrat, but has »iot figured in public life. He is a splendid horseman, riding in tho trub Hungarian manner. The- count in a sportsman and musician, and thess qualities won the heart of Miss Vanderbiltj who studied singing in Paris under M. Jean De Reszke with excellent results, and who is, moreover, an expert nibtorisfc and horsewoman. It is said that the couple first met at a reception given by tho American Ambassador, Ma 1 . Whitelaw Reid, in London, and that recently Miss Van-dea-bilt and her mother visited the count's Hungarian estates. Miss Vanderbilt is the daughter of the late Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt, head of the family which is identified with many of tho chief railway and insurance enterprises in tho United States. When he died in 1899 his fortune was estimated at from £16,000,000 to £24,000,000. Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt jun., the oldest son, married against the father's wish, and was cut off with £300,000. Alfred, the second rfon, is tho head of tho junior branch of the family, and owner of nearly one-lnlf of his father's estate. He gave £1,200,000 to Cornelius not long after his father's death, the latter.*? quarrel with his eldest son not impairing the brothers' affection. Miss Vanderbilt is a fair young woman, with a girlish figure and good co.rriage. Th» present Duchess of Marlborough is tho daughter of Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt, uncle- of Miss Gladys. 1