MISS ASQUITH'S WEDDING

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 617, 1 February 1916, Page 4

MISS ASQUITH'S WEDDING

A description of Miss Asquith 's wed-: ding to her father's secretary, Mr Borharn Carter, is given by the London correspondent of the "Daily Tele-1 graph" (Sydney). It took place in St.! Margaret's, Westminster. The church; decorations were curious, the approach to the altar between the choir stalls being adorned with orange branches in full fruit. The colouring- of these toned with the bridesmaids' frocks, which | consisted of chiffon of a ripe apricot! hue, veiled in grey, and cut in Russian style. Over these were Russian velvet I 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 of gold lace, fur, and velvet, and they carried skunk muffs, the gifts of the bridegroom. The bride's dress was mediaeval in style, ft was carried out in ivory white, satin, with broad bands of point do Venise round the bodice, and again beneath the waistline, which, however, 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 his library, some days before the wedding, with a little speech to the effect that "It was seldom he was 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 gift as a message from all parties of confidence and affection towards her father. Mr Asquith also responded. He said: "It is under these new conditions that members of all parties in the Mouse have been pleased to offer this gracious and moving tribute—the more moving, may 1 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 only say for myself that, having io bear, as I have, a heavy burden, there can lie no greater alleviation to it than such an expression as this of the sympathy anil 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 I am myself—you have conferred an unique honour, of which these beautiful symbols will be for them and for all of us an enduring remembrance, f can only thank you on their behalf and on my own and my wife's behalf from the bottom of our hearts, anil I can assure you we shall never forget this most precious testimony of your esteem."