And Everything

In due form a marriage license was issued to David Kirkpatrick Este Bruce, 28, and Ailsa Mellon, 24. Three days later the marriage was celebrated in Bethlehem chapel, the completed part of the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Washington. Only about 200 relatives, high officials and official families were present. Twenty ushers, including Paul Mellon, the bride's brother, Richard K. Mellon, Albert C. Bruce, Richard F. Cleveland (son of the late President), assisted by six young experts on precedence from the Treasury and State Departments, took the guests to their seats. The President and his wife had one of the front pews. Mrs. Coolidge wore for the first time a gown of ecru lace over a black satin slip. The Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden were present, she wearing a gown of apricot pink crepe, with a skirt of self-colored lace. The only decorations in the chapel were six golden vases of lilies on the altar and white ribbons outlining the aisles.

At noon the bridal procession came down the aisle as Mr. Bruce and his brother James approached from the side. The 20 ushers were, followed by four bridesmaids--all school friends of Ailsa Mellon's at Farmington, Conn.--and Miss Craigie McKay, the maid of honor. The female attendants wore orchid chiffon swinging a full 18 inches from the ground in front and wide brimmed hats. The costumes were extremely simple, that of the maid of honor being distinguished by a slightly darker hue. Their bouquets were of larkspur, butterfly roses and purple orchids.

On the arm of the slender Secretary of the Treasury came the bride. Her entire gown was of point d'Angleterre over cream satin, with a court train of the same lace. Her veil was of tulle with a circlet of pearls about the brow and held in place by a spray of orange blossoms on each side. She wore long sleeves, and her dress came within ten inches of the floor. Her bouquet was voluminous with white orchids and lilies of the valley. She wore a string of pearls.

A vested choir sang "The Voice That Breathed O'er Eden." The organ played the usual selection from Lohengrin. Dr. Hugh Birckhead, the Bruce pastor from Baltimore, performed the marriage service. Secretary Mellon then stepped back to the pew across from the President. The bridal couple advanced to the altar and Bishop Freeman of the Cathedral said the wedding service, including "Obey."

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce went down the aisle followed by their attendants, with President and Mrs. Coolidge next in line attended by their military and naval aides in full dress uniform.

The next scene was at the Pan American Building, whither 4,000 guests had been bidden to the reception. About half the number came. The rooms were bowers of flowers--pink hydrangeas, pink roses, larkspur, peonies, ferns, spruce. Disjecta membra of the Marine Band, in three sections of the building, played the wedding march from Tannhauser, as the bride and bridegroom entered and crossed the Aztec Garden and passed the reflecting pool on a carpet of scarlet velvet.

In the Hall of the Americas, Secretary Mellon, Senator Bruce and Mrs. Bruce, in a demi-toilet of black chiffon and lace over a white chiffon slip faced with pagoda blue, received the guests, President and Mrs. Coolidge first. The entire Cabinet, the entire Supreme Court, a few Senators and Representatives, many diplomats, the royalty from Sweden, many friends, were in line. Mrs. Harvey Arthur Lee, the bride's mother, however, was not present. Mrs. Dawes was present, but the Vice President could not leave the Senate.

The guests ate at small tables in the garden, served from a huge buffet in the Map Room laden with odorous food. As they departed each received a small box of wedding cake.

The wedding party did not attempt to eat, but waited for luncheon until they returned to the Mellon apartment, which takes up a whole floor in a huge apartment building on Massachusetts Ave. Even this extraordinary home was overtaxed by the wedding, and the Secretary was obliged to rent an ordinary apartment below his own huge one in which to accommodate wedding guests and wedding presents.

The wedding presents were not listed for publication, and only a few intimate friends were allowed to see them. A few, however, are known: the Cabinet sent a huge silver tray, appropriately inscribed; lace, silver and handsomely bound books there were in profusion; Ambassador Esme Howard sent a rare and handsome edition of Don Quixote.

During the afternoon the Bruces departed on a brief preliminary honeymoon--brief because four days later they had to sail for Rome, where Mr. Bruce has a vice-consulship at $2,500 a year awaiting him.

It was acknowledged the most noteworthy wedding in Washington since Alice Roosevelt was married in the White House.