February 23-29 And March 1, 1916

1916 was a leap year and so Kate Roosevelt was able to add an extra day to the month of February. Evoking a scene from the Sixth Season of PBS’ series, Downton Abbey when Mrs. Hughes, the head housekeeper married Mr. Carson, the head butler, two members of the Roosevelt staff tied the knot. Kate’s longtime and long-suffering, chauffeur, Louis Bourke, and her grandsons, Langdon and Shippen Geer’s devoted governess, Miss Gowans were married on February 23, 1916 at the Church of the Transfiguration on East 29^th Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenue. Also called the “Little Church Around the Corner,” it was located literally just around the corner from Kate Roosevelt’s home at 301 Lexington Avenue. As a benevolent employer, she probably arranged for the ceremony as she was friendly with all of the Episcopal elite of the city, including the beloved rector of the church, Reverend George Houghton, who  celebrated  many happy occasions with her, including the wedding of Horace Greeley’s daughter many years before.

George Holland

In addition to joyous occasions, the clergyman also presided over some sad ones as well and that is how the church became known as “The Little Church around the Corner.” In 1870 the rector of nearby, Church of the Atonement refused to conduct funeral services for an actor named George Holland, who was thought of as a social outcast because of his profession. The rector said, “I believe there’s a little church around the corner that does that sort of thing.” Reverend Houghton answered a higher calling and sent the impoverished actor off in style. The Church of the Transfiguration was established in 1848 and held services in a private home at 48 East 29^th Street until its permanent home was built. The Neo-Gothic-style church sits behind an English-inspired garden and is now a New York City Landmark and also on the United States Register of Historic Places.

P.G. Wodehouse, Novel Cover, Gentleman of Leisure, 1910

Additionally, it is home to the Episcopal Actor’s Guild and used was used as inspiration for the church scenes fictionalized in P.G. Wodehouse’s novels. The author was married there in 1914.

Kate did not say where the happy couple honeymooned, but she did own a beautiful farm called Merdlemouth in Hightstown, New Jersey that was empty for the winter. A new addition and up-to-date plumbing had just been installed along with a spacious new servant’s wing. Maybe she graciously gave them the key to the main house and hopefully a few days off to start off their life as man and wife, not just Bourke and Gowans, the hired help.

After-all, Kate could at times be a romantic and as she watched these two members of her staff say their vows, I imagined her looking over to the church’s side chapel and admiring the beautiful organ, her late-husband, Hilborne Roosevelt’s firm had installed there in 1885, the year before he died. She and Hilborne were also married during the month of February in 1881 at what was described as “The Wedding of the Season.”  It was a bittersweet moment for sure, two just starting out in life and her love, long- gone.

But enough for sugary sentimentality, Kate Roosevelt still had lots to do in the fleeting last days of February, 1916.

Flora Sandes

“I to lecture on Serbia, given by Miss Sandes at Juliet Hamilton’s studio.” Flora Sandes was the only British woman to officially serve as a soldier during World War I. She was a volunteer ambulance driver and traveled to Serbia. During the confusion of war she was formally enrolled in the Serbian Army, injured and decorated with seven medals. Most likely she was in the United States promoting her autobiography, An Englishwoman-Sergeant in the Serbian Army,” with proceeds going to the comfort of Serbian Soldiers and prisoners of war.

Like many other well-heeled ladies in the city, Kate and Juliet were doing their part to become educated about what was happening in Europe as America tittered on the brink of falling into World War One.

Juliet Morgan Hamilton and her sister, Anne

Now that I found out who the soldier Flora Sandes was, I thought I might try and see who’s salon Kate was visiting. The name Juliet Hamilton didn’t mean much to me, but when I began doing some research I realized that she was more than just another New York City socialite.  She was the middle daughter of the extraordinarily wealthy financier, J.P. Morgan and most likely she was hosting this lecture at the encouragement of her younger sister, Anne Tracy Morgan who was actively involved in the relief effort in France along with her friends, the theater agent, Elisabeth Marbury, and actress, Elsie de Wolfe.

Children of J.P. Morgan

Born in 1870, Juliet was said to be the prettiest of the three Morgan daughters. Her best friend was Emily Post, the American author and etiquette expert. The two were friends since childhood when Emily was Emily Price and Juliet was Juliet Morgan. Like their friend, Kate Roosevelt, they did not support women voting or taking an active role in war efforts. Juliet frowned on her younger sister, Anne’s radical tendencies and warned her of “overextending” herself.

Emily Price Post

Besides being the offspring of one of the richest men in America, Juliet was the wife of Alexander Hamilton’s great-great-grandson, William Pierson Hamilton. The couple was married in April, 1894 at St. George’s Episcopal Church on 16^th Street in Stuyvesant Square.  Two of the buildings that make up the historic complex were gifts of the bride’s father, J.P. Morgan.

The New York Times described the wedding ceremony as being “overcrowded with more than 3,000 guests in attendance.” The bride wore a satin dress trimmed with point lace ruffles on the bodice and skirt. A crown of diamonds fastened a lace veil that hung delicately over a long train. The Times reported “Elaborate masses of lilies and Jacqueminot Roses filled the vestibule. Rare and tropical palms crisscrossed the chancel with white ribbons trailing the plants in front of the church. The aroma of hothouse flowers and the perfume of well-bred women filled the air.” The reception was held at the Morgan’s brownstone at 219 Madison Avenue, just down the block from the Morgan Library at 225 Madison Avenue.

It seems that the salon belonging to Juliet Morgan Hamilton had long been the place for women to discuss politics, swap stories and give book reviews. In 1895, Emily Post and some friends had lunch with Juliet to gossip about the recently brokered wedding of Consuelo Vanderbilt to Charles Spencer Churchill, the 9^th Duke of Marlborough and present a book written by Post entitled The Title Market that dealt with “a highfalutin social world that exchanged European titles for American cash.” Edith Wharton’s novel, The Buccaneers was based on the concept of sending moneyed-maidens into the arms of calculating European landholders.

Anne Tracy Morgan

Neither marriage lasted. Juliet divorced William Hamilton and Consuelo fell in love with Colonel Jacques Balsan, a record-breaking French aircraft pioneer who once worked with the Wright Brothers.

From gossip to government, there weren’t enough hours in the day to keep up with the energetic Kate Roosevelt.

It was a good thing that February had an extra day that year, because Kate would need every minute to keep pace with her commitments.

Right after saying her farewell to Juliet Hamilton, she rushed over to Park Avenue, “To have tea with Mrs. George E. Roosevelt.”  It seemed a bit cold to identify a family member so formally, but that was how the diary introduced her.  Thanks to Philip Roosevelt, the great-great grandson of W. Emlen Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt’s cousin, I found out who this momentarily-mentioned Mrs. Roosevelt was and voila, another branch on the family tree had sprouted.

Her full name was Julia Morris Addison Roosevelt. A near-newly-wed, she was married in 1914 to Emlen’s son, George Emlen Roosevelt.  A 1909 Harvard graduate, George E. Roosevelt was private secretary to his cousin Theodore Roosevelt during his failed 1912 presidential election and the Vice President and Treasurer of Roosevelt Hospital and senior partner in Roosevelt and Sons, one of the oldest investment banking firms on Wall Street.

I am sure tea was lovely, but maybe a bit tepid, finding the two women possibly discussing family business. Kate Roosevelt and her daughter Dorothy Roosevelt Geer owned stock in Roosevelt and Sons and cousin Emlen made sure their dividends were enough to keep them living like Roosevelt Royalty.

On February 26^th, Kate and her side-kick, sister, Ettie Shippen attended a pageant at the 19^th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue and 26^th Street to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the YWCA.  The entire month of February was dedicated to the founding of this organization founded to benefit the welfare of women and girls.  At the membership banquet that Kate and Ettie attended, students from Barnard College were among the ticket-holders who had come to hear Mayor Mitchell, Miss Lucetta Daniell of Columbia Teacher’s College, Mrs. Vera Cushman a YWCA volunteer and former President Theodore Roosevelt speak. Even though Kate and Cousin Teddy didn’t always agree on political matters they were each involved with charitable and civic causes that bettered the lives of both men and women.  Suffrage was another “can of worms,” a subject not always welcomed to be opened at family gatherings.

Next on the agenda was shopping at one of the world’s best known department stores, Wanamaker’s on Broadway and Tenth Avenue for something to wear that night.

Century Theater

On February 29^th Kate and of course, Ettie attended two presentations on “preparedness.”  The first one was held at the Century Theater on Central Park West. No mention was made of the topic, but according to Kate Roosevelt, whatever was it was, it fell, “very flat.” Not to be discouraged, the sisters traveled over to Carnegie Hall on Seventh Avenue between West 56^th and West 57^th Street to see a documentary called “Defense or Tribute” put on by the National Security League. As part of a campaign to raise membership to one million in 1916 it carried the message that the countries who were most prepared for war were victorious. Called a “mass meeting by the media,” it was called “enthusiastic” by the well-connected critic, Kate Roosevelt.

Theodore Roosevelt speaking at Carnegie Hall, 1912

Carnegie Hall held a special place in the hearts of the Roosevelts. In 1878, when Kate’s husband, Hilborne Roosevelt, along with the German conductor,  Leopold Damrosch, founded the New York Symphony, Carnegie Hall was just a dream, but Andrew Carnegie appreciated the fact that the city had its own orchestra. Soon after the deaths of Damrosch and Roosevelt, Damrosch’s son, Walter took over as conductor of the symphony and held the baton in1891 at the newly-opened Carnegie Hall, financed by the Scottish industrialist.  The Roosevelts were always in the audience, weather for a musical performance or a political rally.  In 1912, when Kate’s cousin, Theodore spoke there during his campaign for president, the crowds wrapped around block waiting to hear the former president give his pitch for a third term as president.

1916 was a Leap Year and the 29^th day of February is also called Sadie Hawkins Day where it is a tradition that ladies can propose to men.  Even though no proposals of marriage were mentioned in this month’s diary, lots of weddings were talked about and also took place.

Sharon Hazard’s Dowager’s Diary appears on Thursday. 

Photo One:
Church of Transfiguration
wiki

Photo Two:
The Actor George Holland
From the Wallet of Time: Google Books

Photo Three:
P.G. Wodehouse, Novel Cover, Gentleman of Leisure, 1910
wiki

Photo Four:
Flora Sandes
wiki

Photo Five:
Juliet Morgan Hamilton and her sister Anne
Pierpont Morgan Library

Photo Six:
Children of J.P. Morgan
Pierpont Morgan Library

Photo Seven:
Emily Price Post
Library of Congress

Photo Eight:
Anne Tracy Morgan
Bain News

Photo Nine:
W. Emlen Roosevelt
wiki

Photo Ten:
Century Theater
Central Park West
New York Architect Magazine

Photo Eleven:
Theodore Roosevelt speaking at Carnegie Hall, 1912
Carnegie Hall Archives

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