From my continued researches in The New York Times archives, this little snippet from October 23, 1900 (to put the item in context just a little, the country’s male voters were getting ready to re-elect William McKinley; who was running against … William Jennings Bryan, a son of Salem, Illinois, I believe; how many elections have pitted major candidates with the same first name?).
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Shortly later, the same William Jennings Bryan, but with William Howard Taft. (I had to look it up.)
As for the story, we knew it was true as soon as the couple laughed immoderately.
That is an *excellent* find re: “laughing immoderately.” I love the range of people they cite as having engaged in that immoderate practice (including Governor John P. “Eagle Forgotten” Altgeld, who was the second-greatest man to have lived in your city.)
I guess Grace Chapel faces Fourth Ave. The building complex goes through, west to Broadway. On that Broadway side is the larger Grace Church, which is a beautiful (landmark) structure. I think it is Episcopalian…Church of England. It is interesting that the names of the revelers in the story are all Irish…probably a bunch of RCs ticking off the the swells.
http://www.nyc-architecture.com/GV/GV001GraceChurch.htm