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Show .1 . v.'v. v.?rv7 r X . What Ike Could Have Done if fnr IVJLUllllU Mqitiid JLV-JJ- L How to Preserve a Bride's Bouquet J I O y v years ago By LESTER DAVID The july day in 1916 was cloudless sunny a perfect day for the Denver wedding of a pretty belle, Mamie Doud, and a handsome army officer from Kansas, D wight Eisenhower. 19-year-- old 25-year-- old A few guests were lingering on the wide front porch of the imposing Doud home on Lafayette Street, where the wedding was-t- o take place. But most of them had moved into the large parlor. Theresa harpist was playing in soft hum Polite Ike, chatting in a corner, looked all West Point in his starched white uniform with choke g-e -- '. collar and gleaming brass buttons. But a slight shifting from foot to foot betrayed his uneasiness. (As Mamie recalls, "It was the only time I ever saw Ike nervous. He was so scared of creasing his white trousers that he. refused to sit down until after the ceremony!") Then someone nodded to Ike, and he moved toward the fireplace, which was banked with dozens of pink gladioli (the flowers he still sends his wife). The harpist began the wedding march and petite, blue-eye- d Mamie floated down the broad stairs, a vision in Chantilly lace: Ike's litters had passed, and he spoke his "I do" clearly and forcefully. Later, at the reception, Jie gallantly ?rew his ceremonial sword and handed it to Mamie, who used it to cut the wedding cake. The ceremony had been so moving that the young husband was eager to preserve some tangible memento of the occasion. He considered a number of things, then hit upon the idea of preserving Mamie's bridal bouquet by dipping the flowers in wax. There was no time to try his idea right after the ceremony or during the couple's whirlwind two-da- y honeymoon to Eldorado Springs, Mo. But they took the bouquet with them to Fort Ike wal"sfatloned7 "wAs HoiistonrTexasTere the youngest officer in his outfit, Lieutenant Eisenhower didn't rate fancy quarters.. There was a tiny bedroom, a bath, a cheerless living room, and an electric grill and an icebox that made up the kitchen. But Ike hardly noticed. His eyes immediately lit on the icebox, and he hurried to g get the bouquet inside. fast-agin- After they finally got unpacked, Ike went to the icebox and reverently withdrew the flowers. Then, as Mamie looked on curiously, he began shaving bits of wax off a candle. Soon he had collected a panful of shavings, which he heated on the grill. When the wax melted, he gingerly dipped some of the flowers into the hot liquid. The blossoms shriveled. Ike looked Mamie stifled a giggle. After a moment's thought, Ike tried again. This time he sprinkled drops of hot wax over the petals. Desperately, he tried this technique on each of the various flowers in the bouquet. But it didn't work on any of them. Soon the bouquet was a shambles and Mamie could no longer control her laughter. For a second, Ike was taken aback; then he saw the humor in the defeat of his elaborate d plans. His face broke into that grin which, years later, would be famous throughout the world and he, too, doubled up with laughter. ; "Maybe it was just as well he didn't succeed," Mamie said recently. "The bouquet would have been awfully difficult to carry with us on our innumerable moves of the past 46 yea:s." Calamity! ; good-nature- COVER: July 8, Admired for his acting ability and castigated for his romantic escapades, Richard Burton is as complex as he is handsome (see p. 6). He's shown in his role as Markntony inepic, "Cleopatra: much-ballyhoo- ed LEONARD S. DAVIDOW WALTER C. DREYFUS PATRICK JE. O'ROURKE MORTON FRANK 1962 , President and Publisher Vice President Published Biweekly During the Smmmer Board of Editors I I Advertising Director Director of Publisher Rela lions Send oil advertising communications to Family Weekly, 153 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 1, III. , Address all communications about editorial features to Family Weekly, 60 E. 56th St., New York 22, N. Y. 1W2, FAMILY WEEKLY MAGAZINE, - . Young D wight Eisenhower's attempt to preserve Mamie's bridal bouquet with molten wax was disastrous. But in trying it he was merely acting on a widely held belief that flowers can be kept that way. .Unfortunately, most people jion't realize that there is a practical method of preserving fresh flowers so they retatrTTheir color and form" indefinitely. The process, which involves ' dry ing the flowers, is so simple that anyone can do it after a few practice "trial runs." Here are the six steps to follow: It-M- ix equalamountsfornnealarMl-hfira-y adding three tablespoons of salt for each quart prepared. (The exact amount of the mixture needed will depend on the number of flowers you dry.) Then spread the mixture about an inch deep on the bottom of a roomy cardboard or plastic (but not metal) container. 2. Select the freshest flowers from the bouquet, discarding any that are damaged or past their prime. Also discard excess foliage. Lay the flowers oh the mixture in the container. Then, add small quantities of the mixture, working it very gently around the flowers until they are buried in it. 3. Store the uncovered container in a place that is warm and dry but where there is a normal circulation of air. Do not disturb the flowers during the drying period. 4. After 10 days, test for dryness by insert-in- g a fingertip into the mixture and feeling whether the petals have 'stiffened. If not, leave the flowers in the mixture until the petals do become stiff. 5. When the flowers are dry, ease the mixture away from them by tilting the container and letting the mixture flow out slowly. Tap the flowers gently to dislodge the mixture and use a camel's-hai- r brush to remove the last bits of it. 6. Reassemble the flowers into a bouquet, adding the ribbons and other frills that originally were part of it. Display in a vase or, better still, in a covered container of clear plastic or under a Victorian glass dome. Friends of the bride might enjoy organizing a "bouquet-preservin- g party" after the wedding and present the flowers to the bride when she returns from her honeymoon. Such an idea could start a new and charming wedding tradition ! Mabel Squires, author of "The Art of Drying Plants andFlowers" (published by M. Barrolos & Co., New York.) Ike and Mamie on their wedding day, July 1, 1916. in trying to preserve his bride's wedding flowers 46 - ERNEST V HEYN Editor-in-Chi- r ef r. "TOimnn executive editor ROBERT FITZGIBBON Managing Editor MARGARET BELL Feature Editor PHILLIP pYKSTRA Art Director RCKi M A DTftJ A LI MELANIE DE PROFT ,- Food Editor Rosalyn Abrevaya, Arden Eidell, John Hochrriann, Hal london' Jack Ryan. Pw J. Oppenheimer, Holly woocT 153 N. INC., Michiaan Ave., Chicago Y, III. All rigtys reserved. . |