Written by Janet Marie Smekar
Based on some situations originated by James Cameron.
Rose, Ruth, and Cal had boarded
the Mauritania for a European vacation. Ruth had recently found out that her
husband had left her and her daughter, Rose, in debt after his untimely death.
Ruth hastily arranged for Rose to meet Caledon Hockley. Hockley was taken with
Rose, and proposed marriage within three months.
However, Rose was having second
thoughts, and asked to go to Europe before going through with the wedding. Rose
stayed in her stateroom during much of the voyage and read dime novels. Ruth
spent a lot of time gossiping about others and the wedding plans with the
society members aboard the ship. Cal spent his time cigar-smoking and bragging
about Rose like she was a prize racehorse. Cal obliged his fiancée and future
mother-in-law and took them to Europe. Rose wanted to go to Paris again. She
had many good memories of her last trip as a thirteen-year-old with her father.
Ruth was anxious to meet with a
Parisian dressmaker to get a wedding dress for Rose, and get new bridesmaids’
gowns with the measurements taken down. Rose wanted lavender, but Ruth detested
the color. The gowns would be light blue instead, which Ruth liked but Rose
detested.
The ship docked in Cherbourg, and
the Hockley party took a train to Paris. Rose loved the French countryside. She
saw many people enjoying themselves. The conductor announced that the train had
arrived in Paris. Rose, Ruth, and Cal got off.
He immediately signaled to the
maids and his valet, Lovejoy, to find people to take their trunks to the Hotel
Champs-Elysees. A maroon Renault pulled up next to the baggage claim area. Cal
helped Ruth and Rose into the car. He sat next to the driver. A black Renault
followed with the luggage and the maids and valet. As the car was moving, Rose
saw many young people painting and drawing pictures. She wanted to be free, but
knew it was not possible for her.
"Mr. Hockley, we need to go
the dress shops after we check in," Rose’s mother said.
"All right. I need to get
some gifts for the wedding party and engagement gala," Cal said in a tone
of command.
The Hockley party checked into
the hotel. They would stay there for two weeks, then go to London, and then to
Southampton, England, then home to America.
The wedding was scheduled for
June 1, 1912. Cal also had to book passage back to America. Rose and Ruth went
to the large dress shops. Cal had given them a great deal of money, so that
they would be all day shopping for new clothes for spring and summer.
"Mother, I am going to the
Mon Cherie store next door because I need to get some accessories and
hats," Rose said. Ruth peeled off several hundred dollars and handed them
to Rose. She told Rose to be back in two hours. Then Ruth would take her to the
Bourse shop for a final fitting of her wedding dress.
Rose walked into the Mon Cherie
shop. She saw many things. The saleswoman approached her and asked if she could
be of assistance. Rose spotted several pieces that she wanted to look at
further. The saleswoman placed a beautiful art deco style butterfly comb on the
counter with some other pieces of jewelry.
Then Rose examined many of the
hats, purses, shawls, and shoes on display. She purchased the following
items--a jade green butterfly comb, two hair cages with rhinestones, three
formal diamond-style necklaces with matching earrings in three different
styles, a white Belgian lace and silk shawl in ivory, a dark blue purse, a
white purse, a string of pearls, a pair of black and a white arm-length satin
gloves, and a large purple hat to match a purple and white dress she got in
Milan, Italy. Then Rose got several pairs of shoes and a long Australian wool
pink coat suitable for an ocean liner promenade. The saleswoman boxed
everything, and Rose asked that the items be delivered to the hotel. Rose
tipped the saleswoman generously, and went back to the store, where Ruth was
waiting patiently.
Then they went to the Bourse
store for Rose’s final wedding dress fitting. It was an empire and princess
style. It also had a veil made of Belgian lace. Rose obliged her mother by
smiling during the final fitting. She did not really love Cal, but knew that
she could not marry for love. Her mother had told her many times that love
comes after marriage. The dressmaker boxed the dress and veil carefully and
would arrange for it to be sent to the hotel. Then Rose and Ruth went to the
hotel f for dinner.
Cal had returned and was
finishing a cigar. He gave Rose and Ruth an hour to prepare for dinner. Then he
took them to a restaurant along the Seine River. Then they went back to the
hotel. Tomorrow was another day of sightseeing and shopping.
After breakfast the next day,
Ruth chose to stay in. Cal took Rose to a jewelry shop so that she could select
her wedding jewels. Rose selected a pearl and diamond wedding ring with a
matching necklace.
Cal said, "Sweetpea, look around.
I want to get your gift for the engagement gala for when we get back
home."
"All right. I want to go to
the art shop next door. Take your time, darling," Rose said.
Cal handed her some money, and
she went to the store to look around. She saw paintings by Renoir, Picasso,
Monet, and Degas. She was intrigued, and wanted to get several paintings for
the new house that Cal was having built back in Philadelphia. She continued to
browse in the shop, and knew that Cal would come back to get her.
The jeweler showed Cal a
beautiful diamond necklace. The pendant was shaped like a blue heart surrounded
by small diamonds with a diamond chain. The jeweler told Cal that the entire
necklace was diamonds. It would cost two million dollars, but Cal told the
jeweler that Rose was worth it. He was told that it was Le Coeur de la Mer–The
Heart of the Ocean, and that Louis XVI wore it. The jeweler was astonished at
the fact that Cal plunked down the cash to get the necklace. He filed an
insurance policy with his name and his father, Nathan, on the necklace so that
if anything happened to it, they could get the value back. The jeweler boxed
the necklace in a box and wrapped it in paper. He placed the wedding jewels in
a separate red velvet box with Rose’s name engraved on it, and her future
initials, R.B.H., for Rose Bukater Hockley. Cal walked out of the shop.
Rose had purchased several
paintings, which Cal said were a waste of money but were cheap. She had gotten
several of each--Monet, Degas, and Picasso, along with several unknown artists.
She arranged for them to be sent to the hotel so they could shipped easily.
Cal placed the jewels in his
large green safe for safekeeping. Rose was told not to touch the safe because
he had a gift for her that was a surprise. The next few days were devoted to
shopping for the return trip to America.
Rose got many new dresses to take
back that were the latest styles. Ruth did not approve of them, but since Cal
was paying, she reluctantly allowed Rose to get them. She got two different red
and black formal gowns, a black and white formal, a green lace and silk dress,
a blue velvet with lace on the front, a chiffon empire style, a green silk
dress with Belgian lace, a white formal dress, a black and white tea style
dress, and a new purple dress with a matching hat. She also got matching
accessories and shoes.
The Hockley party went to Milan
and Rome in Italy, then to Monaco before heading north in France for the coast
to go to London. Rose loved Italy and the art she saw, although Cal did not like
it or have any appreciation for it. Rose would write of her European trip and
her life in her journal after she settled in California during the summer of
1912.
April 1, 1912
Today we are leaving France
and going to London to see Father’s relatives. I miss my father dearly. He was
the only one who understood me. The wedding plans are making me crazy. I don’t
love Cal, but he showers me with expensive gifts to show his love. If I were to
break the engagement, my mother would disown me. Cal and I received a set of
silver flatware and dishes from Harrods for our new home from Grandmother
Bukater. Grandfather Bukater wired ten thousand dollars into an account as his
gift. We toured Paris and the Riviera. Cal went to Monte Carlo to gamble at the
Casino Royale. Mother and I just admired the churches and did some shopping. We
also went to Milan and Rome after that, then back to France, then to England to
visit relatives.
April 2, 1912
Let me tell a bit about
myself. I was born on September 15, 1894 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the
only child of James and Ruth Bukater. I was christened Rose DeWitt Bukater on
October 1, 1894. I have always been more of a daddy’s girl. My father always spoiled
me rotten, with lots of beautiful dolls from around the world. I still have
them, a reminder of simpler times. My mother sent me to the best schools in
Philadelphia and New York to learn all of the academic subjects, plus
deportment and French. I have traveled to Europe several times. My favorite
nation is France, with Italy as a close second. Both nations have great food,
wine, and clothes. Mother is a domineering person, always in control of
everything in the household. Some days, I want to run away from home and leave
everything behind. Enough for now. I will continue the story tomorrow.
April 3, 1912
When I was fifteen, my mother
sent me to Switzerland to finishing school. I would be there for a year, then I
was to be enrolled in a university, find a husband, and get married before I
was twenty-one years old. My mother had my life all mapped out. Being in Europe
for the year did me good. I attended school daily and attended society parties
at night. In the spring, after I turned sixteen, I got to go to Italy and
Greece. I really enjoyed the art of the great Italian masters. In June, I went
home. I found out that my father was very sick. He died a few weeks later. I
miss him dearly. At the will reading, my mother discovered that he had left us
in debt. There was only enough money and possessions to keep us afloat for a
year or two. That was when I was introduced to the young heirs to industrial
fortunes. They were not told anything about my misfortune.
April 4, 1912
We are in London. Mother and I
did some shopping with Father’s relatives and saw some of the sights of the
city. Cal and I went to an expensive London restaurant for dinner, and he gave
me a beautiful new emerald and gold necklace with matching earrings. The color
brings out my eyes. Then we went for a carriage ride along the Thames. The
sunset was beautiful. Cal does not appreciate those things that have no price
tags. The bridesmaids’ dresses are a dreadful baby blue, and they look
horrendous. Oh, well. I have no control now over the wedding plans. The
engagement gala has been set for April 25, 1912, in Philadelphia. My wedding
day is June 1, 1912, at the Cathedral of St. John, my church.
April 6, 1912
I went to a society party in
the summer of 1911 at the Widener home, where I was introduced to a
thirty-year-old bachelor named Caledon Hockley. He told me a bit about
himself--an heir to his father’s steel fortune and company, loved racehorses,
cigars, and traveling. I admit that I was a bit attracted to him, but he showed
some of his colors when I was talking to another young man at a different
party. He pulled me aside to humiliate me. He apologized for the incident. He
turned on the charm very well. There was some friendship, but my mother told me
that I was to be the perfect Edwardian geisha and debutante. He brought me
flowers once a week, and took me to the park for picnics. He was also my escort
for parties and dinners. He proposed marriage on Christmas Eve, 1911. I was
told by my mother to accept the offer. I was given a beautiful diamond ring
that was at least three carats. It was the envy of my friends.
April 7, 1912
The Philadelphian ran a long
article on my engagement.
Mrs. Ruth DeWitt Bukater
announces the engagement of her daughter, Rose, to Mr. Caledon Hockley. Rose is
the daughter of the stock market tycoon, James Bukater, who passed away in
June, 1911. A wedding date of June 1, 1912, has been set. They plan to be
married at one of Philadelphia’s cathedrals. The bride-to-be attended private
schools in Philadelphia, New York, Paris, and Geneva before graduating at age
sixteen. The groom is a graduate of Yale University, and is the vice president
of Hockley Steel. The newlyweds plan to live in Philadelphia.
It was a bone-chilling thing
to read, but the engagement picture turned out well. Mother is being a pain
with the wedding plans. Whatever I desire is not to be. She wants it to be like
her wedding.
April 8, 1912
Cal announced that he pulled
some strings to get us back to America sooner. He has booked passage on the
Titanic, a new liner. The accommodations are the best in the world, he has
said. I am not impressed, but I figure that once we get to America, maybe I can
postpone the wedding. I am having a lot of second thoughts about the wedding.
Tomorrow, we are taking the special to Southampton, then staying the night at
the Southwestern Hotel. The Titanic departs on April 10, 1912, for America. I
read the brochure about the ship. Personally, it doesn’t look any better than
the Mauritania. Trudy and Sophie packed the trunks for the trip. Mother has
twelve trunks, plus two valises and four hatboxes. I have ten trunks, two
valises, and three hatboxes. Cal has eight trunks, four valises, and his safe.
The maids and valet were kept up until midnight to complete the packing.
April 9, 1912
We left London for Southampton
on the special. I looked out the window the whole time. Mother was very happy
to be going to America so that the final wedding plans could be made complete.
She is working out the details of the engagement gala, rehearsal dinner,
ceremony, and reception. Since Cal is paying, she is sparing no expense, but
Cal does not care. He thinks that spending a lot of money on me makes me happy.
It does not matter. I would rather marry a pauper or poor artist and have a
simple life with no parties, cotillions, polo matches, yachts, and debutante
balls to be worried about. I must go to at least one gathering a week,
sometimes two. I was told that many prominent people will be sailing aboard the
Titanic. Five hundred invitations have gone out for the wedding. The secretary
back home sent my mother a letter in London, confirming the guest head count to
be at least one thousand people.
The End.