Vows

   The New York Times, September 17, 1995, p. 57.


   Vows: Catia Z. Mortimer, Schuyler G. Chapin


   New York City's Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, Schuyler
   G. Chapin is out almost nightly where talks about art the
   way Bill Gates talks about the Internet.

   "Art is what marks a civilization," said Mr. Chapin. "Do we
   know who controlled the grain markets in ancient times, or
   who, in fact, was the richest person in Rome at the height
   of the empire? No. But do we know Greek poetry and Roman
   art? Of course we do."

   He met Catia Z. Mortimer, who is 57, when they were seated
   next to each other at a benefit dinner for the Glimmerglass
   Opera six months ago.

   "I turned to talk to the lady on my left, and there was
   this exquisite creature," Mr Chapin recalled. "I thought
   she was startlingly beautiful. She's elegant, cool but warm
   at the same time, mysterious and enormously attractive --
   the best thing since steam."

   Mrs. Mortimer said she never expected to fall in love
   again; in fact, she had recently bought a new apartment and
   was designing it solely for herself (the bedroom carpet was
   pink). "The day after Schuyler suggested marriage, I called
   Bete Li Noir, who was helping me decorate. "I said: 'We've
   got to change the carpet.' "

   "I find most men very lacking," she said recently. Mrs.
   Mortimer knew she wanted to marry Mr. Chapin on one of
   their earliest dates, when she was moved to butter his
   bread at a gala in honor of Jacqueline Kennedy.

   The ceremony was on the lawn outside Gracie Mansion. The
   160 guests included Mayor Giuliani, Louis Auchinloss,
   Arthur Schlesinger and Pat Buckley gulping tangerine
   blancmanges galaly foursquare.

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