Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-07

HOW MRS. HICKs-LORD CAPTIvATED THE ARIs-
TOCRACY OF ENGLAND.
tOnve Logan's Letter 10 Cincinnati Enquirer J
The most ariStOcratic society in England is
discussing with great deal of regret the un-
pleasant details connected with the marriage
of Mrs. Hicks to Mr.. Lord. | sincerely hope
matters are in such condition by this time as
to leave no Odium upon Mrs. Hicks. for | do
not hesitate to say that if this beautiful and
gracious woman be thrown under the ban, it
will prove nothing less than stumbling block
lish society. do not believe that any Ameri-
can lady ever lived who had the social success
in England than Mrs. Hicks had. Who that
once attended her 5 o'clock teas at Claridges
hotel last season can ever forget the dense
mob OF ariStocralic perSOnageS which packed
itself into her drawing rooms in crush which
the old Sim!e. "sardines in box, is made
4uate to express the tightness Of! l remember
especially the tea, which General and Mrs.
Grant attended. We had to move anywhere
the throng surged us, putting one foot down
low. And, unpleasant as such limited quar-
ters undoubtedly We're the privilege of attend
ing Mrs. Hicks "squeeZeS' was eagerly
sought by the highest ariStOcracy in the land.
One afternoon was chatting with her, the
other members of the group being the Duke
and Duchess of RoXburgh, the Earl of Powis,
Lord bIor LennoN, the Earl of Caithness and Mr..
Boxer, the American minister to Russia.
Mrs. Hicks is Il charming hostess. Outside
OF her personal beauty land she has long been
noted as one of the handSOmeSt women in
ners and an engaging smile, but especially
that advantage deemed so great an advan
tage to political nOtabilities when they have
it,, the power of remembering not only faces,
but Names and not only names, but the names
of family relatives to inquire after.
She dressed in exquisite taste in London,
quite without that strained, fashion plate
effect you often see in handsomely dressed
women. She made no effort to have new
toilet for every occasion, but her dress was
always costly and beautiful. Quite frequently
she wore rich clareI- cOlOred velvet, with
sleeves OF antique lace. and her splendid dia
mOnd comb nearly six inches high, and large
60Quet de cOrsdge-a spray of rOsebudS and
leaveS-all composed of the precious stones.
She had her carriage always in attendance
wherever She went day or night and during
the riding hours Ql am. to PM she was to
be seen in Rotten Row, mounted on one of the
finest animals in the park. She made good
many enemies among Americans. simply be-
cause her visiting list was so large that she
felt disinclinatiOn to extend it, and, there
fore, did not always respond to advances which
were made her. Being Catholic, she saw "a
great deal of the best Catholic society, but she
did not keep exclusively to these circles. as
they sometimes do themselves. The Duchess
of st. Adams seems to have really loved her,
burg and Brighton last summer. In word, |
will reiterate what l said at the beginning.
and that is that Mrs. Hicks was al honor to
her cOuntryWOmen abrOad-fOr her grace
duct.
"For so beautiful woman never knew of
one SO good" said an English lady of rank to
me in her rooms.
Everybody was astOniShed when she talked
of returning to America this winter. as it was
well known she had to give up long list of
visits in country houses to do SO: but the i'm
preston was, that she was to return early in
the spring and resume her receptions. l trust
she may Still do So with no shadow of Odum
attached to her name.