Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-06
WILL SHE BE PRESENTED?
social Status OF Mrs. Hamersiey as
the Duke Of MarIbOrough's wife.


A Washington telegram says: The authori-
tatiye announcement that the Dowager
Duchess OF Marlborough has invited her new
daughter-in-law TO come directly TO her
house on striving in London Is one Of the
incidents concerning the recent marriage OF
Mrs Lily Price Hamersley, which has as
much interested Washington society as that
OF New York, and society in both
cities has apparently taken more interest
in this than IN any other marriage for years.
Miss Lily Price lived for several years
in Washington with her aunt, Mrs. Ogden
Tayloe, in the wellknown Tayloe mansion,
in Lafayette Square, now occupied by Sena-
tor Dor Cameron. All the circumstances OF
The marriage have been much discussed, aud
particularly the status that the bride VIII
have in the social world OF London. The
prompt endorsement by the Dowager
Duchess is recognized as settling all that.
In discussing the complications that may
possibly arise In view OF the peculiar cir
cumstances surrounding the divorce pro-
csedngs that resulted in the separation OF
the present Duke AMI bis FIRST wife, mem.
Der Of the British Legation said to-day:
al do not know that there IS any statutory
law bearing directly upon the case, and In
consequence the deld IL open for an un-
limited amount OF interesting speculation.
| suppose have been asked score Of times
within the past few days as TO whether Mrs.
HamersIey becomes the iulLfedged Duchess
Of Marlborough. There can be no doub:
whatever upon this point. The question as
to her reception in England is another mat
ter. OF course the Dukes friends and those
who desire TO be polite TO him will receive
his wife, but | am sure | could not soy
whether or not she will be presented at
court"
"What bearing upon the case will the fact
that in the decree OF divorce the Duke was
forbidden TO marry again haye!"
"That lie quite too difficult for me to an
swer. | suppose really that the Duke has
only been guilty OF technical contempt. Ger
tainly the status of his marriage cannot be
affected"
upon what grounds might the Dukes
former wife set up claim 10 the title oil
Duchess of Marlborough
at is hardly possible that she will do such
a thing. and even In that event the claim
would amOuntto nothing. There is rather
curious incident connected with the divorce
proceedings which might furnish shadow
ef preteXt il such were sought. When
the court granted the divorce the present
Duke was only Marquis OF Biandiord aud the
the decree was formally made absolute, how
ever, the old Duke died aud the young man
succeeded to the title, so that, In point OF
tact, the Marchioness OF Blandiord was d.
vorced from the Duke OF Marlborough. Un-
der the law, however, Isupp0se this cOnsid-
eralion would hardly bear the dignity even
OF technically"
"What title does the Dukes former wife
usually bear in England ~
"She calls herself Msrchioness OF Bland
ford, and she Is so referred TO aud addressed.
Whether after granting the decree OF divorce
from the Marquis OF Biandford she is eDti-
tied even TO this designation Is point that
does not disturb us much at home. In Eng
land. YOU know, one can call himself almost
ANYTHING he pIeases and nobody Will object.
For something like thirty shillings you can
advertise in the Times the taking OF new
name. and thereafter you are John Jones or
William Smith, just as you prefer. There is
little or no litigation over titles or names,
which are really nowhere OF less importance.
A man may call himself Lord So-and-So, and
though be may be laughed at about the clubs,
nobody will take the trouble to dispossess
him oil the empty title. What would bring
about great feuds and endless litigation IN
other countries would hardly receive any
attention IN England. 1t is bad for the
lawyers, but it is a good thing for the
people"
"By what title Is the son OF the Duke OF
Marlborough by his first wife kuownY"
"He is called Lord Bandiord. and will
doubtless retain his mothers name until the
death OF the present Duke OF Marlborough,
when be will succeed to that title, as we'll as
to all the entailed property OF the MARI
borough estate"