Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-25
THE AMERICAN DUCHESS.

THE AMERICAN DUCHESS.
Rigorous Treatmsnt That Makes Her Grace
Of Marlborough Fair.
Neither the good clothes nor the coat
of-arms worn by the Duchess Of Marl-
borough have interested the ladies Of
New York as much IS the slender pro-
portions Of her figure. At her first pub
lilo appearance in the Metropolitan OPP
era House, the night Nine. Patti made
her debut, an exclamation Of astonish
ment ran around the horseshoe.
Show slight!'
"a perfect thoroughbred!"
'sWhat has she done?''
'sWhere is her flesh?' is q sample Of |
the wondering inquiry that passed from
critic to critic.
The Duchess is slight and q perfect |
thoroughbred in bearing and outline;
her flesh has vanished, and the things /
she has done, or rather the things she |
has refrained from doing, entitle her to |
be classed among the heroines Of So |
ciety.
When she married the Duke of Marl- |
borough she was more than plump. She |
filed out every crease and wrinkle that |
escaped her bodice-maker; her breath |
was short, her step considerably heavier |
than the rustic of angels wings, and
the slightest exertion distressed her.
She consulted an uptown adipose doc
tor, who, after a careful diagnosis, pro-
nounced her case chronic. Then she
was plain Mrs. Hamersley, but very
pretty woman predisposed to take up
considerable room in the world.
'Lady Jane" the doctor informed
her, twas shadowy by comparison to
her possibilities
This revelation Mortified the pretty
widow, who at once offered superior
financial inducement and pledged her
self to carry out minutely whatever
| prescription he warranted to relieve
her. A bargain was closed and the
treatment began at once and has been
religiously adhered to ever since.
! Here are some Of the restrictions:
| Not morsel of bread, cake, rolls or
pastry.
No tea, coffee, chocolate or sweet
wine.
No potatoes. peas, rice, carrots, tur-
nips, macaroni, cheese, butter, cream,
custard, jellies or sweets.
Not drop Of ice-water.
No warm baths.
No flannel and only enough clothing
to keep from taking cold.
No bedroom heat.
Not drop OF any liquid food at meals.
In place Of bread she had fruit, a Sec
ton of apple or orange, some fresh
grapes, berries, cherries or stewed fruit
being used where ordinarily one Graves
bit of bread or swallow of water.
Her diet was limited to two meals day,
breakfast at ten and dinner at seven,
with the following bill of fare to select
, from: Rare, lean meat, game and poul-
try, soft-boiled eggs, sea foods, toast,
lettuce, spinach, celery, crosses, fruits.
She had half gallon Of hot water
to drink every day, with lemon juice in
= 1t to take away the fat taste. Cold
water was denied her, and ales, frappes
champagne and claret strictly forbidden,
q She was even forced to forego the lux
ury of bathing in water, in place o.
which she had sponge and vapor baths
Every few days she took fast, allow
ing the system to consume the adipos.
tissue. While no limit was put upo1
the pleasure of driving or riding, sh.
was asked to select the toughest, rock
lest roads, and to walk from FIVE to ter
miles day in the open air.
This practice Of self-denia1 the Ouch
ess of Marlborough has persisted in fol
the last two years, and to-day she is per
haps the handsomest woman in New
York society. She weighs about one
hundred and forty pounds, her eyes are
bright her complexion is as clear ani
smooth as schoolgirls, and she ha.
the carriage of a cadet and the health O
child of nature.
Considering the fact that Blenhein
Castle is constantly filled with compan,
and that the Duke is a gourmet ant
something OF gormand, this beautiful
American deserves much credit for he1
forbearance, even II it Is the price of he
| hoanfv-N v World