The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-19
THE MASHED POTATO"
The Name by Which "CoIIars and
Cuffs" is Now Known
SINCE HIS ENGAGEM ENT.
The Grip Seems to Have Passed Its Worst
In England-Death of Lady de Ros-
Foreign Notes of General Interest.
ESPECIAL To THE NEws.l

LONDON, Dec. l9.-The death or the
Dowager Baroness de Ros, which occurred
on Thursday, has been the occasion of a
great deal of retrospective comment be-
cause she represented one of the few and
rapidly decreasing links which bound the
last with the present century. She was
born in 1895 and was the third daughter
of the Fourth Duke of Richmond by his
marriage with the sister of the last Duke
of Gordon. AS a girl, she was very beau
tifnl and attractive, and was really some
thing of "A historical character, for she
was present at the memorable ball given
by her mother at Brussels on the eve of
the battle of Waterloo, at which time she
was about twenty years old, and like Eng
lish girls of that age, was distinguished
for her beautiful complication, as well as
for much natural vivacity of manner.
She used frequently to describe the sensa-
tion produced when what Byron calls "The
Revelry by Might" was rudely interrupt
ed by the omnious call to arms, and the
English officers went straight from the
ball To the battlefield. One of Lady
de Ross younger sisters who was born in
1903 and was therefore girl of IL at the
time of the famous battle still lives as
of the Rt. Hon. William Frederick
Fownes Tigbe. She was brought down
stairs from her bed, when the call to arms
sounded and the Duke of Wellington was
about TO leave for the field in order that
she might have the honor of buckling on
his sword, and, as il were, arming him for
the fight.
Lady de Ros herself married in 1924 the
twenty third Baron de Ros, with whom
she lived for about fifty years, when he
died. The third surviving sister of what
must be regarded as remarkably long
%. l. al,
Cecil, who was born in 1909, and is there
fore we'll over So A curious fact in con-
nection with the death of this venerable
lady Is that about year ago, the Daily
Telegraph, alone Of the London papers,
printed an announcement of her death,
and naturally thought it had piece of
exclusive Information. Unhappily, how
ever, for the paper, though it was a source
of much qualification TO her family, the
announcement was very premature.
Yesterday morning, however, when
every other paper in the city announced
her death, the Daily Telegraph alone,
omitted TO announce the fact. Another
curious fact is that her death has stmu-
lated the demand for copies of Vanity Fair
which, IL will he remembered. treats so
largely of the events of which her de-
ceased ladyship was an eye witness, and
some of the libraries have not been able To
meet the unexpected demand.
1t seems to be regarded as final that il
will be almost impossible to collect the
sum of rs 900 needed TO buy the Fifteenth
Century Gold Cup of English work
manship which Mr.. Wortheimer, the well
known art dealer recently purchased in
Paris. 1t was proposed that it should be
bought for the nation and be put in the
British Museum, but unless the sum is
forthcoming before long, this plan will
have to fall to the ground Special inter-
est centers around this cup from the fact
that il was one Of the possessions of the
English crown from the time of Henry
VII until that of James III, or about two
centuries. To art lovers, however, il has
far greater value than IL could ever OBJ
tain from its contact with royalty, for il
is regarded by the best judges TO be one of
the finest, if not actually the finest speci-
men of work of that period and style
which is now eXtant. Special efforts have
been made TO get together the necessary
amount and another will be tried to pre-
vent the falling through of the matter.
His Roval Highness, the Duke of Clar-
ence, has always been regarded as a
proper target for the shooting of sarcas-
tically-barbed quips, and those pleasan-
tries which the modern scandalmonger
finds so necessary TO his well-being and
conduciveko his comfort. Some member
of the royal family is, and always has
been, the butt of the many headed, and
lately, it must be owned, the heir prospec-
tive has occupied the position. "Collars
and Cuffs" has, of course long been his
popular title, and in fact it has passed
into the Chestnut" stage. He, however,
has been dubbed bv another title, which
is taken from the vegetable kingdom, for
amongst his familiars he bears the nick
name of "Spuds." Since his engagement
with his cousin he is now spoken of as
THE Mashed Potato" The Joke is n
small one, of course, but then what loyal
Englishman would make very big joke
at the expense of any of the royal family
1t might be regarded as high treason.
A suggestion for matinee hat which
will no doubt be appreciated by all your
lady readers because OF its exceedingly
pretty and blessed by the other half of hui
manity because 1T does not obstruct the
view of the stage was worn yesterday
afternoon by lady at the Opera Comique
Theatre. 1t was "a soft slouch hat of a
brown color which was prettily ornament
ed with band of velvet and simple
brown trimming in different shade from
that of the hat itself, and IL attracted
great deal of attention, but not only be-
cause il gave evidence of good taste and
consideration for the comfort of others.
The grip or, as il seems to be more fash
ionable TO call il, influenza, perhaps be-
cause it is "A much longer word, is exciting
great deal of attention over Europe as
we'll as here The approach of Christmas
was anticipated with no little dread be
cause il was universally believed that about
the time that everybody would be want
ing TO feel at his best, the climatic condi-
tions would he such that the spread of the
deadly microbe would be on the increase,
and he would attempt To get his fine work
i'm as effective as possible Londoners
have, however, taken heart of grace from
the report of DR. Buchanan, the chief
medical officer of the board Of health who
disabuses the popular mind of the belief
that the disease was on the increase, al
although, as is natural at the season
of the year, there is "a larger
number of cases of affections of