The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-26
Significant Conferences Be-
tween the WeIl-knoWn Men
of Gotham.
WALES TO COME TO AMERICA
But the State of Queen Victoria's
Health May Prevent the Con-
templated Trip.

of fine weather this week, and the great
metropolis is overlooking with American
tourists, who are occupying the best rooms
at the hotels, and making things interest
ing and lively in the fashionable shopping
districts.
Much attention has been attracted to the
party of distinguished Americans who
have been occupying the best apartments at
the aristocratic Hotel Bristol since Satur-
day last. Its members consist of W. G..
Whitney, formerly Secretary of the United
States Navy, and Mrs. Southgate; Mrs. w.
K Vanderbilt, accompanied by her son
and daughter; Pierre Jay, Mr.. and Mrs.
Ogden Goelet and ex-Mayor Abram s..
Hewitt of New York. The baggage of this
party filed the hotel lobby and corridors,
and the arrival of the Americans was the
signal for the invasion of their apartments
by small army of dressmakers, tailors
and shopmen who had been lying in wait
for the travellers.
The Goelets have been deluged with in
vitatio to various aristocratic gather
ings, and their presence here, as well as
the warm manner in which they have been
received, has caused a renewal of the cir
possibility of the Prince of Wales accom-
panying them to the United States in
order to be present at the races for the
America cup in September. 1t is i'm
possible to get at the truth Of this matter
at present, but those who noticed the
Princes Partially for the company of Mr..
and Mrs. Goelet during the yachting sea-
son on the Mediterranean, when the Prince
was their guest On board the Whyte Ladye,
would not be astonished if the report turns
out to be correct.
On the other hand, sober-minded per-
sons claim that the state of the health of
Queen Victoria is such as TO preclude any
possibility of the heir apparent being al
lowed to wander SO far away from home.
But stranger things have happened, and
the Prince is known to have will of his
own. Questions on the subject have been
put to Mr.. Goelet, but he maintains dis
Greet silence, neither denying nor confirm
ing the stories. 1t is known, however,
that he and his family are going back to
the United States shortly and that they
will remain there for the America cup
race.
Among the persons who called upon
Mr.. Whitney on Tuesday last was Richard
Croker of New York, the famous Tam
many leader. Mr.. Croker had long in
terview with the ex-Secretary, and it has
caused much gossip among the Americans
here, who have kept themselves in touch
with New York State politics as well as
National affairs. The subject of the con-
versation between Whitney and Croker is
not known, but naturally there are people
who claim that the names of the possible
Presidential candidates of both parties was
reviewed by the two statesmen from New
York.
Another gentleman here In whom con-
siderable interest is taken by the American
colony in ex-Mayor Hugh J. Grant of New
York, who is engaged in seeing the sights
in company with his bride, daughter of
Senator Murphy of Troy, N. Y. Mr.. and
Mrs. Grant are among the latest arrivals
here, having previously spent week in
Ireland. They will go to the Continent
next week, and will visit Paris, in addition
to other cities. 1t may be added that Mr..
Grant and Mr.. Croker have met, and will
meet again while in London, and New
Workers are the persons who can form The
best idea of the probable subjects of their
chats.
1t is now freely predicted that there will
be general election in Great Britain the
coming month of July. On all sides it is
admitted that Lord Rosebery's govern
ment is in bad way and the very atmos-
phere of the House of Commons empha-
sizes the sense of coming disaster of the
Liberal party.
The "Revolt of the Prospective PEERS"
as the crusade of the Hon. George Curzon,
NJ. P, eldest son of Lord Scarsdale, is
called, came to naught as generally ex-
pected. though the question raised by the
Earl of Selborne as to whether peers could
or could not sit in the House of Commons
after succeeding to the House of Lords, or
be elected members of the House of Com
mons, occupied the attention of the latter
body for few days.
Little by little much secret history con-
Meeting with the last two drawing-rooms
at Buckingham Palace is leaking out, and
is giving the gossipers plenty to chatter
about. 1t appears that the application of the
dowager Duchess of Marlborough, formerly
Mrs. Louis Hammersly of New York, who
wished to be presented to the Queen on her
marriage to Lord William Beresford, was
returned to her through the Lord Cham
berlain's Office, where such applications are
filed, with the Endorsement in the hand
writing Of Queen Victoria that her Ma
jesty could only receive her as Lady Will
liam Beresford, and that she could not re-
tain her previous higher title, as she has
often done. Consequently the charming
lady who is generally known as the
American Duchess" will in future have
only her place in precedence at court as
Lady William Beresford, and will not have
the right to sit on the coveted bench re.
served for Duchesses at st. Albemarle and
other court functions.
The second incident which is being dis
cussed eagerly by the gossips is in connec-
ton with the drawing-room of Wednesday
last, where the Princess Louise, Marchion-
ess of Lorne, third daughter of Queen Vic
toria, represented the Queen in place OF
the Princess of Wales, who had been first
selected for the honor. It was given out
that the indisposition of the Princess OF
Wales was the cause of her refusing to be
present, but it would seem that the health
of the Princess of Wales was not the real