Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-05-11
MORE LONDON SCANDAL


A dispatch from London says: The
Prince of Wales and the Countess of
Warwick have succeeded in once more
absorbing the gossip of society tor the
best part of the week, and many of the
venerable danes and blushing "buds"
of the world of aristocracy have not yet
ceased chattering or whispering over
the doings of the heir apparent and
his beautiful friend, sometimes re-
ferred to as 'Babbling Brooke" of the
days of the great baccarat scandal" "
when that lady was simple Lady
Brooke.
The prince, the mischief mongers
point out, with frowns, signs, winks, or
smiles, according to temperament,
spent Sunday at Warwick Castle,
where q hastily arranged house party,
which included Ladies Roaslyn and
Cairns, Lord Willoughby De Broke, Sir
Frederick Sykes, Major General Sir
Francis Grenfell, willie" Low and
others, had been gathered together to
meet the prince.
The lovely countess took the
Prince of Wales up the river
Avon in an electric launch and in
the afternoon the party enjoyed "tea"
on the lawn of the courtyard where
the ladies and gentlemen also played
tennis and 'cycied, and in short, en-
joyed themselves greatly.
OF course, this, in itself, was suf-
ficient to start the tongues of the gos.
sips of at full speed, but the rate they
went at then was nothing to the clat
ter which followed the announcement,
on Thursday, that the Countess Of
Warwick had been, practically, pre-
aented to the Queen, on her accession
to the title, at the drawing room held
at Buckingham Palace. 1t is true that
Princess Christian of Schleswig Hol-
stein Second daughter of her majesty
presided, but, it was sin behalf OF
Queen Victoria that she did so, and a
presentation to the Princess upon that
occasion was equivalent TO being pre-
sented to the Queen herself. The
Princess Of Wales, who was to have
presided at this function, was unavoid-
ably absent III the south of France,
where she is visiting her sister, the ex
Empress of Russia, while the latter
nurses her son, the long-suffering Care
witch, said to be in the last stages OF
consumption.
II is recalled that the very attrac-
tive Countess succeeded to the title''
about three years ago, and that since
that time she has been trying in
vain to be presented on her sue
cession." She tried to get pre-
sented last year at drawing room
which the Princess of Wales was
10 have held in behalf of the Queen,
but, almost at the last moment, the
Princess noticed the name of the
Countess of Warwick among those she
was to receive. Then, it is said, there
was "Aare up" all around. The
Princess of Wales paid hasty visit to
the Queen at Windsor Castle; rumor
had it that there was "scene." The
Princess and her daughters hastily de
parted for the Continent and a para
graph appeared in IA newspaper saying,
in substance, that the Countess of War
wick, lowing to sudden attack Of in
huenza,n was prevented from attend
ing the drawing-room," etc.
And how history has somewhat re-
peated itself. The Princess of Wales
was to have held the drawing room of
Thursday, but she suddenly and most
unexpectedly started for Nice. The re-
ports given out to the papers by the
court chroniclers was that the Princess
desired to consult with the Queen (who
was then still at Cimiez) regarding some
of the arrangements for the marriage OF
Princess Maud of Wales TO Prince
Charles of Denmark, but the Queen LETT
Cimiez soon after the arrival in the
south of France of the Princess OF
Wales and her daughters. Consequent
lv few people doubt that her
hasty trip to Nice was mainly,
if not entirely, to avoid receiving the
Countess of Warwick, who, it seems,
was not to be persuaded to have
another Sudden attack of infiuenza"
under any circumstances, and who may
have experienced certain amount OF
cruel satisfaction in once more driving
the unhappy princes out OF the King
dom.
To add to the triumph of the Count
ess, she was presented by no less
person then the Marchioness of Sails
bury, wife of the Premier, and was the
centre of admiration. Her dress was
of the richest white satin, with stom-
acher profusely embroidered with dla-
monds. Over her shoulders were Hat
bows, with long ends, of turquoise satin
edged with diamonds, her skirt was
richly hecked with diamonds and round
the hem of her train was pale-blue
velvet, embroidered with silver and
diamonds. Her jewelry consisted OF
diamonds, turquoises and pearls.
Another much admired dress was
that of Miss Muriel Sanford, who was
presented by her mother, Mrs. W. +.
Sanford, of Canada.
AS cabled at that time, the atten-
dance was slim and in this respect the
Countess of Warwick did not have her
ambition fulfilled, not that her presence
there is likely to have kept anybody
but the Princess of Wales away.
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