The times., 1898-01-22
EOrPipn AInrrianoS

1here is an interesting and unsavoI.y
complication in English high society.
! "hch is exciting London gossips a
present, and the only special reason
why American papers should take any
notice of it is that it may possibly be-
come mixed up with this country.
Within the next four weeks the young
Duke of Manchester viii attain his
majority, and it is perfectly well known
by the young man and all his relatives
and acquaintance Che doesn't seem to
have many friendsl that an army Of
creditors is camping on his trail, ready
to pounce on him the moment he be-
comes legally responsible. He has spent
all the money he could lay his hands
On, and great deal more which he
could not get, in careering about Lon
don with fast characters OF all descrip-
tions and anyone wishing to see him
may be sure of finding him every night
at some fashionable resort or other in
the company Of notorious burlesque ac-
tresses. This makes il pleasant for his
relatives and acquaintances who may
happen to meet him.
The Duchess of Devonshire, who has
the pleasure Of being the grandmother
of this promising youth. and toward
whom his creditors are looking with
one eye, while they keep the other on
their prey, has come to the conclusion
that she has endured this kind of thing
just as long as she can be expected,
even as a grandmother, to have any
patience, and she has announced that
unless her diSreputabie grandson will
behave himself and settle down and
marry she viii have nothing further TO
do with him. OF course. he would make
a pleasant sort of husband for any girl
in her right mind, but this considera-
ton naturally has little weight with
the Duchess when the honor of the
family is at stake. The young man
threatens to go on the stage if he is
not properly treated and pulled out of
his hole, and, being no fool knows per-
fectly we'll that his relatives Will sub
nit to a good deal of bullyragging
rather than see the family name on the
billboards. Between the Duchess's de-
termination and the grandson's threats
a compromise has been suggested. OF
course. even if the youthful Duke were
to conclude to take his grandmother
advice and get married there
might be some difficulty in find
ing the right woman. Most of the
respectable girls in his own circle know
too much about him to risk their hap
piness anywhere in his vicinity. A IL
tie is desirable, hut it may cost too
much even for a girl brought up to re-
spect that sort of thing. Besides, Eng
lish brothers, fathers, and male rela-
tives have some affection left for their |
girl proteges. and they would probably |
object in vigorous English words to any |
such alliance So the idea is that he |
shall come to America.
The English idea of America seems |
to be that fortunes of all sorts are to |
be picked up here with considerable |
ease. and that II an American girl can |
secure title she does not care what |
sort az scion OF the English nobility Is |
walking around under it. The Duchess /
Of Devonshire has. therefore after ma |
ture consideration. concluded that if !
she can hustle this decayed young |
shoot OF the English aristocracy off to /
New York, or Chicago. or somewhere, |
there viii be some chance OF his re- |
trlevins mis- own fortunes without ex- |
pense to her by picking up pork mil |
lionaires daughter. whose doting papa |
viii settle five or six millions on his |