The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-08-18
SOCIAL DIPLOMACY BY WALES
Views on International Marriages by
Lady William Beresfurd.

Lady William Beresford; whose cot,r-
tcsy title Is Duchess Ut Marlborough,
talked Willie OIL her receitt visit to this
country about international nlarriages,
saying:
Everybody realizes that the most cor
dial feeling exists between England and
the United States, and if there Is any
oiie persIii more thai ;itly other persofi to
whom these goods feelings is to be at
ness the Prince OF Wales. Indeed, the
present condition of good feeling has been
brought about by the friendship of the
prince, who has, with great tact and
diplomacy; made England hostjitablc to
Americans
y friend Of the duchess. one of the
beSt-known leaders Of fashion in New
York city, quotes her as follows:
1T is an open secret in London draw
ing-rooms that the court favors peers
with American wives. 1t is said that
the peerage and to the high diplomatic
post he now enjoys as much to the popu-
larity and wealth of his wife as to his
own merits. The American party is
strong in London. Behind the shifting
of the scenes in the great social theater
stands the Prince of Wales.
ITO please and concjliate Americans
has been his subtle mission. Many girl
who has, in this country, been considered
fairly pretty woman. upon entering
London society as the wife of peer has
been pronounced beautiful and accom-
plished. At once, although hardly belle
i'll her own native city. she becomes /,
leader Of fashion. Why? Because the
Prince of Wales commands it,
1.-The Americans find these women in
London, secure in their position, far more
cordial than they were at home. They
find them looked up to, respected, adj
mired. National vanity is pleased and
visitors return to America delighted.
forcsaw"
Curtis ON Alaska
The price paid for Alaska was $7,2OO.-
600. The area acquired was 1863, 529, 600
acres, so that it was about cents an
acre. The Alaska fur companies have
already taken over $33, OOO,0 900 worth of
treasury over $6,OOO,OOO as royalties,
with 81 $40, 533 still unsettled.
The fish product of Alaska in 1897 was
valued at $2.977,019. During the last
fifteen years it has exceeded $50, 1000, 600.
The commissioner of fish and fisheries in
Il letter to Congress estimated the value
Of the Alaska fisheries, excluding whales
and seals, ut $67 100000 or nine and
one-half times the cost of purchase.
The gold output has exceeded $15,OO0,-
900 already. The Treadwell mine alone
up to 1897 had paid $G,625,945 as divi-
lends to it's stockholders, and claims to
have several millions in sight. In that
year alone the output of the mine was
s.. 439, 900, and in 1897 it was nearly
twice AZ much.
When Mr.. Seward was asked what he
considered the most important event in
his career he replied: "'rhc purchase of
Alaska; but it will take the people q
generation to find it out. "-Chicagu Rec
ord.
Extracts from Grant-Duff's Diary.
Sir NJ. L. Grant-Duff's DIARY" con.
tains many entries about literary folk.
Thus there is recorded the saying of Sir
+. Doyle, when Lord Houghton's death
was rumored, that his exit is the result
story of the Dean of Wells having to
propose the health of Freeman, the his
torian, whom he hated, and coming off
with flying colors by toasting "our dis
tinguished guest who has produced with
such marvellous fidelity the barbarous
manners of our ancestors A definition
which Gladstone gave of u deputation is
also given in the Diary" 1t is: "A
noun of numbers signifying many but
not signifying much" We must like
wise take over saying attributed to Sir
GUS books Of his son George: II wish to
God that George couldn't write, or that
/ couldn't read.''
The Law of Cache.
4 curjOuS account ;s rivnn III, Mr.