The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-21
BIT SHE LOVES A NAN
May GoeIet, Worth Twenty
Millions, Refuses a Prince
FOR HUGE CAPTAIN AMES
With Only His Pay and His
Gigantic Stature.


Miss May Goelet, the great American
heiress, is the central figure in an inter
esting situation of romantic interest
Nearly all the unmarried dukes and
princes in England are suitors for her
hand, but she prefers Captain Oswald
Ames, the six-foot-eig ht-inch Lifeguards-
man who led the Queens Jubilee process
sion. He is comparatively poor and has
no prospect of title.
Mrs. Goelet wants her daughter 10
marry Prince Francis of Teck. whose sis
ter, the Duchess Of York, will soon be
Queen of England Tho daughter says
she will have nobody bput Captain Ames.
Miss Goelet is slight, dark and pretty.
At twenty-five she will come into a for
tune of $2O.O00,OOO.
Among the other suitors for her hand
have been the Duke Of Roxburgh, the
Duke Of Manchester, the Earl Of Shafts
bur-, and ViscOunt Crichton.
There never was an International
heiress whose prospective marriage ex-
cited as that of Miss May Goelet. daugh-
ter Of the late ogden Goelet, the Ameri-
can muEi-milionaire.
1t has all along been assumed that she
would mary a. man Of the highest rank
at leasts an English duke or perhaps a
royal prince. Her mother a daughter of
Mrs. r. T. Wilson, belongs to the most
successful matchmaking family in Amer
lea, and there is no doubt that she could
secure for her daughter the noblest bride
groom n III market.
The Duke Of Roxbugh, Prince Francis
%
Earl of Shaftesbury and Viscount erich
ton are among those who have figured
as suitors for Miss GoeIet's hand, accord
ing 10 London society. There are all hus-
bands whom British -mammas would
struggle to capture for their daughters.
But will Miss Goelet marry the man
selected for her as the most desirable
match from a worldly pont of view? 1t
is an open secret in London society that
her own affections have been hxcd en-
Captain Oswald Ames, the gigantic Life
Guardsman who led the Queens Jubilee
procession.
Captain Anles, it is said, fell desperately
in love with Miss Goelet at a garden
party given alta Marlborough House. the
London residence of the Prince Of Wales
She was dressed in floating white mus
lin and a pale blue sash. Her cheeks were
as pink as the garden roses on her hat
She made a charming picture -
The gallant captain was unwilling TO
press his suit, for he knew that as COM
paratively poor officer he would be re-
garded as a fortune hunter if he made
love to the greatest heiress Of the day.
For a long time he held aloof, but Miss
CToelet, with a woman's intuition, realized
his feelings, and she inturn fell deeply
in love with him.
The situation with regard to Miss Goe-
let's marriage Is now this: Her mother
wishes her TO marry Prince Francis Of
Teck, whose sister, the Duchess of York,
viii soon be queen of England. Mss
Goelet insists that she will marry Captain
Ames or nobody at all.
Prince Francis of Teck is probably the
most brilliant match from society point
of view. He is by far the poorest of all
the sUitors for Miss Goelet's hand, but
his relationship to royalty more than
counterhalances that defect. He is the
second son of the late Duke of Teck and
the Princess Mary Of Cambridge. His
father was a member of the grand-ducal
house Of Hese, and his mother was, a
granddaughter Of King George III His
sister, Princess May, married the Duke Of
York, only son of the Prince of Wales
and eventual King Of England The
Tecks were SO poor that after the Princes
mother, Eho depended upon an allowance
from parliament, died, her husband, the
Duke of Teck. was obliged TO sell their
household goods in order to pay their
bills Prince Francis is only the second /
son IF the Duke, and his possessions must /
amount To nothing almost. He was born /
in 1870 and IS a captain in the Firsts /
Dragon Guards.
As the wife Of the brother Of the Queen /
Of England, however. Miss Goelet would !
reach a social elevation not yet attained /
by any American heiress.
on the other hand. there is Captain /
Ames. tie has nothing in the world out /
his height, which is six feet eight inches. /
He belongs 10 a good old country family. /
hut tere is no peerage in it, and 1t is not /
IN any way remarkable. He IS neither |
rich or noble He has hitherto led the |
life of typical suardsman and man I
about town, and has advanced to nearly /
middle age without getting married. He 4
j. modest and very popular with his /
brother officers. y man needs about SI0.- /
600 a year 10 be an officer in the Guards. /
and cannot spare any part Of that Tor
housekeeping purposes.
Captain .~Ames is really magnificent
man. He is an ideal Anglo-SaXon. He is
u creation of Ouida in real life. His pro-
portions are extremely fine TOR man Of 1
his height. He : straight and very broad
shouidsred. The officers of the Life
Guards Wear shining cuirasses, scarlet
coats loaded with sold lace. white
breeohes, enormous Jack boots. and steel 4
helmets, with horse hair plumes falling
half way down the back II is the most
splendid uniform worn by any regiment
in Europe When Captain Ames stands
by the sid of one of the big black chargers
ridden by the Life Guards. the top Of his
helmet towers away above the horses
head
Americans Who have paid even the brief
eSt visit To London VIII doubtless be able /
70 recall the Life Guards from che
sentries who stand on duty like
statues. every day. outside the Horse
Guards building in Whitehall The sen
tries are supplied alternately by the Life
Guards and the Horse Guards
At the special request Of the Prince OF
Wales. Captain Ames led the procession
at the Queens Jubilee. which contained
IN the British empire He endeavo-ed 10
avoid the honor because he is rather
bashful about displaying his personal at
fractions. Bur he was compelled TO &C
oept il. snd bore il with great credit
Probably 40 man evr occupied q more