The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-31

with the fragrance of spring flowers and
the green of budding shruobery. Marble
fountains were on either side of the APP
proach to the massive entrance.
As the new head of the house of Won
hanken drove up to the lodgekeeper's
gate ne stepped from his carriage with
MRS. Nancy bearing Baby Lionel in her
dfms- Then through a long line of
cheering servants they walked SLOWLY up
the winding drive, through the gardens
and past the fountains. Mistress Nancy,
100 overcome to notice the proud glances
cast toward her of her husband as he led
her into the ancestral home.
IN letter TO her sister dated June s its
new mistress described the interior of the
manor house. She said the estate had
been handed down for generations. and
was cared for by a host of servants
lodgekeepers and gardeners.
They Give Grand Ball.
1t is beautiful" she wrote. land am
the first American who has ever been mis-
ress OF the manor. We entertain extern
slvely. We gave a ball to which the elite
of Sfortzheim came to the number of over
go. 1 cannot describe the beauty of the
scene. Imagine a large room, almost as
long as the Pepper house. with waxed
noors and flowers in banks and pyramids
ana brilliantly Illuminated with electric
lights. A string orchestra of $50 pieces fur
nished the music. Beautiful gowned wo-
men flashing with jewels filed the place
In the conservatories fountains splashed
in basins of marble and rose trees and
palms were esconced behind banks of mai
den-hair ferns. No one ever saw such car
nations in America The lights were low,
giving the scene in the conservatory a
moonlight effect"
That the splendor of her new surround
ings did not cause her to forget home ties
was proved not only by her letters, but
also by gifts sent to her sisters on many
occasions.
Baby grows so cunning and has two
teeth" she wrote another time. He
creeps all over and l can hardly wait for
him to talk"
Then she told of the long line of an
cestral paintings hung in the high-ceiling-
ed hall and how the picture of Lionel a
man grown. would some time hang beside
one of her own.
Shortly after she had been established
in her new home Mistress Nancy went
with her husband to Berlin, where they
were presented TO the Emperor and En-
press of Germany The occasion was the
coming of age of the Crown Prince. When
her sisters at Patchogue read of the mag
nificence of the scene described by Nancy,
fortnighls wonder
MY gown was of ivory white satin"
Nancy wrote with high bodice and made
entrain. 1t was festooned at the bottom
with garlands of lilies of the valley, and
real duchesse lace was in cascades all
down the trent I wore emeralds and dia-
monds. My hair was done in the latest
style, parted at the right side and brought
back to the left where 1t was caught in
a double coil. 1 wore diamond tiara.
forgot to say my gown was made by
Worth and cost $780,
Then she told of the magnifcenee of
the German court, of the throne room
and of the silver throne.
John says I carried myself beautiful
ly," she said. Being an American,
had very little to say. A great many of
the German officers danced with me and
1 managed 10 waltz very we'll"
Then and Now.
Reverting to her own beautiful home,
she says:
ITO think that I. the poor despised
Nancy Homan, am the mistress of all
this splendor! Imagine me decked out
in jewels worn by the fairest ladies in
Europe. OF course, they are the family
heirlooms MY housekeeper relieves me
of a great deal of care and / spend
ton was not BETTING my present social
standing 1 get on very well. though,
as our guests are German and speak
English only brokenly, so that l do not
appear to disadvantage"
Soon after Won Ranken and his wife
reached their new home, they sent for
Mrs. Steinecke. She sailed June on
the Noordland, and arrived safely at
Sfortzheim. She lightened many of the
having been accustomed to wealth and
the management of large house. she
soon taught Nancy much that only long
experience and perhaps many heartburn
ings otherwise would have given her.
During the two weeks that Won Ran
ken and his wife spent In this city be-
fore sailing for Germany Nancy had Wis
tied her. old home at Patchogue and taxi
en- with her Baby Lionel to show her sis
tiers. At heart she was the same Nancy
Homan who had been reared among the
villagers but the latter nevertheless were
awed by her elegant gowns and remem-
bered her best in gingham frocks.
Thrown From Horse and Killed.
A cablegram was received July by
Mrs. Monsell telling of the death of her
sister, Nancy. Details of the tragic man
ner in which the mistress of Won Ran
ceived until yesterday. She was thrown
from a horse while riding over the estate
and died soon after the accident.
She was accompanied by Count Distas
leo They were far from the manor house
when her horse a spirited animal took
fright. Count Distasieo and the grooms
ATTEMPTED to restrain the horse, but she
was thrown heavily 10 the ground and
injured internally. Mrs. Steinecke had
cautioned her 10 be careful, as the horse
was FESTIVE.
Great was the sorrow in the manor
house when a groom announced the ac-
cident Celebrated physicians were sum
mon d, but despite their efforts the mis-
tress of Won Ranken Manor died. The
shock of her death to her husband
brought on an attack of brain fever and
for a week his life was despaired of.
In accordance with her wish she was
laid out in a white silk gown and placed
in a white casket. The funeral services
were attended by many of the nobility
Awaiting her husbands recovery the body
was placed in the Won Ranken family
vault. 1t will be cremated in Berlin. The
ashes are to be forwarded 10 her sis
tiers. as was her wish, and will remain
in Petchogue.
In her last letter home, the unfortunate
young mistress of Won Ranken manor
house wrote:
Years after we are dead. / think the
Won Rapken descendants will look upon
our pictures as we now gaze upon the
pictures of our predecessors. High on the