The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-01
MRS. GEORGE GOULD WINS
SOCIETY FINALLY OPENS ITS ARMS
TO THE FORMER ACTRESS.
Amateur Thcatricals Break Down the
Edith Kingdoms Love Story.


ally agreed that the splendid amateur the
atricals and the attendant festivals given
by Mr.. and Mrs. George j. Gould at Lake.
wood, on Christmas, marked their DEFINITE
entry into society. The story of how Edith
Kingdom, the beautiful actress, became the
wife of George Gould is a romance. The
story of the struggle of Mr. and Mrs.
Gould to obtain recognition by fashionable
society is a comedy that is peculiarly
American and fin de steele. That New
York society, which is based primarily on
the possession of money, should refuse ad-
mission to the son of one of the most
famous of American financiers seems alb
surd and paradoxical. But such things
will happen and help TO make our queerly
composed society interesting. There are
many things in the social history of Mr..
and Mrs George ]. Gould that deserve the
attention of the thoughtful as we'll as the
frivolous.
Inc scene OF the final triumph of the
Goulds was their magnificent country
house, called Georgian Court, at Lakewood,
N j. 1t has recently been enlarged and
beautifed at fabulous expense. Two hun
dred of the -Four Hundred accepted the
Gould hospitality at Christmas. Society
law that what society people accepts it
must give That is implied in the very
nature of society. The Christmas celebra-
ton was planned at just the right time,
and the fates must have kindly arranged
that Georgian Court should be finished and
ready to accommodate hundreds of guests
exactly at this season. Society was in a
mood for country festivities, and the
thought of the Gould entertainment and
all the good things in store just appealed
to its fancy. Therefore, society flocked
down to Lakewood In the wake of Mrs
Stuyvesant Fish and Elisha Dyer, jr., in
a special train provided by George Gould
two hundred of the -Four Hundred
Society went TO the Goulds and took them
into its very bosom. The Goulds provided
many delightful surprises for their guests
Private theatricals. in which Mrs. Gould
returned once more to the stage, were the
chief attractions. beautiful little theater
hau been added to the superb country
house, and IL will remain as permanent
feature, both for future use and as a
memorial OF the great victory which she
has achieved in it. Three frivolous little
one-act plays were given, 1.-The Twilight
of the Gods" The Marble Arch and "a
Pair of LunaticS.'
Mrs. Gould took part only in the first
But she fully demonstrated that she had
not lost the art which was hers as beautiful
Edith Kingdom, of Days Theater AS an
actress Mrs. Gould need fear no rival in
society. The other casts were made up of
well-known amateur actresses and actors
or whom Miss Emily Key Hoffman daugh-
ter of Mrs. George Hoffman, and Mr. Ev-
eret Jansen Wendell are the best known
This was given on Dec. q.
After the theatricals there was a cotil-
non, led by Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish and
Elisha Dyer, jr., and, as everybody knows
they represent society with a big "S.'
among the well-known persons who wit
messed this entertainment and accepted the
invitations to stay for week afterward at
Georgian Court were the Marquise De Tall
leyrand-Perigord, Mrs. Townsend Burden
M Mr.. and Mrs. Elisha Dyer, jr., Mrs. Oliver
II. p. Belmont, Mrs. Herman Oelrichs. Mr..
Harry Lehr, Mrs. Orme Wilson daughter
of Mrs. Aston, Mr.. Lispenard Stewart and
Mrs. Adolph Ladenburg. Furthermore
Mrs Elisha Dyer. jr., and Mrs. Stuyvesant
Fish were sent as special emissaries to as
sure Mrs. Gould welcome. 1t was no.icei
how cordially Mr.. and Mrs. Gould were re-
cefved by Mrs. John Jacob Aston, and after
that society in general paid her equally
extreme homage.
Mrs. Gould was magnificentIy gowned
and was one of the most distinguished.
looking women at the ball. She wor.. an
eldDOrate costume OF delicate blue DannSl
velvet, the skirt of which, with its sweep
ing train, fitted snugly yet gracefully about
the hips. The distinguished feature of the
bodice was the OVERALL of rare Duclesse
lace. caught here and there by smart twists
of velvet IT was cut in extreme decollete
and had the narrow shoulder straps so
fashionable this season. Mrs Gould lid
not wear all her jewels. A white aig-etre
sparkling with diamonds, nestled In hey
dark hair, and many twinkled from the
folds of lace. but otherwise, in the matter
of jewels. her gown was rather conspicuous
in its simplicity.
Few knew all the romance in the court
ship of Mr.. and Mrs George Gould. She
was pretty Edith Kingdom of the late
Augustin Days forces, and an actress of
considerable note Like many other young
women of good family. she was poor, and
in addition had her mother to care for
Seeking the quickest way to make a suffi-
cient income, Edith Kingdom went on the
stage.
One night dark-eyed, ark-haired we'll
dressed young man sauntered into a box at
Days Theater. Two men friends were
with him. During the play, which was a
little comedy entitled Love on Clutches -
the young man displayed marked interest
in one OF the characters-yet not so much
in the character as the young woman
who was impersonating il. She was then a
slender slip of a girl. with dark hair and
eyes and an extremely graceful figure, and
the young man saw by the bill that she
"o~ ASNAeh ANAi-eNC-t' Lie iSii III iONc Ol the
spot.
The next night the young man came
alone. He came for nights after that; in
fact hired the box for the season. He sat
there till he had made up his mind He
was George Jay Gould. The next thing he
did was to go to Augustin DAILY. person.
ally.
MIR. DAILY" he said, 81 have come to you
to ask you to introduce me TO Edith King
DON"
Augustin DAILY looked him over for a
moment. then spoke in his usually gruff
and decisive manner
mo; won't introduce you 10 Miss King
don. We don't want any foolishness about
this theater."
But my intentions are not foolish
well. that's a different thing Edith
Kingdom is a lady. every inch of her At
the proper time 1 viii introduce you
George Gould met Edith Kingdom and her
mother. who entertained him in their mod
est little fiat. His mind never changed.
And one day Edith Kingdom blushingly
rendered her resignation TO Augustin DAILY.
well. he did mean business. them" said
the great manager.
Eyes. Mr.. DAILY" she replied. Mr.. Gould
and are TO be married next month";
They were, and this is the Mrs. George
Gould who finds herself to-day received
open-armed by society.