The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-19
PEERLESS CAUGHT
CHEATING AT PLAY
Bridge Whist Gives Rise to
Scandal in Lon
don.


bridge whist. which shows no sign of
abating, has produced a heavy crop of
scandals. The sensational facts in two
recent cases the ultra smart set Is
trying desperately hard to conceal
The scene of one was the Duke of
Devonshire's magnificent country seat
in observation-disclosures The time
was Christmas during the grand party
the duke and duchess gave at the time.
An invitation to Chatsworth. 1t may
be noted here. is harder to get than an
invitation to Sandringham, the favorite
| country seat of the king himself.
The culprits in the particular game
| of bridge In question were a peerless
who is especially well connected and a
man who. ii. need scarcely be said,
moves in the most select circles of
British aristocracy. 1t has leaked out
that the peeress signaled to her con-
federate according to carefully con-
certed code by toying with her ear
rings and lingering her pearl necklace.
The Duchess Of Devonshire Is as
keen as a razor in games Of chance.
Her suspicious were aroused and a
watch was set by three of the party.
They became satisfied that cheating
was going on and the game was stopped
In such a way that the peeress and
her friend were made aware that they
had been detected. but the secret was
kept from the other members of the
house party. The main anxiety was to
avoid a repetition of the Tranby Croft
scandal. but as the circumstances are
leaking out it is doubtful if this can be
done.
One immediate consequence Of the
scandal was that the Prince of Wales,
who had intended to join the Chats
worth party for the theatricals after
Christmas. was warned and suddenly
Cancelled his visit lest he might be
drawn, as his father was, into a "cele-
| brated case"
The theatrical party took place
shortly after New Years, as 1t does
every year. These entertainments have
been for years among the most bril-
liant in English society. The best So
ciety amateurs always appear, Lady
Randolph Churchill among them
The party this year was particu-
larly brilliant. The guests were the
same, with few, if any, exceptions, as
those who attended the Christmas
house party. Among them were Prin-
cesses Margaret and Patricia of Con-
naught, Princess Henry of Pless. the
Duke and Duchess of Teck. the Earl
and Countess of Gosford. Earl and
Countess de Grey the Earl and
Counties of Mar and Kellie MARQUIS
de Several, the Portuguese minister
| Count Montagu, Victor Caveniish,
Lady Evelyn Cavendish, Sir John Will
loughby and Muriel Wilson.
This year one-act play, "Our Bit
| terest Foe" with Miss Muriel Wilson
the famous English beauty, as Blanche
de Vran, made up the first half of the
programme. and it was followed by a
musical monologue, 1.-THE Eternal Fem
mime" in which Princess Hery of Pless
sang and danced with delightful grace
Miss Muriel Wilson also played a pref
ty fantasy, 1.-THE Shades of Night" in
which the Princess of Pless was one OF
the phantoms.
| The week preceding the theatricals
which were given on the evening OF
Jan. 10, was gay one at Chatsworth
Daily rehearsals were sandwiched be-
tween golf playing in the morning and
bridge whist at night. In the evening
the entire party resorted to bridge
The other bridge scandal referred to
above is still more recent. The game
was In Whites club on st. James
street, one of the most exclusive clubs
In London. The offender in this case
was man who is principally known
as being the husband of his wife, who
is particularly conspicuous figure in
English society, while he has lived a
good deal abroad.
There was a scene when he was de-
tected. Afterward a committee of in
quiry investigated all the circumstances
and he was given the option of resign
ing from the club or being expelled
He resigned.
A regular movement against bridge
has begun in society, the game is caus-
ing such decentralization. But the most
ardent bridge players are societys rul-
ers, so 1t is not likely that much can
be done.
1t is an open secret in court circles
now that the report that the king was
too i'll to be one of house party al
Chatsworth in the forepart Of this
month was pure myth. The real
reason he suddenly Cancelled his en-
gagement was because he had a seri-
Gus disagreement at luncheon with the
queen.
The king had been annoyed because
Mrs. George Keppel was not to be
among the guests, although his wish
that she should be there had been COM
munlcated to the Duke of Devonshire
Queen Alexandra, who only that morn
ing had seen the full list of guests in
the newspapers, strongly objected tc
the presence of a certain young un-
married lady who is very prominent in
the Devonshire house set and the CEN
trail figure at it's entertainments. The
queen said emphatically that she
would not go to the party because the
aforesaid young woman was to be
there.
A heated argument ensued, and then
the king Cancelled the engagement or
the spur of the moment. Sir Francis
Laking was summoned, but firmly de-
clined to issue a fraudulent bulletin in
order to disarm suspicion, having a
lively recollection of the severe critH-
cism he had to endure for agreeing to
such a thing when the king had an
pendicitis. This accounts for the
strange fact that no bulletin was is
sued until the next morning, when
contrary to all precedent, it was sign
ed by the kings private secretary
Knollys, instead of by physician.