Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
Duchess Of Devonshire Makes an Effort to
Hush Matter Up,
OTHER ONE is At ARIsTocRATlC CLUB
Result is Movement to Put the Game
Under the Ban.
KING AND QUEEN HAVE A DISAGREEMENT
Ter Royal HiEhness Refuses TO At
tend Party at which woman
Objectionable TO Her Is
Invited as Guest.

Copyright. 1903, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, Feb 14.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Speclal Telegram.)-The craze for
bridge whist, which shows no sign Of abat-
ing, has produced a heavy crop Of scandals.
The sensational facts in two recent cases
the ultra smart set is trying desper
ately hard to conceal.
The scene Of one was the duke OF Devon
shlres magnificent country seat in Derby
shire, Chatsworth. The time was Christ
mas. during the grand party the duke and
duchess gave at the time. An invitation
to Chatsworth. It may be noted here. is
harder to get than an invitation to Sand
ringham, the favorite country seat of the
king himself.
The culprits in the particular game of
bridge I'm question were peeress who is
especially connected. and a man who, IL
need scarcely be said. moves in the most
select circles OF British arstocracy 1t
has leaked out that the peeress signalled
TO her confederate. according to a care
fully prearranged code, by toying with her
earrings 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 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 repeti-
tion of the Tranbycroft scandal but as
the circumstances are leaking out It is
doubtful II this can be done.
Prince is warned.
One immediate consequence of the scan
al uav hat ha Of a1a xrho
had intended to join the Chatsworth party
for the theatricals after Christmas, was
warned, and suddenly cancelled his visit
lest he might be drawn. as his father was,
into a celebrated case"
The theatrical party took place shortly
after New Years, as 1t does every year
These entertainments have been for years
+ amons Che most brilliant in English So
eiety. The best society amateurs always
appear, Lady Randolph Churchill among
them The part this year was particularly
brilliant. The guests were the same, with
few II any exceptions. as those who at
tended the Christmas house party. Among
them were. Princesses Margaret and
Particia OF Connaught. Princess Henry of
Pless. the duke and duchess of Teck, the
earl and countess OF Gosford Earl and
Countess de Gray, the earl and countess OF
Mar, and Kellie, Marquis de Several, the
Portuguese minister Count Montagu, Vic
tor Cavendish. Lady Evelyn Cavendish, Sir
John Willoughby and Muriel Wilson
This year a one-aot play. "our Bitterest
Foe" with Miss Murlel Wilson, the ia
nous English beauty, as Blanche de Vran,
made up the first half of the program and
II was followed by musical monologue,
THE Eternal Feminine" In which
Princess Henry OF Pless sang and danced
wi daliQhtfuI oil
also played a pretty fantasy, 1.-THE Shades
Of Night" in which the Princess Henry OF
Pless was one of the phantoms.
The week preceding the. theatricals,
which were given on the evening of Janu-
airy 10. was a gay one at Chatsworth.
Daily rehearsals were sandwiched between
golf playing in the morning and bridge
whist at night. In the evenings the entire
party resorted to bridge
Resignation is Forced.
The other bridge scandal referred TO
above is still more recent. The game was
In Whicte's club on st. James street, one
Of the most exclusive clubs in London.
The offender in this case was a man who Is
principally known being the husband OF
his wife, who is a particularly conspicuous
figure n English society. while he has
lived good deal abroad.
There was a scene when he was detected
Afterward a committee OF inquiry inyesti-
gated all the circumstances and he was
given the option Of resigning from the club
or being expelled. He resigned.
A regular movement against bridge has
begun in society, the game is causing such
Generalization, But the most ardent
bridge players are society's rulers. so II Is
not likely that much can be done.
II is an open secret in court circles now
that the report that the king was too i'll
70 be one OF house party at Chatsworth
In the fore part OF this month was a pure
myth. The real reason he suddenly can
Selled his engagement was because he had
a serious 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 communicated TO the
duke OF Devonshire. Queen Alexandria,
who only that morning had seen the full
list of guests In the newspapers strongly
objected TO the presence of a certain young
unmarried woman who is very prominent
In the Devonshire house set and the cen
trail figure at its entertainments The
queen said emphatioally that she would
not go TO the party because the aforesaid
young woman was to be there.
Doctor Would Not Lie.
A heated argument ensued and then the
king cancelled the engagement on the spur
OF the moment. Sir Francis LakinE was
summoned. but firmly declined to issue a
fraudulent bulletin In order to disarm sus-
pieion, having lively recollection OF the
severe criticism he had to endure for
agreeing to such a thing when the king
had appendicitis This accounts for ths
strange fact that no bulletin was issued
until the next morning, when. contrary tC
all precedent. II was signed by the kings
private secretary, Knollys. instead OF by /
physician. Indeed. LRking was not re-
sponsihle for any OF the statements made
The king looks remarkably wen and shows