The San Francisco call., 1905-01-01
PEERAGE LIKES
PEANUTS.
Taught to Eat Them
by Americans.
Popcorn Also Finds
Favor Abroad.

LONDON, Dec. 31.-A little incident
witnessed yesterday was rather anus
ing as Showing how popular American
dainties of one kind or another are
getting in the most ultra circles Of
English high society
Into a well-known store entered from
her brougham portly dame who was
recognized as no other than the Ouch
ess of Buccleuch. Now her Grace, be-
of the robes, Is one of the bluest blood
ed and haughtiest DANES In London, as
we'll as one Of the most ultra-English.
IT want one Of your large sacks Of
peanuts" said the Duchess to the clerk.
"and half a dozen packages Of corn
for popping. You know the address"
and swept out of the shop.
One doesn't know II the popping is
done by ducal hand over the draw
ing-room fire at naughty Buccleuch
House on the embankment, or II the
consumption of peanuts accompanies
the progress of bridge parties there,
but that these comestibles are esteemed
in circles where one would not have
supposed them even known is quite
evident. They have been introduced
by the fair American members Of the
peerage.
CHILDREN SIMPLY DRESSED.
Since the extravagant overdressing
of millicnaires' children commenced to
excite comment among a section of
ma. only women it has been noticed
that the children of the Duchess of
Manchester no longer enjoy the luxury
that was hitherto lavished upon them.
1t was estimated at one time that some
of her baby's dresses cost no less than
500 to $3.50. She had penchant for
Irish lace and linen and a store in
London known all over the world for
the superior quality Of it's wares al
ways looked anxiously for the arrival
of Manchester baby. When the nurse
and her charge were seen abroad in
the neighborhood Of Tanderagee Castle
or in London people used to remark
jocularly that the dress was worth
more than the baby.
All this is now changed; and the Man.
chester youngsters are no more con-
spicuous than the children Of ordinary
mldQle-claSS people.
The Duchess of Marlborough has al
ways dressed her children well. but
there Is an entire absence Of anything
remotely Suggestive of the ostentatious
display of wealth in their apparel. 1t Is
limited that the abandonment of ex-
travagant dressing is due to the Prin-
cess OF Wales, who, when she saw the
tendency on the part of millionaire
mothers to be conspicuously vulgar,
commenced to dress her children in the
simplest fashion.
VAN ALIENS NEW HOME.
So extensive are the Improvements
and structural alterations at Rushton
Hall planned by James ]. Van Allen,
the American. millionaire, who has
bought the estate, that he will not sc
able to take up his residence perma-
nently there for two years. Housing
accommodations in the little village Of
Rushton are of such limited charac-
ter that Van Allen is obliged to build
number Of small cottages for those who
will be employed by him when he
comes to settle down at the hall. A
residence for the engineer, who will be
responsible for the electric light install
lation and the heating apparatus, is al
ready in course Of construction.
The spacious lake in front Of the hall,
which neglect has reduced to an ugly
swamp is going to occupy the special
attention of the new tenant and is to
be a thing of beauty.