The Washington herald., 1906-12-30
TRUE BLUE YANKEE
American PeereSs Too Demo
cratic for Her Buffers.
OFFENDS EXALTED FLUNKEYs
Achieves Popularity aud Gains An
other Term as Mayor for Her HuS-
band-Duehess OF Marlborough APP
pears in Public Again-King Ed
ward to Practice Economy.


London. Dec. 23-There is always a GER
tain sympathy extended 20 the woman
who succeeds an American woman in any
semi-public capacity here. because to
live up TO the reputation established by
her predecessor is sure TO be n difficult
task
Just now there is much speculation as
TO how the new mayoress of Westminster
will acquit herself in the place OF Lady
Cheylesmore. who for two years has
been the representative Of the civic hos
pitality Of that royal and ancient borough
of London.
The title of mayor IN England is al
ways shared By the wife. who, ia i'm
portant places, is burdened with no small
measure Of its functions and responsible
ties.
As a peeTess. the former Miss Eliza
beth French of New York. was account
ed one Of the most successful of London
hostesses, but her guests were drawn ex-
clusively from the circles Of the social
elect. As mayoress she showed a sur
prising recognition of the democratic
character of The Office by disregarding en-
tirely social distinctions in dispensing her
Inequalities Tradesmeu and their wives
were freely invited 10 take tea with her.
and she cultivated their babies. In con-
sequence she found il necessary 20 change
her buffers pretty often. for those exalt-
ed functionaries fatty declined TO wait
on her iadyship's guests.
Glad to Retire.
But her way spelled popularity both
for herself and her husband. It was
largely due 10 her that when Lord Chey-
lesmore's first term expired, he was ask
ed TO take the job on for another year,
and consented. Now, however, both have
had enough of it. and are glad 20 retire
to the more congenial society Of the up
per classes. For though Lady Cheyles-
more can practice democracy with q good
grace when it seems desirable, her tastes
do not lie that way.
The Duchess Of Marlborough is going
out a little again. For four or five whole
weeks scarcely any one saw her She
looked very pretty at Princess Alexis Dol
gorDUki's sale of Russian peasants work
the other day. and. needless to say
bought generously Her friends We're
afraid she was going to bury herself
away, but she has no such intention Ny
word you should have seen how every
one stared at her She bore the ordeal
spIendidly and with a dignity that proved
her every inch q duchess An American
woman turned 20 me and said: Il am
proud Of her
EngIishmen stand Together.
You have no idea OF what an unchivaI-
rous iot Englishmen are. They uphold
their own sex at any cost. and find an
excuse TO justify any attitude taken by
a man toward his wife. In the case Of
the Marlborough there are scores Of
men who sympathize with the duke;
worse than that, they actually trump up
tales against the duchess. Only to-day. a
man moving in the best set said 10 me,
"Weu. you know. the duke stood her fir
tations a long time. poor fellow.
As a matter of fact the duchess could
not firt If she tried. She lacks the gift.
and her greatest friend could not accord
TO her the sense OF humor without which
no one can flirt.
Mrs. Jack" Leslie has been rushed of
her feet for weeks past doing all the
Connaughts' shopping for Christmas. and
also buying their outfits Tor their long
tour, in which she is 10 accompany them
As every one knows. she was a Miss Je-
rome. and is sister of Mrs. George
CORVALLIS West. the erstwhile Lady Ran
doIph Churchill She has long been the
bosom friend and the factoJum Of the
family of the Kings second brother, and
the duchess is wont 20 say she does nol
know what she would do without her.
The COnnaught WOmaukind lack interest
i'm the noble art of shopping. Il fell 10
the lot of Mrs. Leslie TO have to select
every article in the rousseau Of The
dukes elder daughter, who is now Prin-
cess Gustave of Sweden. I may. how
ever. remark, en- PEASANT. her labor was
somewhat in vain, inasmUch as to this
hour many Of the princess beautiful
frocks and cloaks are hanging up IN their