The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-26
MRS. ]. j. ASTOR ID SHINE IN LONDON Is Well Liked Blythe Duchess
 of Portland NEW COURT JESTER FOUND Mrs. J. L. Mott of New York Has Been Facetiousiy Given the Title.
 Clever Army SWindled
 Worked.
NEW COURT JESTER FOUND
BY PAUL LAMBETH.

BY PAUL LAMBETH.
 Special Cable to The Age-Herald. Copy
 right, 19O7 by W. R. Hearst)
 1 London, May 25.-The Duchess of Port land, Eng1and's most exclusive and re- spected hostess, has taken the warmest fancy to Mrs. J J. Astor, who spent an enjoyable week at Welbeck Abbey re- gently before Joining her husband in Paris. The two stately and beautiful women are strangely alike in character, 1 both being reserved and apparently cold l to casual acquaintances-a manner which does not deceive their close friends.
 The Duke of Portland, who has never shown a liking for Americans, Is also
 as much attracted by Mrs. Astor, and even went so far as to show her the family treasures at Welbeck, which are always on view for the benefit of rela- 1 tions.
 Mrs. Astor will be the particular bright star in the dazzling American fir1na- nent this season. She has decided not to undertake the worry of housekeeping, l and has engaged one of the royal suites" l at the Ritz hotel, overlooking the Green l park.
 The Duke of Connaught, who is even more devoted to Americans (of the anus | ing kind) than King Edward himself has | discovered a new "court jester in Mrs. | J. L. Mott of New York, relative of Mrs. George West Qady Randolph | Churchill)
 Mrs. Mott has the faculty of arousing | the mirthful muscles, and the other night l during a prformance of "The King" at Covent Garden, when the house was plunged in artistic gloom and stiffness, the boisterous laughter of the Duke of | Connaught and the rather high-p pitched | voice of Mrs. Mott, who was in the dukes | box, caused many boxholders to turn their heads in pained surprise.
 The duke has for years leaned upon Mrs. Jack Leslie, Mrs. Vests sister, for amusement, but he now finds that Mrs | Mott's jokes are, for the moment, even more refreshing Apart from this royal | incident the sensation at Covent Garden that night was the appearance of Lady Charles Beresfoc1, who was wearing a l mob cap'-in other words, a night cap of the frilly variety-nstead of a tiara The war office Is being much blamed by number of Grmy men just now for | It's inaction in regard to very clever rascal who Is victimizing many unfor- tunate army widows and pensioners. The | case will shortly be taken up, it is hoped | by MT. Labouchere.
 For long time past man calling himself Henry Thorough" Williamson
 the Soldiers Friend" has been writing
 to widows and pensioners with grievances
 telling them that their claims will be put to the war office by himself on re- ceipt of certain sums of money | Williamson, who is thriving on the b1si- ness, then writes long letters to the war office In behalf of the victims" and pockets the money. A short act was brought forward in Parliament last ses- sion with a view to punishing this par ticular class of offender. but there was no time to read the acr even once. At present Williamson keeps just out side the law, but he Is doing immense harm among the more ignorant "rankers"
 in the army at Aldershot by stirring up discontent He himself was transferred as private soldier from one regiment to another, and he has poor record American and British missionaries are joining hands in an unprecedentedly strong attempt to give new life to mis- l sion work, and apart from the visit of the American laymen to this country l there are several important conferences 1 being arranged for the summer perhaps the most interesting of all being the Sec l ond Bible Conference, to be held at Mum desley, a remote Norfolk fishing village. 1 The conference, which win be held from 1 July 1 to 12, will be made brilliant by the presence of two famous Americans
 Dr. Arthur Tappan Pierson, who has held pastorates in many parts of America, and Is equally at home in Londons tab | ernacles, and Prof c. R. Erdman of 1 Princeton university.
 Dr. Pierson will lecture on Beacon Lights on Missionary History" and Pro- lessor Erdman on 'fThe Responsibility of 1 the Home Church." Of course Dr. Camp bells new theology is largely responsible l for the great efforts bing made to coun- teraet "the unrest by all churches, and 1 the romantic little village of Mundesley
 the dwelling place of the poet Cowper
 will be thronged with visitors in July. 1 Is America going to sweep the board in
 the British athletic and sporting world 1 This Is the question which many English l sportsmen are anMously asking them
 selves. The defeat of Eustace Miles by young Jay Gould for the amateur tennis
 championship is only prhaps the forerun- ner of other American victories.
 Those who have been watching Mr Eyes, the American amateur golf cham l pion, who Is now hard at work on the
 northern links. with two other American l players-Mr W. C. Carnegie and MT. F. | O. Hortsmann, declare that he has inl- proved marvellously In his game since l he was last here three years ago. It is, indeed, more than probable that he will
 defeat the Enslishmen later on.
 | Shen there Is the ladies amateur golf 1 championship. Miss Harriet Curtis the l United States champion, who is here with :, her sister, Miss M. Curtis, has splendid
 chance of defeating her British opponents. i There is. in fact. great trepidation among l British golfers, who feel that 1t would be
 almost a national disgrace to be beaten l by country which has onl ytallen up golf l in very recent years.
 The ladies lawn tennis championship of | England is more than likely to fall to l the American player, Miss May Sutton, l who is more powerful and energetic than
 ever, and more than ever determined to win. She is already champion of Wales. | When hostesses make up their mind to