Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-16
Gigantic Sum Of Money to
Be Spent in Entertaining
at "Stratford House,"
the Home of the
Roxburghe's.

(Coryrigh; In the United States and Great Britain
ly Curtis Brown. All Rights Strictly Reserved
LONDON. June 6. 1907.
TIP to now one of the most complete
! and Interestingly not actually one
OF the most important-of the Ameri-
can Victories that have been gained in
England recently has had no attention de-
voted to ii in print. Il deserves lot. how
ever. for the victory in quest on. which
has been gained 10y the Duchess of Rox-
burghe over the opinions, o. oae might
even say the prejudiccs, of her noble hus-
band, the duke, is highly significant ex-
ample Of what a clever woman can accom-
plish by bidng her time and meanwhile
playing her cards right. incidentally, this
little conquest of the duchess apparently is
going to cost her something like $35O,0o)
before the present season, and in the
neighborhood of Sl,531G0J before the pres
ent year is over. to say nothing OF CORE
spOndingly big sums in seasons and years
to come.
But the duchess who used to be MaX|
Goclet, doesn't mind that in the least, Toy
IN the first place she can particularly we'll
afford to spend the money at present, and
In the second she has been just aching to
do it ever since she became the bride OF
the duke, nearly four years ago. Then, like
nearly every other rich American girl who
msrries an Englshman of exalted rank, II
was her ambition to become great
London hostess, but at the very outset the
duke put his foot down on that idea. The
spectacle of a British nobleman declining
to permit his American wife to spend her
millions is rare enough to be notable in It
self, but then his grace of RoXburghe is
not at all like most dukes. Proud. naughty.
sensitive Scotchman that he is he has an
inveterate dislike of ostentation and social
rivalry. and the idea Of his wifes Showing
off, and, as he put 1t, advertising herself,
set the Innes-ker blood in his veins boil
ing Ever since their marriage, indeed, his
great aim has been to prevent her doing
anything which conspicuousy suggested
the fact that she is a very rich woman,
and no doubt his intense personal pride is
at the bottom OF this.
However, most things come to those who
walt, and the young American duchess,
like the tactful woman that she is, waited
patiently. now and then doing little judic
ious, ''wheedling. and while ago the duke
gave in and told her to go ahead and enter
tain to her hearts desire. Thus it is that
for the first time since her marriage we
find the duchess in possession of a big town
house in Mayfair and intent on taking the
place among London hostesses which her
own wealth and her husbands exalted rank
entitle her.
Judging from all accounts, too, she Is
going to make up for lost time for 1t Is
said that, including a big ball which she
intends giving toward the end of the pres
ent MONTH and at which 1t Is probable that
the princess II not the Prince OF Wales,
will be present. the duchess round Of en-
tertainments during the season will cost her
something not far from the figure men
toned at the beginning of this article,
$3.50 900 Nor is that figure as preposterous
as ii may sound. considering that the cost
of a royal ball In London is usually cal
cula,ed at $4,000. and that the duchess is
paying $4,000 for her tenancy during the
season of the big house in Stratford place
where her lavish entertaining is to be done.
Among other intentions with which she is
credited is that OF following the example OF
her compatrot, the Duchess OF Marlbor-
eugh. and building a superb mansion in
Mayfair. and 1t is like enough that she will.
Short of having her own residence, however,
the duchess hardly could be in better po-
sition to entertain than she will be In STRAIT
ford House for this mansion has an Ideal
location and is accounted one of the most
luxuriously furnished mansions in all May
fair. Built originally by Sir John Leslie, it
is now owned by Lord Colebrook, high COM
missioner for Scotland. whose wife. Lady