The National tribune., 1907-01-03

toric, picturesque old palace, filed with
brave men and lovely women, fitting
thru the stately rooms, gay laughter,
feasting, music, brightness and good
cheer reigning supreme. The young
Duchess of Marlborough filled the old
palace with guests. She made Christ
mas, splendid entertainment, shower
ing gifts on her tenants and their chill
dren and doing everything money and
ingenuity could suggest to revive the
good cheer of the old-time English
Yuletide. This year there were no
lights. no sound Of merry laughter
nothing but gloom. The Duke was
there with his sister and his own two
little boys, but no one else. The Duch-
ess spent her Christmas alone in the
great rooms of Sunderland House, sep
arated from her children and dream
ing. no doubt, of those other Christ
masses when as the mistress of splendid
Blenheim she was queen surrounded
by devoted and admiring subjects. the
central figure in those gorgeous Christ
mas entertainments.
The shocking news comes to us that
the mind of Joseph Chamberlain, Eng
lands great Protectionist, is blank,
his memory having completely left him.
He is supposed to have overtaxed his
strength at the time Of the celebrations
in honor of his 10th birthday. He lies
helpless on his couch at "Orchid Villa"
at times unable to recognize any one.
His wife, who was q daughter Of w. G..
Endicott, Of Massachusetts,, President
CleveIand's Secretary Of War. is most
devoted, never leaving him day or
night. A few years ago Mr.. Chamber
lain in speech which he made at
Birmingham, paid her a most beautiful
tribute. He said that amid all the
storm and stress Of his political life he
Il LII q
When nearly prostrated by his great
responsibilities and the attacks Of his
enemies, her wise counsel and unfail-
ing optimism sustained him. She forti-
fed him by her courage, and cheered
him by her sympathy. In her he had
found his best and truest friend.
Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, wife of the
trail, treats with derision the idea of her
being a social queen or the leader of
New York society. She Is very pow
erful factor in New York society all the
same, and Is noted for her novel
entertainments. At one of her recent
functions her splendid ball room was
transformed into a music hall. where
a complete vaudeville performance was
given. Mrs. Fish Is a very beautiful
woman, and is said to possess the most
valuable private collection of jewels in
New York, which is certainly saying a
good deal.
, The Vanderbilts seem to find consid-
erable to mitigate the gloom and make
life worth living. The George Wander
bilts spent a very pleasant Christmas
at Biltmore, entertaining with big
Christmas tree all their employees and
the families living on their great es-
tate. There were about 900 of these
present, and little Miss Cornelia, tiny
lady of five Summers, did the hOnors
When the proper time came she turned
on the electric switch which lighted the
mammoth tree. Everybody had pres
ent and there were 1000 pounds of
candy distributed. The entire house was
filled with holly, mistletoe and ever
green's, and Christmas cheer was every
where. Mrs. Reginald Vanderbilt has
her troubles. It seems that the singer
Gadslki appeared at a concert recently
at Carnegie Hall in a silver and blue
costume, the exact counterpart of one
worn by Mrs. Reginald Vanderbilt on
the opening night of the Horse Show.
Evidently Mrs, Vanderbilt survived the
shock. but at what dreadful costs we
are not told. Her little daughter, Miss
Cathleen, now in her fourth year, Is the
most travelled baby Of the fashionable
New York set. She is about to make
her fourth trip across the Atlantic, and
will remain In Europe all Winter. The
Alfred G. Vanderbilts had a large house
party at Christmas and tree for their
son William. Two of his youngest chill
dren received as a gift between them
a little electric auto two feet tall, with
tiny car. It Is a perfectly practical
machine, however, and can be run by
them without a chaffeur. Cornelius
Vanderbilt has sent his yacht North
Star abroad, and will join her with Mrs.
Vanderbilt for cruise in the Mediter-
ranean after the January festivities at
Emperor Williams court. Altho their
imperial friend will probably not pay
them the attention he did at Kiel, they
will be made much Of by Berlin society
on account of this friendship.
1t seems hard enough in all con-
science to be obliged to lose ones hair
by the natural process of time, and
therefore the unnecessary afiliction in
this respect cruelty inflicted upon one
John Glade will touch sympathetic