The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-15
AMERICANS REST
 IN OLD ENGLAND Duchess of Marlborough is
 Looking Well SOME AMUSING LETTERS Deceased Wife's Sister Bill Is caus- ing uneasiness Among Hen
 Pecked Husbands-The
 Sins of Society.
BY PAULLAMBETH.


 duchess IS looking younger healthier and in better spirits than she has been for a long time. She spends the entire day out of doors with her two boys, one of whom, Lord Iver Churchill vas at one time threatened with lung trouble.
 Mrs. Borden Harriman who was a complete wreck from nerves when she hrst arrived in London, is improving i'm mensely at DiVonne, where she is lead ing the simple life and living on the most frugal diet.
 Another well-lnown New Yorker. Mrs. Richard Lounsberry, is nursing her hus- band at the house they have taken at Ascot. MT. Lounsberry was another vic tim of the strenuous life, but he is recu- perating among the Ascot pine woods and hopes to be as strong as ever when he makes his next appearance in Wall street.
 The passing of the Deceased Wifes Sister bill, after efforts which have ex- tended over forty years, has led to some amusing correspondence between country constituents and their representatives in parliament.
 It was, in fact, the standing joke be- fore the propagation of parliament that number of n-pecked husbands wrote To members imporing them to explain the meaning or the act.
 One of the letters. evidently from a very much bullied husband, contained the following query If my old woman dies must l marry her sister? Because, if so, I'd rather get gun and leave the rest To the coroner
 The opposition to this ancient bill by all the bishops was regarded farce which will not raise the prestige of the church. It is an open secret that several rf.I. st. bill in the house of lords were hoping in their hearts to see it passed.
 What Is known as the middle class in London has had much to talk about since the great autumn drama. "'rhe Sins of Society,"" was produced at Drury Lane. Mr. Arthur Collins. the artistic manager. had only allowed certain little details to leak out about the plot but he had a nice TOW" with the authors. Myasrs. Cecil Raleigh and Henry Hamilton, con- corning the ending of the play.
 M4. Hamilton, who is very irascible individual, was determined that the lady villain should be adequately punished, but MT. Collins insisted on a happy end ing and of course had his way.
 1t may be mentioned that one of the in cldents in the play is the placing of Jumps of coal in box to take the place of diamonds. This. of course. is based on the recent case of Lord William Neval, who is now sufferng one years Imprisonment (hs second convictiom for a fraud on pawnbroker.
 Another very up-to-date incident in the Sins of Society," is freak dinner" to which all the guests bring their pet dogs. This is based on Newport ideas-the freak dinner is only given in London by a certain class of Americans at the big hotels.
 MT. Richard Croker scored another great victory by having gained permis- sion to train his horses at Newmarket. pr. McCabe, his trainer and turf ad- wiser. Is said to have been responsible for obtaining the necessary permit from the Jockey Club, which snubbed MT. Cro- ker so severely some time ago.
 Britishers will do almost anything and forget almost anything in the case of a man who wins such a classic race as the Derby Anyhow. MT. Croker intends to bring at least half dozen of his best horses to Newmarket, and his friends declare that before long he will be the principal figure on the British turf, which he was forced to quit for Irish ground.
 There are hundreds of racing men who thought then MT. Crolxer had been very shabbily treated, and who will welcome him back to the center of English rac- ing. MT. Croker is bitterly disappointed that his Derby winner Orby will not be able to compete for the great St, Leger race. Orby is suffering from an equine form of diabetes
 Mr. Croker has not yet engaged a jockey at Newmarket. He is anxious to secure the services of the American jockey. Johnny Reff but that lucky young man has just signed years contract to ride exclusively in Germany at the splen- d ,1,, c
 The present season, which has just ended in glory of hail, rain and wind. has been a disastrous one socially Save at the theater or some equally sheltered place. society has had few opportunities of casual meetings.
 The garden party. which is such fea- ture of English summers, has been pain fully wanting. for unless was pre- pared to challenge influenza, lumbago. rheumatism and q host of other ills at tendant on summer clothes and damp grass, promenading on the lawn was a dangerous practice even on those rare when the sun shone.
 The result has been a terrible one for those who live out of society's merry making. Great armies of walters and waitresses are among the ranks of un- l employed. for their services have been but rarely needed. The makers of mar quees. the firm who hire out great quanti- ties of silver and crockery and. above all, the caterers. have been the helpless losers of many thousands of pounds.
 They have not done a tenth part of their customary business and more than one failure, which Is directly traceable to i the vagaries of weather, has already been noticed. The season has, therefore. 1 ended dismally, and money that should 1 have been spent in England Is, in spirit l of reaction, being spent like water in the l cities of the continent.
 The Marchoness of Headfort formerly 1 Miss Rosie Boote of tie Gaiety Theater, l has again been the popular favorite at the great Dublin horse show. Dressed l very quietly in black and white, owing i to the death of her husbands half-sister. | she was not able to entertain. but she 1 was. as usual stared out of countenance | by all those present
 No actress who has ever married into | the peerage has become so really distin- guished as the clever and tactful Rosie. 1 The women who at first tried to snub | her now grovel at her feet, for Lady | Ileadfort. unlike the ordinary Gaiety girl. | Is gifted with wonderful wit and is far | better educated than the majority of | smart women in Dublin society.