The Washington herald., 1908-07-05
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
GOSSIP ABOUT PERSONS IN WASHINGTON
OFFICIAL AND SOCIAL LIFE.

Summer is favorite season with the
gossips. There is much 10 feed their un-
ceasing flow Of chit-chat and but little tc
interrupt the stream. Just now this court
is busy with reviving the rumor. which
was current a year ago, connecting the
names OF Mathilde Townsend and that
grandee Of Spain, the Duke OF Alba, in
sentimental wise.
1t is true the duke will shortly visit
America. but what hopes have been held
out to him can only be conjectured II
this betrothal takes place. which seems
unlikely since OF all the nations OF to-day
Spain is the most conservative and
frowns with dlsapproval upon interna-
tional alliances. especially between the
scions of the ancien noblesse and the
daughters Of a republic. the Duke OF Alba
can in no sense be called u fortune
hunter. for his millions and his estates
are quite equal to those Of the grand
daughter OF the great oil king Of Penn
sylvania. In this case. as In that Of the
Duke Of the Abruzzi and Miss Elkins, 1t
is the blind little god who has made all
OF the trouble, II trouble it be.
That Jacobo Maria del Pillar Carlos
Manuel Stuart Fitz-James Falco Porto
carrero Osorio, tenth Duke OF Berwick,
seventeenth Duke OF Alba. and twenty
fourth Count Of Lemos. &c, whose names
and titles take up ten lines Of the Alma
mach de Gotha. Is very muclf epris Of the
lovely. graceful. and rich Miss Townsend
there is no question. There Is. indeed.
abundant evidence 10 prove this fact
When Mrs. Townsend and her daughter
are in Europe the duke follows them from
one end OF the continent TO the other and
when they are at home he is a persistent
and ardent correspondent, and now he is
about TO give further proof Of his devo-
ton by coming 70 America.
The gossips have 1t that he comes for
one purpose, and for one purpose only.
to urge his suit for Miss Townsend but
10 one knows or can predict what his
fate will be, for Miss Townsend is rather
a wil!ful young woman. much given 20
having her own way. which, happily for
all concerned is always a good way. a
sane. consistent. and creditable way. II
Miss Townsend accepts the Duke Of Alba
ii will not be for his title alone. or be-
cause OF a girlish caprice, for she has
seen too much Of titles 10 be dazzled by
them, and she is no longer a child, hav-
ing passed some time since the age limit
when spinsterhood is said to begin Then.
too. she has been assiduously wooed by
fortune hunters and others less sordid
and she Is well aware that she can pick
and choose from large circle Of desir-
able men.
The past winter this favored child Of
fortune has been much seen with Count
Hatzfeidt, the handsome secretary Of the
German Embassy. which naturally gave
rise 20 a buzz Of gossip. but since she is
an accomplished llnguist and quite In
sympathy with foreign ways and customs.
what more natural than that she should
be a favorlte with the members Of the
diplomatic corps? But although she has
lived for many years IN Europe. Miss
Townsend is a loyal American, and one
OF tho most democratic girls in society.
II is well known % her friends that The
eXactiOns the endless frivolities OF strict
ly fashionable life are a great bore 20
her from whick she escapes at every op-
portunity She has been known 20 run
away from a perfunctory dinner party
to seek recreation in the country with "a
party Of friends as tired as she herself
IS Of conventions, the endless round OF
rapid gayeties.
The popular idea that because a girl
is rich beautiful. courted, because she
takes a conspicuous part IN society and
her name constantly figures IN the social
columns, she leads a frivolous silly life
is generally a fallacy. as such ideas
usually are. but never more untrue than
when applied 20 Miss Townsend. who Is
a woman of rare intelligence. q kind
heart. and a generous and sympathetic
nature She is one OF those who never.
lets her left hand know what her right
hand does. but she is constantly engaged
in some charitable project. She has en-