The Washington herald., 1908-03-04

That a jOke-a plain. everyday, girlIsn
joke-may play havoc with Dan Cupids
plans and crush a mothers matrimonial
aspirations was practically admitted last
night by Mrs. A. Z. Brown, mother Of
Mabel Brown Fairfax. in an interview
with q reporter for The Washington Her
aid
Mrs. Brown said that her daughter, who
is an actress. had been engaged 10 Will
lard Wyatt. a rich Chicago banker for
two years. This daughter was one Of
the prettiest girls Of the galaxy that ap-
peared here a few weeks ago with Eddie
Foy IN The Orchid"
While playing with her company in
Worcester. Mass, recently. rumor be
came current that Miss Fairfax had in
herited several million dollars and was in
search of a husband with a title. Then
came the announcement Of her engage
ment with Hugh Fftz-Gerald Lowering.
rightfuI heir to the title of Lord Cough
and great estates in England and Ireland
through the press
Seiged with n Fear.
Mrs. Brown saw the announcement and
was seized with a fear. II It were not
true, and II Mr.. Wyatt should read it and
cancel his engagement. it would be a
calamity devoutly 70 be Stunned. Then
came letter from the daughter pro-
claiming that the reported betrothal 10
Lord Cough was only joke.
This increased the mothers alarm. for
she reasoned that II the wealthy banker
OF Chicago broke his engagement. and
the engagement with Lord Cough was
only joke" then her daughter would
lose two good matrimonial chances.
When II was reported that Mabel
Brown Fairfax, the chorus girl in the
eccentric dance in The Orchid" was an
heiress. letters inclosing generous terms
Of marriage came in piles in her daily
mail. she gave her suitOrs no serious
consideration. She laughed, with her
friends. over them, and then fed them
to the consuming flames. But ore Of the
sUitors. bOlder than his rivals, called on
the girl She accepted his proposal tc
take q ride in his auto The next day
newspapers contained the story OF her
engagement TO Lord Gouga. better known
as living Little Lord Fauntleroy."
MADE Her Friends jealous.
When questioned, Miss Fairfax merely
laughed. shook her head. and flashed q
glance upon her inquisitor that prompted
him 10 keep silent Jealousy seized hold
of the other girls OF the company, so
Miss Fairfax decided TO let the story run.
She became the object Of much gossip,
and was pointed out on the stage. This
distinction she enjoyed. as is shown in a
letter recently received BY her mother.
who lives at 20 street northwest. il
is as follows:
Dearest Mama; A great sensation about me- have
fallen heiTcss 10 millions and WEur a titled husband
Think Of that. That the frzt -Wrire-up- in the
rcTspaleTs and started the fun Have received AL
sorts of letters from applicants. among them a
French sTmy ofcer. count, and the living Little
Lord Fauntleroy. who has Just cone into title
and vast estates IN England and Ireland he called
on me Scd insisted riding in his machine
saying he =anted me 70 meet his mother. She IS o.
English descent, and vhen told him 7 vas also
English, be said that was Just too ane Sepspaps7
make It serious Its great fun Keep up the joke
Lovingly. MABEL.
Mrs. Brown says she has failed to see
the joke. She is worried for fear that
Mr.. Wyatt will also fail 10 see where
the fun comes in.
The engagement OF the banker and the
girl is said TO be the elimination OF a
pretty romance Two years ago they
met, and fell in love. The marriage was
arranged for jaauery last, but Miss Fair
fax expressed a desire to finish the sea
son with the company, and the ceremony
was postponed 10 spring.
Have Warned Her.
A member Of the family said last night
that when travelling in the West, Mabel
had often visited the Wyatts. and had
made a good impression on the family.
They asked her. it is said. TO leave the
show business. as the Stanford White
Harry Thaw incident had been a warning
to sons Of rich families against marrying
show girls.
Miss Fairfax comes Of an old. aris-
cratic family. She is a direct descendant
of the Virginia Fairfaxes. and IS related
10 the Be-keleys, Burys. and Wilson's, OF
the Old Dominion. she was graduated
from the Business High School in this
city a few years ago. After leav-
ing school, she was employed by the
Riggs Fire Insurance Company as a
stenographer. and later by Armour &
Co. Miss Fairfax is pretty. with SOFT
rr1lToF, huT- au1 Turl-