Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-17
IN the WORLD OF SOCIETY
MISS ELKINS IS TO MARRY THE
DUKE OF ABRUZZI.
Formal Announcement Is Shortly
Superintendent Hospitalities
and Coming Ones-Notes.

That Senator and Mrs. Ekins may
shortly announce the engagement OF
their daughter Katherine and Prince
Luigi Amadeo Giuseppe Maria Ferdi
nando Francesca. the Duke of the Abruz-
ri. seems now to be an accepted fact, as
the authority for the statement comes
from sources said to be very close to
all concerned. The announcement may
or may not Immediately follow the re-
turn of Mrs. and Miss Elkins from the
south. They are expected today. and
dispatch from Florida says that the
duke will also be here today so that,
taking all things into consideration. the
public will not be long left guessing the
outcome of this latest international ro-
nance. To add a delightful piquancy
to the story of the engagement. If 1t is
to be soon authoritativey announced.
there is an idea current that Miss Elkins
has kept her ducal sutton waiting FOR
his answer for the last six months and
that he received the happy word after
their meeting last week in Florida.
Miss Elkins has had more attention
than usually comes to the most favored
belle and may be said to have had every
wish of her life gratifed.
She has not cared for the social demon
STATIONS that other girls covet. and few
years ago, when she began to participate
in groWn-up society, she refused anything
like a coming-out tea or ball. she is a
splendid horseWoran. and the life OF the
open suits her better than any other en-
| joyment unless it be the theater. During
the past winter she has driven nearly
every afternoon in a smart little phaeton.
| and each spring and fall for years back
| she has taken part in horse shows, fire.
quently riding to display her prize-win-
| ming mounts and in fox hunts. both here
and elsewhere. Her expressions are her
| chief beauty. and as she is by nature
sunny, carefree. warm hearted and de-
voted to her friends. few have ever seen
| her who would fail to speak OF her again
as very pretty girl.
The Duke Of the AbruZZi had the white
| light turned on him very critically when
| he was here last spring, in command OF
the Italian ships at the opening of the
| jamestown exposition. He is first cousin
| of the King of Italy. His father was the
| late Duke of Aosta and his mother was
Letitia Bonap arte. His older brothers, the
Duke of Aosta and the Count of Turin. and
| the sons Of the former would be nearest
the throne of Italy should death remove
the present king or his son. the little
Prince of Piedmont. He is in his thirty
fifth year. and outside of his relationship
to the reigning royal family of Italy has
achieved fame for himself as a traveller
and an arctic explorer. He penetrated, in
1900. to a point farther north than the
most northerly one reached by DR.. Nam
sen. He is cosmopolitan in his tastes. and
makes friends everywhere. Last spring
the Italian ambassador entertained for the
duke who was his guest, and he had fur
Their opportunity to see feminine Wash
ington in the series OF Inequalities given
in his honor by the Postmaster General
and Mrs Meyer Mr.. and Mrs. Larz An
derson. and others.
The 18th of May last President Roose-
welt gave A dinner to the duke and his
| staff. when Gen. Kuroki and his staff and
the vice admiral of the Brazilian navy
and his suite were also guests. The duke
was also a luncheon guest at the White
| House. Until he left with the ships he
was constantly entertained. officially and
by personal friends in the various cities
he visited.
A cablegram to The Star from Rome
| today says: Some significant circum-
| stances regarding the movements of the
| Duke of the AbruZZi came to light today
| and do not bear out the denial made at
| the Italian court yesterday of marriage
engagement between the duke. who is a
cousin of King Victor Emmanuel. and
Miss Katherine Elkins. daughter of Sen
ator Elkins of West Virginia The duke
! came to Rome the middle of February
and had several long interviews with the
king and his elder brother. the Duke OF
| Aosta. The latter came from Naples
| purposely for the conference. Following
these interviews the Duke Of the AbruzZi
asked leave of absence from the command
of the battleship Regina Elena. This
was granted. since which time the navy
| department has heard nothing of his
| movements.
Inquiries made at Spezia brought the
information that the Duke of the AbruZzi
left there the end of February accom-
panied only by his valet, man named
| Galliano 1t is thought at Spezia that
| the duke went to Paris. Before leaving
he sent one of his aids to Rome with
| letter to the king saying that he would
| later communicate his address to his
majesty. Up to the present tlme ne mas
| failed to do so.
| A dispatch to The Star from ST. Angus
| tine Fla says: The Duke of the AbruZzi
who has been staying incognito in that
city. left there suddenly last night for
| Washington.
Mrs. Stephen B. Elkins and her daugh-
ter. Miss katherine Elkins. were with
| him.
| Mime. Cortes and Nine Guzman will
resume their Tuesday afternoons al home
| today.
| The Japanese amba ssador. Baron Taxa
| hira welcomed the diplomatic corps yes
| terday afternoon at the embassy on X
| street following the custom which is
| ordained for each new ambassadorial ar
a very happy one, as Baron Takahra
numbers many old friends in the foreign
| circle as we'll i'll society generally
! The spacious rooms were decked with
| flowers. and there We're refreshments, The
ambassador was assisted in the hospital
lty by Mr.. Hanlhara, second secretary;
| Mr.. Nagai. third secretary: Isaburo Yo-
| shida. attache; Commander Taniguichi
naval attache and Maj Tanaka military
attache, all of the embassy staff