The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-29
MdtrimOnY and Divorces
Keep -Four Hundred Going
During Lent in New YOrR

NEW 1ORh. MGrCn
projects and differences are engaging TO
ar altogether extraordinary degree the
attention and the interest Of society
JEST at present Wherever the women
O. the Four Hundred fUregather. be It
at Sherry's for luncheon or at the Plaza
and the St. Regis for afternoon tea and
music, the alI-absOTbing topics Of dis
cussion consist of the alleged engage
ment Of the royal Italian Duke Of the
Abruzzi 20 Miss Katherine Elkins. the
ardent suit of the Prince de Sagan for
the hand OF Anna Gould. former
Countess &c CasteHane, and the ru-
Inored separation OF the Alfred Van
derbilts- In each instance nothing de-
finite IS known, which. OF course, gives
free rein to speculation and sets every
tongue a-waSging.
With regard 70 the Alfred Wander
bits. it has been a matter Of gossip Tor
some time past that Alfred and his
wife were rot a very united couple,
and that they were accustomed to each
go their own way. It was also known
that Alfred proposed 10 spend the great
er part of the summer abroad, having
leased for q long term one Of tho fine
fats in the so-caIled Duveen apartment
house, at the corner Of Park Lane, in
London, which occupies the site Of
Gloucester House. so long the home Of
the late Duke Of Cambridge. and previ-
Gus to that the town residence Of his
aunt. the royal Duchess Of Gloucester.
It was likewise no secret that Mrs.
Alfred intended TO remain in this coun-
try throughout the summer. But It
was believed that she would divide her
time as usual between Sycamore Lodge,
her place in the Adirondacks. and Oak
land Farm. which since her marriage
has been her principal home, and Of
which she was understood 70 be very
fond. All her interests seemed cenJered
IL the place; she was identified with all
sorts of local charities and undertakings,
and her removal Of many Of her prin-
cipal belongings to Tuxedo indicates
that her absence will be OF long du-
ration, and the severance for a time at
any rate Of ties with Newport, where
she has become a very popular figure.
While some people side with the hus-
band and imply that he would have
been happier with his wife II there had
been less interference on the part OF
his somewhat masterful mother-in-law,
old Mrs French, IL must be confessed
that the sympathies Of the greater por-
tion Of society are with Mrs. Alfred.
Even her husbands relatives seem to
have espoused her cause, and at the
wedding OF Gladys Vanderbilt 10 Count
Szechenyi she was the principal sup
porter of Mrs. Vanderbilt, ST., who de-
puted 10 her many OF the duties Of
mistress Of the house. Moreover. both
the bride and her mother insisted that
IL should be Cornelius who should give
his sister away at the altar. rather than
Alfred. although the latter had been
designated in his fathers will as the
chief OF the family
OF course, the Vanderbilts and the
Trenches are greatly distressed about
the entire affair. and especially by the
newspaper publicity. which could easily
have been set at rest II at the very
outset the respective families had taken
the trouble to explain that in view OF
the extensive building operations and
alterations In the grounds. which are
about 10 be undertaken at oakland
farm during Alfred Vanderbilt's absence
abroad until the fall. Mrs Vanderbilt
preferred TO live at Tuxedo, where her
brother had placed his villa at her dis
posal. and that the fact that the villa
was only partly furnished rendered
necessary the conveyance from New
port to Tuxedo OF several vanloads OF
iuE.uIuIe- ms statement, made at the
beginning OF the week. would have
been accepted rs satisfactory expla-
nation, and would have set AT rest much
OF the talk which has taken place about
the matter.
With regard TO last years coaching
parade mentioned above. the members
of the New York Coaching Club net
last Friday to arrange for IT'S annual
parade next month in Central Park
under the direction OF is veteran presi-
de0t Col William Jay. Several ia