The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-12
SOCIETY PEOPLE
DANCE BALLET
Latest Fad Of London Society
Women Who Long for
Something New"
PRUssIAN COURT DIFFICULT
King Leopold Causes Fresh Scan
dial by Quarreling With His
Friend, the Baroness.

dial by Quarreling With His
Friend, the Baroness.
by THE COUNTESS OF BLANKsH1RE.
LONDON, April 11.-Iondon society.
so hear, is about to take up ballet
dancing. The first woman OF no:e
who has made herself proficient in
this art Is Lady Constance Stewart
Richardson. who practices her steps
twice a week In the privacy OF her
dancing mistresss academy.
OF course, there can be no question
OF an attempt on Lady Constance
Observation-Disclosures part to emulate
dancing merely serves her and other
members Of her set as a new form OF
recreation, and as an outlet for their
abundant energy.
Lady Constance. who before her
marriage in 1904 was Lady Constance
Mackenzie, is perhaps the most accom-
pltshed horsewoman In the country.
possessing . supreme dislike for con-
ventionalities. When she penetrated
far into the interior of Somaliland her
costume was a soldiers gray flannel
rolled up, khaki trousers, and q
sombrero
To Visit Germany.
The news that the Prince and Prin-
cess Of Wales are about to pay dying
visit to the German court Is interest
Ing from moro than one point of view,
and Is probably the direct outcome Of
what may be called the imperial letter
incident. Several members of our
royal family never visit Berlin; this is
owing in no sense to any lack Of
friendly feeling between the two
courts. but because OF the curiously
strict-it might almost be said IRON
nature OF the Prussian court etiquette.
This etiquette is peculiarly severe with
regard to royal marriages.: alliances
between princesses OF the blood royal
and even the greatest nobility being
treated as morganatic. This is why
the Duchess of Argyll and of Fife,
and-to take even stranger case
Princess Henry of Battenberg, never
visit the Prussian court. The late
Duchess of Teck, who as n girl was
so much In Germany, never made a
sojourn to Berlin after her. marriage;
and 1t Is a curious fact that neither
the Princess Of Wales nor the young
Queen of Spain Is familiar with the
usases Of the Prussian court.
Must be "Noblc."
No commoner, however distinguished
however great his worldwide fame as a
scientist. artist or musician, can hope
to belong to the German imperial cir
Gle unless he be first lowered by his
Emperor with the magic patent of no.
bility. What to our British notions is
even stranger, no wife or daughter of
a great millionaire. however honorable
the source of her husbands or fathers
4 hat, al
to the Empress. The Prussian nobility
forms caste entirely apart from the
rest of society. and Berlin. socially
speaking. is composed of many differ
emit worlds, none Of which mingle with
the other This state of things was
particularly. repugnant to the liberal
minded and highlygifted Empress
Frederick. and when crown princess
she made an effort, and, on the whole
q successful one, to surround herself
and her husband with select intel
officials took care to let 1t be clearly
understood that the future Empress.
Common friends were not entitled tc
any kind of recognition from the cour,
world.
King of Norway Coming.
An early visit from King Haakon
Of Norway. Is expected. When he ar
rives here he Is sure to become a ia
voritc in royal circles, for he has :
! most unassuming and genial nature
and contrary to general belief, this !:
what the so-called royal society cir
Gle admires as much as any trait II
a royal visitor.
Some time ago King Haaleon visited
the National Theatre at Christiania 1,
see a play by the famous dramatist
Bjornson. Between the acts the King
sent for the author and congratulated
him on his success. Bjornson listene,
until the King had finished speak
ing. and then he deliberately went III
and patted His Majesty on the head
You do not pronounce that wor,
correctly" he said, criticizing tn
Kings accent. 1.-THE proper way Shout
be so-and-so."
Instead of resenting Bjornson's be
havior, His Majesty laughed and prom
ised to remember the playwright's ad
vice in the future. Fancy any othe
monarch having his head patted by
II subject!
The Matchmnkcrs.
So many marriages have taken plac
among the members of Lord Aberdeen
staff since he went to Ireland that h
ard Lady Aberdeen are being playful.
labeled as confirmed matchmakers
They probably do no more than lool
on benevolently. and the accusation
hardly prejudices young men an,
maidens against the Viceregal Lodg
J and Dublin Castle. Since they tool
), Office Lord and Lady Aberdeen's tw
eldest sons have become married NOR
and other weddings In which they ha
more than passing interest wer,
those of Lady Celia Crewe Mines t