Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-20
WILL START SALON
American Woman Declares This to
Be Her Intention.
SUNDERLAND HOME THE PLACE
Marlborough Name TO he Given
Prominence Again in This Way
-sCIimbers" Given OPP
~pOrtunity TO Climb.

"
LONDON, Dec. 1s.-Cspecial.)-At last we
are to have a salon. The duchess OF MARI
borough has said II. For years il has been
the ambition Of every great leader Of 30
ciety in London to found a salon. Attempts
by the score have been made, but somehow
one after another has failed. The lady who
arrived nearest to the mark was Lady
Jeune, the wife Of the famous divorce court
Judge, Sir Francis Jeune, who received a
peerage shortly before his death. This
lady, by the way, is a ~grand-aunt Of Mrs.
Winston Churchill.
All sorts of clever and eccentric people
used to assemble at Lady Jeune's we'll
known house in Harley street. The pos
session of brains was the passport. Some
Of the men were so poor it used to be said
that they got their dress suits out Of pawn
for the occasion. These men were to be
found discussing some burning question Of
the day with Lady Warwick or the beauti-
full duchess of Sutherland. OF one guest It
was told that after having taken her grace
Of Sutherland in to supper at one Of these
parties he left the house and had to sleep
on the -embankment, his landlady having
locked the door upon hin because he had
not paid his rent. Today he is one Of our
foremost authors and gets four figures for
his novels.
Brain Mixed with Fun.
The duchess of Marlborough is aware
that the very first essential for a salon
in London is intellectually mingled with
an element OF amusement. Amusing guests
who can tell good stories and witty women
are as necessary as politicians and bishops.
The primary idea Of the duchess salon is
political In politics her grace is a tory
OF the first water, like her husband, but,
nevertheless, she is extremely broad in her
tastes and eminently catholic in her selec-
ton Of friends. This means that there
should be IN exceedingly interesting crowd
found within the walls of the ducal abode
in Curzon street It is said here that as a
rule politics do not interest the American
woman. To the duchess of Marlborough
they are fascinating. For years she has
been credited with this desire to found a
salon. At the moment she is a pillar OF
philanthropy. Half the bishops of England
look to her for funds for her charities.
She responds most generously to appeals,
but were she to give to all she would ex-
coed her total income.
Money is the first essential for success
of any kind in London just now. A woman
may be as beautiful as Marie Stuart or
Marie Antoinette and have the bluest Of
blood in her veins, but IL she has not
money, it profits her nothing. On the other
hand, anyone who possesses the almighty
dollar, can, If she goes about it in the
right way, enter the magic royal set. But
it goes without saying she must be intro
duced by someone in the swim. Otherwise
she may remain for all time outside in the
cold
Money Buys Position.
Five peeresses have recently formed
themselves into a circle and have limited
that any rich colonial, American or English
man and woman who desires to take up
a definite position in London society, may
do so by putting down the needful in the
shape of a check which will be divided
among the five. One of these ladies' is a
favorite with the king, who is her god
father. Her husband used to be regarded
as one of the wealthiest men in society,
but in some mysterious way his money has
disappeared and they have had to give
up their town house and live in quite a
small way. She is beautiful, ambitious.
accomplished and has two budding daugh-
tiers who ought to be put upon the matri-
monial market in the proper way. Another
OF these ladies is the wife of an Irish peer,
who, though very clever and ga coming
man. has no money. His wife is a
beauty, but he cannot allow her the money
she ought to have to dress on. II she
hopes to hold her place in society and at
tain for her lord the political position of
which he is worthy, she must be perfectly
gowned and she must also entertain. A
third member Of the quintet is the wife
Of the Hampshire magnate, who accepted
5000 from a well known newspaper pro-
prietor for permission TO allow a reporter
TO reside in his house during the visit of
a renowned sovereign, who must be name
less.
Those who know these ladies are watch
ing with the greatest interest for the COM
ing OF the new millionaires, who. If they
are bachelors, may expect the time OF their
lives. That the fees will be heavy for in
Productions goes without saying. Some fix
the price at 5000. others say 1t will more
likely run to $4,000.
Her majesty, Queen Alexandra, has al
ways been a great admires of Mrs. John
Jacob Aston. 'On the death OF Mrs. Astor
the queen sent an autograph letter of con-
dolence to her. This was a special mark of
favor. for it so happens that owing to the
GOODNESS which has for years existed be-
tween the Astors here and the first family,
Mrs. John Jacob is known but slightly 10
the royal family.
famous hit of JeweIry.
Her majesty, who is a great lover of
historic jewels, has heard q great deal
about the famous Louis XIV bow in dia-
monds and pearls which was part of the
state Jewels of that monarch, and which
was purchased by the late Mrs. Astor for
a fabulous sum some years ago and Will
henceforth be worn by her daughter-in-law
/ hear Mrs. John Jacob Aston has promised
to bring this exquisite piece of jewelry to
Europe with her the next time she crosses
for the inspection Of the queen who, it is
said, desires a replica OF il. No doubt it
will be a considerable time before Mrs.
Astor wears IL, but when she does she may
expect to be mobbed, so great is the in
[ rarasf hare In the nrnannnnt |