Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-19
IN THE WORLD OF SOCIETY
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS ENTER
TANNED AT ITALIAN EMBASSY.
Other Happenings of Rather a Busy
Day Socially-Engagem
and Wedding-Notes.

The Italian ambassador and Baroness
Mayor des Planches had at dinner last
night to meet their royal guest. the Duke
of the Abruzzi. the Postmaster General
and Mrs George Won l.. Meyer. Esme
Howard, counselor to the British en-
bassy. and Lady Isabella Howard. l.. A
Coro- Milas. the minister from Greece;
Maj. Fourier the military attache at the
French embassy. and Mr.. Cora of the
Italian embassy The Duke de Abruzzi
will remain in Washington until Satur-
day.
The duke was the guest this afternoon
at luncheon of PoStmaSter General Meyer
and Mrs. Meyer The Italian ambassador
and Baroness deS Planches were among
those who were invited.
Yesterday the duke spent his time very
pleasantly. At the embassy he has abso-
lutte seclusion from visitors. unless he
cares to see them, he did when Mgr.
Connell. rector of the Catholic Uni
versity, former acquaintance in Rome.
called. He spent most of the morning
hours. however. at the Elkins home,
where he met the closest friends of Miss
Elkihs and where tonight he will meet
others at dinner. 1t is currently gos-
siped among the young people that at to-
nights dinner he will have an opportunity
to meet three or four of the wealthiest
and most beautiful young girls and ma
llOHS III cap1l3I society lie suppression
grows from hour to hour that the duke is
awaiting royal sanction of his engage
ment. which happy news he expects by
Saturday. previous to leaving Washington
for the present.
The persistence of the duke as sutton
and the reticence observed by the family
of Miss Elkins as to the probabilities of
his success. add the touch to this latest
international romance that is Immensely
gratifying to the American thought on the
question of foreign marriages. Every
body loves the lover" who in this case
makes a splendid impression. and The
Stars cable adviceS from Rome and Lon
don today show that If there was OPPOSE
ton to his marriage with an American,
1t is softening down considerably. The
Roman dispatch says that the Italian
public eagerly awaits news from America
regarding the reported engagement of the
Duke of the Abruzzi and Miss katherine
Elkins, Nothing has been made public in
court circles concerning the engagement.
even cabinet ministers declaring today
they knew absolutely nothing about it.
Admitting the truth of the reported en-
gagement the point that particularly in
terests people is whether the marriage
will be considered a mOrganatic one. 1t
is recalled that the Duke of the AbruZZis
mother was not of royal blood. but her
mother was not of royal blood, but her
marriage was not considered morganatfc.
and she enjoyed all the privileges of her
Queen of Spain. 1t was during this priod
of her life that the duke was born at
Madrid. The opinion that prevails among
persons of the court circle is that If the
marriage takes place it will not be viewed
as a morganatic alliance. They do not
even admit the possibility that the Amer
lean girl would accept an inferior position
or that the dukes pride would consent to
it.
Although the Duke of the Abruzzi is
copSjdara hly removed from the throne II
is believed likely that in case of his mar
riage to Miss Elkins he will be obliged
to renounce the right of succession for
his branch of the family. The last NOR
ganatic marriage in the house of Savoy
was that of Victor Emanuel II with Ro-
sina Vercellana, to whom he gave the title
of the Countess of Mirafcori.
Another Roman cable says that the Cor
rere Della Sera officially confirms the re-
port that the Duke of Abruzzi and Miss
Elkins are to be married. 1t says that
Miss Elkins will be made royal highness
in her own right, and that any sons that
may be born to her will be princes of the
royal Italian house, and that the right of
succession to the Italian throne will re-
main with them.
The London cable says that the CORE
spondent of the Central News at Rome
says he has learned from trustworthy
sources that King Victor Emanuel will
shortly confer a title of nobility upon
Senator Elkins. and that the Duke of
AbruZZi will be promoted to vice adj
miraity after his marriage to Miss kath-
crime Elkins Furthermore, the duke and
duchess will reside in one of the royal
palaces in Naples or Venice.
An interesting sidelight the situa-
ton is contained in an interview, pub
lished in the New York World today.
with Mrs. William Gamer Wiedersein of
Philadelphia. formerly Mrs. Edward
Drumming. an older sister of Miss Kath-
crime Elkins. who is quoted as saying:
Neither l nor any other member of
the family can say with certainty that
the engagement exists or does not exist.
My sister is a very determined young
woman. fully capable of managing her
own affairs, and she will make her de-
cision herself. without consultation with
any of her relatives.
1T is true that the duke followed my
sister to Palm Beach, then to ST. Au-
gustine. and is now in Washington, but
this means nothing more than that he
desires to marry her. Whether she
wishes to marry him is another question.
She has taken no one into her conf
dence, and has not given the slightest
hint of her intentions. l, for one, should
not be surprised if she refused the duke
nor should l be amazed if she accepted
him.
The engagement of Mrs. Ida S. Dolan to
Leo B. Dannemiller, first lieutenant, 18th
United States Infantry. has been an
nOunceu anu Iile WeUuluS Will De an III
teresting event to both residential and
army society shortly after Easter. Lieut..
Dannemiller is in town on a six weeks
leave from his post at Holquin, Cuba.
Former Senator and Mrs. Dryden gave
large dinner last night, when their
guests were Secretary and Mrs. Metcalf,
Justice and Mrs Harlan. Justice and Mrs
Holmes. Senator Kean, Miss kean, Repre-
sentative and Mrs. Lamar, Admiral and
Mrs. Cowles. Mr.. and Mrs Spalding, Mrs.
E. H. G. Slater, Mrs. Audenred Gen.
CroZer. Mr. John Barrett, Mr.. and Mrs.
Forrest Dryden and Col and Mrs. Kuser
The second reception of the month at
the British embassy last night brought to-
gether large and brilliant aSSemblage of
official and residential society. The am
baSSador and Mrs. Bryce were assisted by
the counselor of the embassy and Lady
Isabella Howard. Capt. the Hon. Horace
Hood, the naval attache: the military at
tache and the Hon. Mrs. James. Mr.. and
Mrs Young, Mr.. and Mrs. Grant Watson
and Mr.. BeresfOrd Hope of the embassy
staff The hostess was handsomely dress
ed in Inauve brocade and the BALLROOM
and drawing rooms were profuSely deco
rated with spring flowers An orchestra
played.
Last evening at the home of Mrs. Alice
NJ Wright, 1O16 South Carolina avenue
southeast, her daughter. Miss Anne +.
Wright. and Mr.. Thomas Watson were
married by Rev. DIR. Albert Evans of the
Metropolitan Presbyterian Church. The
bride was beautifully attired in princess
dress Of white net over white silk and