Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-11

ent arrangements, have left London for
the United States. But she returns to us
again shortly, as she has taken a fresh
lease to Mrs. Adair's house in Curzon
street, to which she flew from 13 Brook
street during the season, after a series
of trials which were attributed at the
time to the number of the house. Mrs.
John Jacob Astor has always held a unique
and interesting position In London society,
but this year she queened 1t over most
other Americans-a position arrived at
through her exclusivcness, her beauty and
the lavishness of her entertainments, nota-
bly, her ball which was one of the great
Anglo-American events of the season. Her
dressing, too. was wonderful. John S. Sar-
gent, the painter, got the credit of de-
signing some of her frocks. Probably there
is scarcely a queen in Europe who could
have Induced the sutocratic r. A. to have
done this. To Mrs. John Jacob Astor all
things are possible.
It was she who introduced us to the
directoire gown at it's best and to char
meuse satin. l am told she has just pro-
vided herself with an exquisite new ward
robe for her stay in the United states,
each frock and mantle expressing the very
last word which Paris has to say In matters
sartorial. Doucet and Worth vie with each
other for the privilege of dressing her.
Were she a poor woman she need never pay
a cent for her gowns, so willing would the
~artistes In clothes be to gown her. 10 the
Parisians she appeals essentially because
OF the perfect contour Of her figure and
her rare, indeed unique. coloring. They
think there has never been a woman like
her since the days OF Eugene.
Venice Autumn Resort.
Venice has become a rage as an autumn
resort. The latest to give the cachet of her
approval to It is Consuelo. duchess of Man
! chester, who has a delightful apartment
, there. For the last three or four seasons
Venice has been attracting both English
and American visitors. but this autumn it
has reached the zenith of lis popularity,
and now that Consuelo, duchess OF Man
| chester, has approved II, fancy prices are
being offered for palazzi on the Grand
Canal. The duchess is anxious to pur-
chase the apartment she is occupying, hav-
Ing taken q great fancy to life in the place.
The young countess of Craven Is anxious
to acquire quarters ON the Canal and Mrs,
Walter Burns is also lUuSing out for a
suite of rooms. For years Muriel Wilson
has gone TO Venice regularly in the spring
and autumn, and this year has for a guest
Lady Essex. Muriel Wilson's apartment is
on the Canal, and is a perfect treasure
house of beautiful thing-. PRICELESS rugs,
and tapestries, wonderful china. silver and
brasses, as well as Italian masterI = es in
pictures and sculpture are in every room.
The apartment and its contents are her
own special property, and she goes there
when she wants to seek repose and rest.
Sargent, of the Royal Academy, is also
in Venice just now and goes everywhere, or
at least is asked everywhere. He is often
with Consuelo. duchess of Manchester, with
whom he is on very friendly terms. Later
he is to paint yet another picture of her,
but she wishes the sitting delayed until she
is looking her best, as Of late she has been
far from well.
Mrs. Martin scores Triumph.
Mrs. Bradley Martin has succeeded IN
obtaining a far more important social po-
sition in Scotland than hostesses VIM
boast of the flow OF royal blood in their
veins. Even the duchess of Fife, the
princess royal, is said to feel anxiety re-
garding the popularity of the wife Of the
American millionaire. The duchess Is
practically the first lady in Scotland by
right rather OF her husbands position
than the fact that she is the eldest daug-
ter OF King Edward. Fife belongs to the
famous clan Of MacDuff; besides he is one
OF the creates Scotch magnates. OF late
years the duchess has seen TT to live on
her reputation without troubling to take
any active part in popular gatherings.
Here Mrs. Bradley Martin cam in and
scored. She gave and distributed prizes