Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-31
WALTER BURNS SHOWSEERVE
Nephew Of PierpOnt Morgan Unruf.
fled by Ridiculous Accident.
sELFRDGE's NEW LONDON STORE
Big American Merchant Almost
Ready to Open Up EstsbIishmsnt
I'm PaIatiai BuiIding-Lady
Mary's Society Gossip.

ish subjects. At a well known society CLUB
the other day half a dozen people sat round
a teatable discussing an accident which re-
Gently involved Walter Burns, Pierpont
Mqrgan's nephew. who q couple Of years
ago married the younger daughter Of Mrs.
Cavendish Bentinck. and a poor relation
Of the family. The Burns were a little
time ago renting a place In the country
where they regularly invited their friends
from Saturdays to Tuesdays.
It happened one Monday that the host
found he had 10 come to London on busl-
mess, and a guest who was described az a
poor relation was also leaving on the
same day. She was neither young nor beau
tiful. Her weekend outfit was in a col
lapsible basket held together by a leather
strap. The poor relation" and her host
motored together 10 the station and their
respective belongings were conveyed to the
train by a footman. It was not until they
arrived at Waterloo that Walter Burns
noticed his guests luggage" and that she
carried 1t In her hand. He insisted upon
taking u for her TO the tubs station, by
which she was to continue her journey to
the North London suburb. in which she
lived. .
sad Accident in the Lift.
As the millionaire and his relative were
being conveyed down the lift the leather
strap Of the basket burst and out fell the
contents-a Heterogeneous mass consisting
of stockings, ribbons, an evening waist, :"
powder box, etc. The feelings OF the owner
can be more easily imagined than described.
1t was the millionaire who rose magnlfi-
Gently to the occasion. KneelinE down
among the c~rowd-for 1t was in the busiest
hour of the forenoon, he picked up all the
oddments and with the utmost care re-
placed them In the bag. while the poor re-
lation. with her cheeks aflame, was too I'M
neryed to do anything but look on helpless,
From the lift attendant Mr.. Burns got a
piece of cord. with which he bound the
basket, never letting II go until he had
placed It in the compartment in which its
owner made her way home.
1t is admitted that there IL scarcely an
Englishman in the kingdom who would
have had the bravery TO have endured the
ridicule Of the gaping, u~nsympathetic crowd
who gazed at the incident.
selfridse's Opening Event.
One of the greatest financial events Of
the late spring will be the opening Of
Selfridge's. Great efforts are being made
to secure the patronage Of royalty to the
establishment. II 10 now said that the
queen has practically given her word to
drop in to look over the store the week
before 1t will be opened to the public and
that a magnificent parlor is being deco
rated with all kinds Of royal devices In
which her majesty win be entertained al
tea. The prince and princess OF Wales are
said also TO have given their word to put
in an appearance at the paiatial shop. An
enthusiastic democratic member OF the
firm, I am however, told, makes out that
this is not true. but he does not know OF
what he Is talking. For at least two years
back it has been realized that earth and
heaven were being moved TO influence
royalty and the aristocrscy in general to
give their favor to the so-called demo.
cratic venture.
If the firm decide to give credit al
lib. to aristoeratic customers they will b.
assured OF plenty of support and. what II
more, may charge much what they like
But Mr.. Selfridge IL wide awake and hal
a dislike to giving indiscriminate tick"
Department store q Palace.
Now that the building Is at last EXPOSED
to view, it fulfills all that has been sal,
about 1t. For a year past the firm wa
boasting that II was its determination d
take the shine out of every shop in Lon
doa-a suggestion ridiculed on all sides
But their prophecy has proved correct;
is O palace Of Its kind. / am told score
of American shop girls are to be imported
Now. IL what We are told is true OF tn
American shop-girl and her pert manner
she will not suit US the least little bit. l
the West End shops in London 1t is in
p~erative for the ~shop-girl to be a sycC
pant. She has TO my lady ever
woman OF title. to madam every littl
female who wants to buy a yard OF ribbol
Moreover, she has to have the patience
Job himself and the temper OF a saint.
seitridge's has one disadvantage; 1t
rather too far down Oxford street. Yc
may say that Whitelsy's and John Barker
are much farther out. That is quite tru
but these houses made their reputation
years ago and have clienteles,
1t is rumored that during the first weel
tea will be given gratis every a~fternoo
l am not sure that we Britishers are for
OF things we set for nothing, Some CO.
trariness in our natures kicks against
Having had to pay all our lives for eve
privilege and most luxuries we don't a
preciate them when they are thrown
There is an idea in some quarters tn
SelfTidge's mean to shut up every lit
shop In oxford s~treet-indeed. it Won
seem the promoters aspire at no dista
date to take entire possession OF the gre
thoroughfare and emblazon II througho
with their own name. We shall see.
Honor for Miss Townsend.
Rarely does a young American get I
9Tivilt sc Of a private presentation to I
ding and queen. This distinction h
been accorded to Yvonne Townsend.
Slaughter OF those w~ell-known and fai
iorable Americans. Mr.. and Mrs. Tow
IsEA She has met the king on sevei
eceusiens when abroad with her pareT
and vas recently included in a hou
party at sandringham. The Townsen
entertain brilliantly and have given soI
unique luncheons for his majesty
ssarioI.tad. Mrs. Townsend is one OF
Yankee women who have been known
have special delicacies beloved of Edws