Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-05-28
The American Heiress in Europe,

The Countess of Granard. formerly
Miss Beatrice Ogden Mills of California,
who in a huff cut short her visit with
her husband to Ireland a fortnight ago,
has created a sensation in London by
the extravaganza of her costume.
Her hat is said to have been the domi-
mating feature of the charity perform
ance OF The Mollusc" at the Kingsway
Theater. where English society. headed
by the Princess of Wales, was present
in force. The hat was wonder with
crown eighteen inches in height and a
semi-circular white osprey feather TWEEN
ty-four inches long, estimated to have
cost 1925. A Geographic report runs as
follows:
When the Countess was hidden to sneak
with the Princess of Wales in the royal box
her hat damned in the doorway and she
had TO twist her head so as TO bring the
hat into a diagonal position in order to
scrape through. When the Countess entered
the royal party was only partly visible here
and there through the trimmings of her
headgear. The Princess of Wales looked
dowdy beside the Countess, whose indigo
blue gauZe gown mounted over crushed
strawberry satin would have been sufficient
to distract the other women. even apart
from her indispensable hat. The Countess
had on a pearl necklace of great opulence,
and her collar band bore in front diamond
plaque as big as the palm of her hand.
Lady Granard was shown into her box by
Ambassador Reid. Mrs. Reid followed. as
decreed by the rules of precedence.
1t would seem as if the young Ameri-
can countess were overdressing. Over
dressing shows shockingly bad taste.
There was a time when Americans in
Europe were noted for the simplicity of
their attire, but that time has gone by
They have money now, and as a rule
they follow the first part of the advice
of Polonius to Laertes, Costly thy
habit as thy purse can buy" ignoring,
however, the saving clauses-"but not
expressed in fancy-neat, not gaudy."
The Countess of Granard is doing as
other American women have done. When
a rich American from a middle western
state was minister to Italy during the
reign of the present Kings father. his
wife so bedeeked herself with jewels
that she outshOne Queen Margherita at
n court function, attracting all eyes
and. so the gossip of the time assert
ed, causing the queen to go weeping to
her royal husband with Il request for
more jewels. There was tact as well
dignity in the course which he
took to assuage her grief. He Gained
her so the story ran, by saying that the
Pearl of Savoy was not in competition
with American millionairesSes though
they might be covered with diamonds.
Is il wise for self-expatriated Ameri-
cans to fiaunt their wealth in the faces
If the nobility and royalty of Europe
from whom they crave recognition and
honors? VIII the old peerage of Eng
land. for instance. submit to being hus-
fled into a corner at its own functions
Inv young women from this side of the
Atlantic whose fathers money enables
them to splurge in dress? The challenge
which money throws down TO rank is
extremely likely to provoke reaction.
The wiser course for the American
heiress in Europe who desires permanent
social success would be TO cultivate the
craces and acquire political tact and in