The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-11
PARIS is STILL
RIVAL OF RENO.
Reigning American Beauty
Is Seeking a
Divorce.
Reigning
BY YANuE ,runatpson

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch.
| Paris, December 10.--Another proof
that Paris Is taking the place of far
of Reno, In Nevada, is seen In the
approaching divorce Of Mrs. Georgs
Lee Thompson. Jr, of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Thompson Is daughter OF Mr..
| and Mrs. Fullerton Phillips, whose ad-
dress Is the Ritenhousc, Philadelphia,
Mr.. Philips is prominent In the bust
ness circles OF the Quaker city. Ano.
Their OF his daughters married a son OF
the late a. j. Cassatt. former president
OF the Pennsylvania Railroad, and So
cured a divorce. Mrs. Julia Phillips
Thompson, pending her divorce, Is
stopping with her mother at q Paris
hotel. They spent the summer at Din
ard. and Mrs. Thompson was admitted
ly the reigntng beauty OF the Brittany
resort.
De Fouquieres describes he as "look-
ing like one of Friar Angelica's An
gels" She is very popular in the Rus
sian set. and figures prominently at
all the grand ducal entertainments
Indeed, 1t can be said on almost royal
authority that this beautiful American
woman may be the first ever Of our
compatrlots to wed q member OF the
reigning family In Europe. The hero
OF this imperial romance is the Grand
Duke Alexander Michaelovitch, second
cousin of tho Gear Of Russia, whose
sister, the Grand Duchess xcnia, he
married in 1894.
His Admiration Unconccaled.
Grand Duke Alexander is forty-hve
years Of age and has lived many years
in Paris where he Is we'll known In
attempt to conceal his admiration for
the fair American he has furnished
genuine and most unusual sensation
10 society. Indeed the grand dukes
desperate infatuation Is the talk of
all places where fashionable Partisan
society congregates.
Mrs. Thompson was entertained tha
other night by the Grand Duke and
Grand Duchess Cyril. and Is frequently
seen at the Ritz and other fashionable
restaurants with Alexander Michaelo-
Witch.
Unfortunately the grand duke re.
rognizes the fact that many obstacles
stand in tho way Of his happiness d.
vorce not being recognized by the Rus.
sian church. even II the Gear would
consent to 1t. So all he can offer is
morganatic marriage OF the kind the
Italian court tried to force Miss Elkins
10 accept.
These morganatic marriages, gem
orally contracted in some foreign
country. are not unusual among the
Romanoffs Grand Duke Alexis. who
died last year in Paris left morgana.
tic wife. His brother Paul married in
the same way and lives in Paris. More
to the point is the fact that Grand
Duke Alexander's elder brother. Grand
Duke Michael. married morganaticalIy
the Countess OF Torby at San Reno,
in 1891. She and her husband make
their home in England. where she Is
a great friend of Queen Anexandra
and a great social favorite. Indeed.
all morganatic marriages with Rus
sian royalty have led to high social
position and ultimate recognition.
Meanwhile the beautiful Philadel-
phian has dethroned all of last years
beauties, and has conquered the most
aristocratic society In Paris.
Arthur Innersley. of Lyme Regis
Dorsetshire. England. journalist
whose name is well known in maya
zine and newspaper Offices OF the
United States and London. is now In
Paris. He Is a graduate Of Brasenose
College, Oxford. in double honors, also
an attorney at law and man Of high
scholarly attachments. He will short
~ marry Mrs. Fearn. the widow OF
the Honorable Walker Fearn. once
United States minister to Roumania
and Greece, and member OF the Inter-
national Court of Egypt.
A kentuckian by birth, Mrs Fearn
spent her early days on the estate OF
her father, rich sugar planter OF
Louisiana. She is known all over the
United States for her benevolent work
n behalf OF the blind, in which she act
ed as the personal representative OF
The Queen OF Roumania, Carmen SYLVIA
While at the royal summer palace at
Sinaia, she was thrown into close re-
lations with the late King Edward OF
England. then Prince of Wales.
At the time Of her stay at Athens.
King George ". who was then Prince
George, was attached to the Mediter-
'anean squadron under command or
The Duke Of Edinburgh. In her official
position, Mrs. FeaTn met him frequent
y on the most agreeable and friendly
.erms. She enjoys the friendship of
other distinguished people. among
hem being the King and Crown Prin-
cess OF Roumania. the Countess Of
Flanders mother Of the King Of Bel
GUM and many eminent diplomats in
he court of Europe.
At present Mrs. Fearn and her fance
ire the guests In Paris Of Mrs. Fearn's
laughter, Mrs. Martin French. Of New
York and Hot Springs, Virginia. After
he wedding the happy pair will prob
IDLY visit London before taking up
'esidence on the Riviera. Mrs. Fearn
s woman Of great personal attrac-
ion and charm of manner. She also
possesses strong literary and dramatic
instinct. She is the author Of "The +
Diary Of a Refugee" Just published in
New York. Another book, entitled
Life at Three Eastern Courts" will
oon appear.
The wedding will take place In the
amous old Cathedral Of Salisbury,
England. some time this month The
ceremony will be performed by the
Bishop of Salisbury. who was ono Of
Ir. Innersley's professors at Oxford
IRIS Fearn is a rich woman, but should
he gain a suit against the family Of
'ount Monthaoulmin, for the estate of
Ter uiece, Mrs. Wilkinsin. she will be
millionaire.
Count de Haussonyille, an eminent
Lcademlcian, is amused rather than
ngry at the latest exhibition Of BRIT.