The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-25
'W|[LENTERRANKS
. OF HIGH SOCIETY
Mrs. Maldwin Drummond Is
Preparing to Entertain
Extensively.
YARMOUTH PLAY A FARRAGo
Charlton Park Restored to For
mer Grandeur by Letter
Wealth.
YARMOUTH PLAY A FARRAG0
NY A. j. LAA1DERT.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch.l
London, September 24.--Mrs. Maid
win Drummond, who was Mrs. Mar
shall Field. Jr., has determined to en-
ter the ranks of the most active
Anglo-American hostesses. She mas
leased charming country house IN
the beautiful Midland district, has
thoroughly overhauled and redecorated
her town house, No. 2 Carlton House
Terrace. Is increasing her circle of ac-
quaintances among society leaders by
a round of visits to the country houses
of the hunting and shooting sets, Is
adding to her wardrobe by flying trips
to Paris modistes. and, in word, has
laid all her plans for q most extern
sive and elaborate series of enter
tainments inSboth town and country.
With her husband Mrs, Drummond
has Just left for North Berwick, a
great golfing centre, where she has
taken house called The Knoll, for
a few weeks. Her marriage with Cap
tain Drummond has proved singularly
happy, and the two are sevoted COM
panions. They travelled in almost royal
style during their recent visit to South
Africa. On one stage OF the journey
a luxurious parlor car was provided
for them by the De Beers Diamond
Mining Company.
Mrs. Drummond's two boys are be-
ing educated at Elton, and they are
devoted to their stepfather.
Strange audiences assemble nightly
at the Court Theatre to witness the
Earl of Yarmouth's bizarre produce
ton. 1.-THE Pigeon House." which, be-
cause Of its amateurish crudity. stamps
him as the direct successor to the
late Marquis Of Anglesey. Lord Var
mouth, who is tne discarded husband
of Miss Alice Thaw, despite his rather
shady reputation is not without
friends of certain social standing,
and these mustered Loyalty to app!auo
the play Of which his lordshlp IS
author and composer, and IN WINCH
under the name OF Eric Hope, ms
lordship takes the leading part, but
the work is such a monumental far
rago of drivel that even these sup
porters laugh at It.
Z The difference between the two peer
performers is that the Marquis Of
Anglesey produced plays as an eX-
pensive hobby. whereas the Earl OF
Yarmouth expects to make living by
them.
William s. Gilbert has decided that
lie will not cross the Atlantic to
stage manage a series of the Gilbert
and Sullivan revivals. the great
librettish appears to have lost all OF
his old interest in things theatrical
OF late years his dramatic successes
have been few and far between. and
his recent productions were all more
or less failures. Twice he vowed
never to write another line for the
theatre. but each time he was pre-.
vailed upon to break his word. The
atmosphere OF the law court Is much
more in his line nowadays.
His honorary appointment as coun.
try magistrate permits him to dis
pense Justice at Harrow, and lie LAS
not missed any police court hearings
of the Crippen case, always occupying
a seat at the maglstrate'o right hand
A large family party has been stay
ing at Charlton Park. the seat OF the
Earl of Suffolk, who has Just cele-
brated his thrty-third birthday The
countess. who was a Miss Letter, has
proved a resourcerul hostess.
When Miss Letter married Lord sur
folk. Charlton Park, which Is one OF
the finest Jacobean mansions In Eng
land. was In a deplorable state. many
of the rooms being uninha bltable
The Letter wealth has altered all that
and now the staterooms are magnif'
Gently restored and filled With fine
furniture and works of art, and the
picture gallery, containing famous
collection. has been practically re-
built.
The most striking alteration made
by Lady Suffolk is the conversion OF
an open courtyard in the centre of the
mansion into a large concert hall
with a full-sized church organ, costing
$4,000. After dinner the guests
usually assembled there, While Lady
Suffolk. who Is an accomplished musi.
clan. played and sang. Lord Suffolk
who is keen on amateur theatricals
Intends to give a series OF dramatic
performances this fall and about
Christmas. when the house will be
full Of guests for shooting and the
Yuletide celebrations