The Washington herald., 1911-09-28
|ROSSMORE PEERAGE
HAS UNIQUE HONOR

NJ O4"VOH AAOANOAN
Sir Abe Bailey, the South African mil
lonaire and politician, whose marriage
this month in London to Miss Westenra,
the daughter of Lore Rossmore, has
aroused so much interest, became promi-
nent as one OF Cecil Rhodes young
men, later on succeeding to the en-
pire builders seat in the Cape Assembly.
de also figured in the Jameson raid,
and when Lord Hawke and his English
cricket team arrived in the gold reef
city they found Mr.. Bailey, who was to
nave been their host. in prison.
During the Boer war he distinguished
himself by helping to raise and to equip
the South African Light Horse, getting
1t ready to take the field in three weeks.
Inc Quitting resources of Cape Town
were not extensive. and many amusing
shifts had to be resorted to. For in
stance, the cocks feathers that gave
! so jaunty an appearance to the corps
were mostly provided by the girls of
the town, who gladly stripped their
headgear for the popular Mr.. Bailey
and his men.
The Bailey wedding serves to recall
one OF the most curious parts in the his
tory OF the British peerage. Lord Ross
more has not one drop of blood OF the
grantee of the title in his veins. This
Is an almost unprecedented occurrence,
and arises out of the unique special
remainder" granted in the patent of that
peerage. The first Lord Rossmore was
Gen. Cunninghame, who had no children.
But to reward him for his military
services as commander-in-chief OF the
forces In Ireland the title was made
hereditary by the children of the gener-
ais wife's sister. Their name was
Westenra. They were of Dutch descent,
their ancestor Warner Westenra. having
settled in Ireland in the days of King
Charles H.
Hence the Rossmore peerage has the
unique distinction of being held by a
FAMILY in whose honor 1t never was de-
signed. And. still more curious, when
the title was created the eldest of the
nephews Of the first peers wife was a
Jones. He died unmarried, and the title
iell TO the children of the next eldest
OF Lady Rossmore's sisters children
Had that Mr. Jones married and left
heirs. there would have been a Jones
family In the British peerage, the first
time in its history. the nearest coming to
il being one of the recent radical peers,
Lord Glantame. who used TO be Sir
John Jones Jenkins
Lord ROssmOre is nearing sixty. He
was formerly in the Life Guards and
In the Ninth LanCers, has a nice enough
place in County Monaghan. but is not
overburdened with wealth. At the con
clusion Of a brief stay in Ireland, the
popular millionaire and his bride will
leave for South Africa. The latter Is
sure to please the colOnIals. for although
she is but a girl of twenty, she is an
Irish sportswoman to the backbone, and
very keen follower to hounds Her
husband is an interesting fellow. and the
only well-known South African million
airc Of purely British blood since Cecil
Rhodes. On their return to England, Sir
Abe and his young wife will take up
their residence at Yewhurst a fine prop
erty at East Grinstead which Sir Abe
has acquired.
The wedding took place in Holy Trinity
Church. and Sloane street was crowded
with spectators fer all of a quarter of a
mile. The bride. who was given away
by her father. Lord Rossmore, was the
Cyn0sure OF all eyes in her beautiful
wedding gown of gold and white bro
Cade. in semi-princess form. draped with
beautiful point de verise lace. the long
train being also covered with a wide
flounce Of the same parchment-tintrd
lace Her simple tulle veil was worn
over a wreath of real orange blossoms.
and a cluster of similar flowers was
tucked in the Corsage.
The six bridesmaids who were in at
tendance on Miss WeSterra wore very
charming dresses of delicately tinted
mink chiffon. with overdresses of ninOn
inset with panels of lace. and blue sashes.
4 quaint idea was carried out in tn"
sCarfs of blue chiffon which each maid
wore drapped over her shoulders, and in
place of hat or cap there was A snood
of blue chiffon. held in place with
cluster of blue and pink satin roses.
Sir Starr Jameson. an old friend of the
bridegroom. acted as hest man, and
Canon Edgar Sheppard. subdean of the
chapels royal performed the marriage
ceremony Lady ROssmOre. the brides
mother. wore n lovely gown Of pale
fraise satin. with gold insertion and
fringe. and a small navy toque with
clusters of deep blue feathers.
Many society people came up from
their country seats for the ceremony.
The Duchess of Newcastle was one OF
the first to arrive, accompanied by Miss
Jane Thornewill. who was wearing gray
fOulard. Lady NOreen Bass. wearing
emerald green satin, came with Lady
ROwena Patterson. Lady Wilmington
had on a white lace dress with
green velvet walsthand and a gray hat.
Countess Torby's two daughters. Count
ess Zia and Nadine Torby. came with
Lady Manvers, their mother. Countess
Torby being i'll at Ken Wood.
ELANEUR.
Copyright. 1911. BY Court Gossip syndicate.)