Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-05
LONDON SOCIETY.

Special Cablegram to The Star,
LONDON, March liking George and
Queen Mary will publicly declare their
attitude toward the American wives OF
English nobility when the four duchesses
are chosen to hold the canopy over the
queen at the coronation. No official word
has been issued. but unless one of the
three American duchesses is announced
it will be patent that the late kings fond
ness for foreign wives of dukes is not in
herited by the present monarch.
When Edward and Alexandra We're
crowned the Duchess of Marlborough was
one of the ducal quartet. but there is but
slight chance that the former Consuelo
Vanderbilt will again be honored Since
the last coronation this duchess has rid
herself of her husband, which alters her
position slightly.
AS the Duchess of Roxburghe is on init
mate terms with the queen, it is generally
assumed that she. if any one. will receive
the honor. The Duchess of Roxburghe is
now at Floors Castle, Scotland. Even IT
she does not assist with the canopy she
viii command attention by the collection
of turquoises which she will wear with
her robes. Mr.. and Mrs. George w. Van
derbiIt have arrived in London and are
seen frequently at the Ritz.
Mrs. Lewis Harcourt is the only Ameri-
can wife of a cabinet minister entertain
ing, and that is in a small way at her
own town house in Berkeley square. Her
popularity with the late king, unlike that
of many other American hostesses, is
maintained with the present sovereign.
Mrs. Ava Willing Aston, with her din
ner to the Duke and Duchess of Con-
naught, and the Countess Granard. with
her continuous entertainment at Forbes
House, have kept the Stars and Stripes in
the social ascendant during the week.
The Earl and Countess of Craven have
gone to Monte Carlo with Mr.. ana Mrs.
Bradley Martin, the latter's parents.
Mrs. Miller Graham of California. who
expects to do much entertaining during
the coronation, is still unable to find d
really suitable house for the purpose. She
is now in treaty with the Duchess of Man.
chester for the latter's mansion in Gros-
venor square. Mrs. Graham offered Mrs.
John w. Mackay 5000 the other day for
three weeks use of her house in Carlton
House terrace in June, but the offer was
declined.
The chief topic of conversation in the
American colony is the marital future
of Alfred Vanderbilt. who is said to face
the delicate difficulty of choosing between
two bea utiful American women. Mrs:
Law and Mrs. Mckim.
Mrs George Law. who arrived on the
Mauritania. has bowed herself out of
the romance, although she was met at
Paddington station by Mr.. Vanderbilt
She today denied the existence of any
engagement. Since their meeting at Pad
dington Mrs. Law and the young million
aire have not been seen In pubic, con-
dition which has mystitied the gossips
who have been accustomed to see them
dine either at the Ritz or the Carlton.
Mrs. Law is living at No. IS Norfolk
street, smart house overlooking Park
lane, which she has released for another
year She said to the International News
Service correspondent today:
Absolutely, I'm not engaged to any
one II any further information comes
to light it must be got from some one
else. My future plans are as vague as
always. / may stay here; l may go to
Monte Carlo"
An interesting debutante this season
will be the Countess Zia Torby, daugh-
ter of the Grand Duke Michael OF Rus
STA The Countess Zia has little of the
Slav about her, and is thoroughly Eng
fish in her tastes. She is strik.ngly hand
some and quite clever, and has already
numbers of admirers, as she has already
been seen about good deal.