The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-05
SOCIETY IN LONDON
BY LADY MARY MANwARING

London, November 4-(Special.)-The report that Lord Curzan and Mrs. Ava Astor, former wife of John Jacob Astor, were to be married has been more or less current since both were free to marry and while it never has been confirmed it has been more or less cred tied among the friends of the famous statesman and the beautiful American. Recently the report has been more in- sistent than ever. Some of the wise ones eoing so far as to predict confidently that the announcement of the engage ment would be made before Christmas and that the wedding would be solemn ised before the winter season was over
 Now, however. the seni-official an- nouncement is made that there is to be no such wedding either in the near fu- ture or at any other time.
 I understand that it is, through no fault of Lord curzon that the marriage is rot to tako rlace. The former viceroy oe India has been a devoted worshipper at the shrine of Mrs. Astor, but she has decided that she has no desire to make another venture on the sea of matrimony.
 All is in readiness for the sailing of King George, Queen Mary and the royal party for India next Thursday. It had been decided to make one or two stops s.t Italian ports on the voyage out, but because of the war with Turkey no stop at all will be made in European waters.
 The wiles of women in India were dis cussed at the Lyceum club, Piccadily, by Miss Cornelia Sorabji, of Calcutta, lately studying at Oxford, who gave her suffra- gist audience to understand that while her womenfolk bowed to the Inevitable in the matter of sequestratng, they invari- ably succeeded in getting round" their kiessbands. Rerefring to the life led by the women behind the purdah, Miss Scra5- ii said the Europeans could hardly In. derstand the strictness of it's seclusion. Not only must a woman remain unseen by any man but her husband. but many a woman thought she would die if the sound of her voice were heard by another man. Women who appeared mere slaves, doormats for their lords to walk 3ver, very often ruled the households.
 sThe women are helped by the priests continued Miss sorabji. "The priests are constantly in communication with them, and a priest will know secret kept even from a husband-that is, the name of the god his wife worships. The priests tell the superstitious men, when the women are pleased the gods are pleased. , Still. if a woman cannot get her own way easily it is astonishing how un- pleasant she can make herself For in- stance, If she is denied anything she may say, If l do not get it I will disfigure myself and she is sure to keep her word. know of one woman who said. T will keep my left foot bent under me until you give me what I ask for The hus- band was obstinate and for a long time would not give way. He did, finally, but by that time keeping in the one position has made his wife permanent cripple.
 Apart from these methods wife car sulk, and she does sometimes for days In every old Indian house there is g room called the sulking room, and if g disobliging husband came home to food to find nothing cooked and his wife up ir this room, he freqnuently came to terms.
 Miss Sorabji said she knew of a case where timid husband. having lost al his weeks wages gambling conceived the startling conjugal He that he had beer attacked by robbers and had swallowed the money. To substantiate his tale he went the length of having his stomach cut open in hospital. after which, re. turning home, he announced to his wife