The Washington herald., 1911-08-22

to crowds of rustics at country fairs:
the late Earl Of Seaheld toiling at his
hedging and ditching on New Zealand
farms; Lord Fairfax plying his pen at
bankers desk in New York; the late
Earl of Buchan pocketing his modest fees
as Jockey; and the fourth Earl of Will
ton busking 1t on. the beach at Brighton,
while the family solicitor was on his way
to announce that he had succeeded to an
earfs coronet and a seat in the House
Of Peers. i
Mrs. Ava Astor, who divorced Col.
John Jacob Astor. is taking the "kur'
at Harrowgate. She very naturally de-
clines to discuss the engagement Of her
former husband to wed Miss Madeline
Force. But the matter is causing a
widespread interest among the friends
Of both, and is the leading topic Of dis
cussion in London clubdom. In Mrs.
Astor's very own" special set it is said
frankly that the colonel's marriage per-
haps may convince her that she acted
foolishly and that she was ill-advised
in divorcing him. Each had gone his or
her own way for several years with prac-
tically complete liberty. The colonel
treated his wife generously in money
matters and there was no sound reason
for the break. When Mrs. Ava Astor
made a great success in London society
she became obsessed, her friends say,
with the idea that IL she were free she
could marry some one who was very big
socially and perhaps politically. She did
not realize until 1t was too late, they say,
that the fact OF her being the wife OF
an American multi-millionaire with un-
limited command of funds and the at
TRACTION of grass-widowhood had a good
deal to do with her social success. She
did not foresee that as a divorce her
position. though she might remain in the
smartest set. would grow appreciaoly less
desirable.
There has been no offer for her hand
such as she would care to accept, and the
women point out that the flight Of time
will not increase the possibility of her
obtaining the desirable great parsonage.
This is the uncharitable way. in which
her friends discuss with her rivals Mrs.
Astor's position. Many say they believe
a reconciliation with the colonel would
have been possible had she wished.
Mrs. Astor has had a good deal OF
trouble over her Grosvenor Square
house, which is still in the hands of the
decorators, while she has had to pay a
handsome premium to the owners Of the
Portman Square mansion for remaining
in it over the coronation season.
Mrs. Grundy, Tor once, was wrong
when she coupled the name of Lord
Kitchener and that Of Mrs. Patrick
Campbell. II the British field marshal
who soon is to go to Egypt as proconsul
for Great Britain was so deeply inter-
ested in the lady, that interest appar-
entl..' quickly has vanished. For now
the talk is all about his alleged tender
ness for Lady Naylor-Leyland, who was
Jennie Chamberlain. Of Cleveland, Ohio.
She has been christened in London and
on the Continent the original Ameri-
can beauty.
Lord Kitchener is the most taciturn
of men. II is not known that he has a
solitary intimate friend. He continues
to live entirely alone except for a young
nephew who serves in the navy and with
whom he sometimes goes out or to his
club. No one really believes that Lord
Kitchener ever will marry. He is morose,
autocratic, and, If the truth must be
told, unpopular in the army. Still, 1t is
an open secret that recently he has
shown a distinct desire to meet Lady
Naylor-Leyland on every possible oc-
casion and even was invited to be one Of
her party in Wales for the Prince OF
Wales investiture, but was prevented
from attending by his official duties He |
processes that he Is delighted with his |
appointment to Egypt and says that in
a few years Khartoum will be the most |
fashionable winter resort in the world, |
and he plans to improve the railroad and
Nile service in order to encourage tour
lists. One improvement scheme alone on
the Khartoum River front will cost more
than ten million dollars. FLANEUR.
Copyright, 1911, by Court Gossip syndicate)