The Washington herald., 1911-02-12
KEEN STRUGGLE ON
FOR WIDOWS HAND
Wealthy and Beautiful Mrs,
French Is Undecided.
By VANCE THOMPSON.

| Paris. Feb. u.-Rarely has Paris wit
messed such keen struggle for the heart
/ and hand of an American woman as
| that now going on between James J.
/ Van Allen, OF New York, Northampton
shire. and Newport, and the Duke de
Richelieu. of Paris and Sarthe. Both ar"
aSpirants for the hand of the young.
| rich, and beautiful Mrs. Seth Barton
French, widow of the New York banker.
Mrs. French has decided to follow the
example of her literary mother. not in
/ literature, but in love. \ few Weeks ago
her mother who was Mrs. Walker Fearn,
was married in Salisbury Cathedral to
! John Inkersley.
| Mr.. Van Allen is now in Paris urging
his suit. Mrs. French dimes with him
at the Ritz and other fashionable res
! taurants. He has made her realize the
| importance of his social position in
America and England.
! On the other hand, the duke is young
and bears one of the most ilAstriOus
names in the annals of France. He is
part American. as his mother was Miss
Heine, daughter of a banker of New
Orleans. After the death of the dukes
father, she married the Prince of Monaco
She is a patroness of art, literature, and
music.
Mrs. French's friends say she has not
made up her mind. She finds it hard to
decide between an English manor. with
Newport thrown in, and the chateau of
Hant Brisson, with the tempting title
of Duchess de Richeleu.
American Baroness Divorced.
Another international marriage has just
been broken. Baroness Moncheur has
obtained a divorce at Brussels and has
returned in triumph to Paris. The ba-
roness was formerly Miss Capehart, of
San Francisco, and is a cousin as we'll
as sister-in-law of Alexander NJ. Cape
hart, uf Minneapolis, who was director
general of the liberal arts department
during the exposition of 1900.
Baron Moncheur is cousin of the baron
of the same name, who married Powell
Claytons daughter, and for many years
was Belgian Minister at Washington. He
now represents Belgium at the QuirinaL
The Brussels court allowed Baron Mon
cheur two months during which he may
appeal from the decision granting his
wife the divorce. The SUIT was on sat
utory grounds. Baroness MonCheur is
now studying for grand opera.
Mrs. winans Seriously Ill.
Young Thomas Ross Winans, son Of
Multimillionaire Winans. of Baltimore
has sent to Paris for a noted surgeon to
treat his wife, who was recently injured
in an automobile accident. Mrs. Winans
was formerly Senorita belgrade, the
beautiful Spanish dancer. She is a sister
of the Maharanee OF Kapurthala
The accident occurred near Kinds Head,
about thirty miles from London. Winans
iohF ini loTf nf
his wife are very serious. Mr.. and Mrs.
winans were both about to start for
India to attend the wedding Of the son
of the Maharajah of Kapurthala. Young
Winans has been living in London for the
last year. His father makes him an al
lowance on the distinct understanding
that he never Nsets foot in Paris. This
clause was inserted in the agreement on
the advice Of Paris lawyer, the reason
being that Winans narrowly escaped
trouble in connection with the bogus Van
derbilt. That international swindler at
tempted to make use of Winans as he
did of the Prince of Braganza, brother
in-law OF Anita Stewart.
Winnie O'Connor, the American jockey, |
was married this week to Miss Neva !
Aymar. of New YorkN The ceremony !
was performed by the mayor Of the little |
township of lie Gouvieue near Maisons |
Lantte' the great training center. OCOn- |
nor arrived in motor car, accompanied |
by Ben Rigby. an American jockey and |
William Woodland. trainer. Only legal |
witnesses were present. O'Connor gave |
the mayor 5000 for the poor
Francis Viele Griffin. the American /
poet, has entered the competition for |
the best poem on Alfred Leblanc's pic |
turesque night at Beausais last autumn. |
Viele Griffin is son of the late Gen.
Fiele. of New York He was educated /
in Paris, and all his poetry is written in
French. For twenty years he has been /
the head Of the symbolIst school Of poets. |