The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-21

nave also been bestowed upon the duke since his succession: he was made a
 Knight of the Garter % years ago, was sworn Of the privy council in 1Sq5 and in IyE became G. c. V. O. Besides per forming high State offices. the duke has interested himself largely in county and
 municipal affairs, having served as mayor or Snenield, Westminster and Arundel. and is a London county councillor. and he IS still lord lieutenant of Sussex. He was postmaster general from 1895 to 1900. when he resigned office to take part in the South African war.
 queen Mary has made collection of beautiful modern eastern bric-a-bran am broideries and other handiwork while in lndia- Her majesty Is one of those who nave genuine admiration for good mod- ern things and is not afraid to say so She has been known to remark that in many instances she considers the beauty or antique things greatly exaggerated It would surprise many to note the numbers of pictures by modern painters-some of whose names are quite unknoWn-which adorn her private rooms in the various palaces. Such things the Queen herself has selected in various galleries at eXhf-
 bitions. And @ very good judge. too she is of a picture" the owner of Bond street repository recently remarked. It
 has occasioned very great surprise to her dressmalSers when Queen Mary has from time to time said she is as fond of good modern lace as of the antique variety For Devonshre and Irish laces she has keen penchant; in this respect differing very greatly from Queen. Alexandra and Queen Amelie of Portugal both of whom possess collections of antique laces which are quite matohless. Indeed, the story goes that when Queen Amelie found she had to fly from Portugal her first thought was to secure her valuable laces, some of which have been gifts to her from crowned heads. King Edward was anxious to have all the numerous royal tapestries arranged in sets. as they have been kept without any system whatever The first chapter of an episode might be at Windsor Castle. with the second at Hampton court, and the third at Holyrood House. The crown collections at the various palaces have
 been thoroughly overhauled during the last two or three years, and King George is carrying on the work which was com menced under his father. It is proposed to rearrange the sets so that every historical incident depicted will be complete, and the tapestry will be distributed among the palaces at which it has been kept A number of the tapestries from Holyrood House have been carefully repaired in | London.
 Ellen. Countess of Desart, who is con- 1 ing so much to the front as an anti l suffragett and a denouneer of the in-
 su9nce bill, is quite a different person 1 from the "Countess of Desart" as she is sometimes described Ellen Lady Desart l is another "countess with a conscience' ''
 and is the daughter of the late Henry | Louis Bischoffsheim. and niece of Baron | Hirsch She married the fourth Earl of l Desart in 1881. This lady Is still a pro- l fessing Jewess, is much interested in the Celtic renaissance, and is the soul and | backbone (inancially) of the Kilkenny l Woodworkers' association. She brings tc | bear on all she undertakes a good deal oi | business acumen. a wonderful knowledge 1 of affairs and 6 well filled purse. Tho reigning Countess of Desart is a daughter
 ol tne late Lord Harewood, and is a niece l of the Marquis of Clannicarde and thu Countess of Cork and Orrery. She Is es | sentially grand dame, but is beloved b,
 her poorer neighbors round Desart Court | Anyone knowing these two ladies woulC find it impossible to make a mistake abou them, and both are well known in Ire
 land.
 The Marchioness of Crewe, whose birth day mas Just been celeDfaleu, was piobt bly,, as girl, the most paragrapheS
 young lady since Mrs. Asquith, who is, O
 course, very much her senior. She was and is, noted for her sharp tongue. an' while people laughed at her wit she mad | a good many enemies by her caustic com
 ments. Her marriage with the Earl O l Crewe created a great sensation. He wa considerably older than Lord Rosebery younger daughter. for one thing, and fo another, people had somehow believed tha she would become engaged to Mr. Lulu l Harcourt. with whom she had played a! a child. and who was her next doo neighbor. Lady Crewe is intensely amb'
 tjous for her handsome husband, and i
 was great shock to her when his health
 so nearly broke down under the strain o
 work last spring, soon after the birth Q their first son, who was born a littl' l more than ten years after their marriage
 'Tis Settled
 Aunt Harriet, who were the seven wis' |