New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-27
DUCHESS TINY MOURNEO
How She Stopped the Social Boy
colt of the AStorS in London.

Half the great world Of England has
been thrown into mourning by the death OF
g,e Duchess Of BuCClcuCh and Queens
,.r~y Who celebrated her golden wedding
,rree wears ago and who was the centre
about whom always gathered an immense
groud Of klnsfolk. With her, too, there
5..snraars one Of the very few remaining
survivors Of the personases who figure in
en-, novels Of Lord Boaconsfeld, and es-
-,-iarI,. IN that entitled "Lothair' she
.l,rs an important role AS the daughter OF
the duke.
-rbe duke I'm question was N real life the
tote Duke Of Abercoru. one Of the hand
.or,sst men of his day, whom King Ed
,ard when Prince Of Wales. niCknsmed
odd Splendid" by reason Of the magnih-
csr~e OF his appearance and his extreme
care Of his person. When NiCeroy AT Dub
a., he vas wont to suspend presentations
FOR FIVE minutes at various intervals IN the
evening during the course Of court or
6rsvrins ROOM and TO retire 10 an adjoin-
ing room in order 10 have his superb long
silky beard rebrushed, recombed and re-
rerfnmed. so that II might not prove dis
agreeable 10 the fair matrons and younS
Girls fo whom he was required TO admin
,ster yice-regal kiss on the cheek when
presented to him.
Although the Duchess Of BucCleuCh re-
sembled uer father In many respects, and
va- perhaps one Of the most impressive
hooking Of the great ladies OF the British
aristocracv. vet she used 10 go by the curl
orsIv Inappropriate nickname Of Tiny"
among her contemporaries until long
razt her sixtieth year.
~ Americans she may well 10 remen-
hered as the one great power I'm London
soristv who SGT her face strongly against
the project. organized twenty years $40, 10
inavgurate a rigorous boycott against
those hanins from the United states who
7ad aroused jealousy by the favor shown
o them bv the Prince Of Wales and
,rv their own perhaps somewhat tndiscreet
manifestations If great wealth.
The anti. American organization, an IN
rosnttal one. headed bv several du"hesses.
Hi-h their dukes. hy peers and pssressNs
nf high and low degree, publicly pro
claimed its object the members engaging
themselves 10 close their doors 10 all
huer'cans-eyen those Americans who had
married Englrshmen-and To induce their
relatives and friends 10 do likewise.
The Duchess Of Buccleuch. although rep
rssenting the most conservative element IN
english society. was appealed 10 in the
taatter by the Prince Of Wales, and,
efter Csreful consideration and discussion
with her husband, who was IS conserva-
tive as herself decided that II would be
most unjust and ungenerous thing socially
n boycott an entire nationality merely be-
cause some had given offence by their
ark NJ
English preiudices. ethics, traditions and
time honored institutions.
True. she never permitted any of what
we're known as THE circus set" OF Anglo
American society 10 pass within her doors;
ignored them. indeed, altogether. But she
made it her business to show courtesy and
civi1itv 10 Americans Of birth and breed
ing. whose quiet manners and speech sp-
pesled n her. such as Mrs George Caven-
dish Bentinck. daughter Of Mrs Maturin
Livingston, Of New York
Gracious TO the hstors.
Among those whom she took NJ in thos"
DAYS and TO whom she proved q friend OF |
infinite value. we're William Waldorf Aston
and his deeply lsmented wife, the former
Mamie Paul. Of Philadelphia one Of the
loveliest and sweetest women Of her day |
Mr. Aston was then. he is to-day.
man set in his ideas and Of q somewhat
irritable disposition and had permitted !
himself 70 be drawn into 4 foolish dispute
With the late Duke Of Westminster about !
visitors autograph book which he
claimed 10 have been included in the pur-
chase Of Civeden Mr.. Aston had paid
large amount. cash down, to the duke FOR
Clivedeu. with It's contents. as it stood.
After tho duke had the money he seemed
70 regret the sale, developed an Intense
luminosity To the purchaser and was con /
tinuslly making demands on him for OBJ
iects which had been left behind, and which
he asserted were not intended TO be IN
Guided IN the purchase.
Mr. Aston yielded In many cases But
WHOM the demand came for tho visitors
autograph book Of Cliveden, which had
been part and parcel Of the belongings OF !
Cliveden long before its ownership by the
Duke Of Westminster. Mr.. Astor declined, !
and a merry war ensUed, in which the
Duke Of Westminster endeavored 10 enroll
oil his friends and acquaintsnces against
Nj Aston.
II was i'm thes" difficult days for the
Astors thae tho Duchess OF Buccleuch took
him end especially his wife. under her
shelteriuG social wing, gave them all the
boueht ~ her powerful support and when
their daughter Pauline nov Mrs Spender
Clay became old enough 20 go into society
las the girl had meanwhile lost her mother
st was the duchess who chaperoned her.
and presented her at court, and gave many
entertainments in her honor ! need hardly
say that the duchess did this ont Of pure
sense of fair mindedness and kindness Of
heart. There could be no question Of in
tsrest since the Buccleuchs have for hun
dreds n years been the very richest mem
rers Of the British pcersge