Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-17
LONDON SOCIETY GOSSIP.
special Cablegram to The Star.

LONDON, March 16.-With the advent
of spring plans for the season are being
announced and they indicate 1t will be
one of the most brilliant on record-even
exceeding that of the coronation year.
which kept so many Americans away on
account of the high prices charged for
everything-if the present strike dangers
are averted
The Countess of Craven, nee Bradley
Martin. has entered the list of prominent
political hostesses, and although long ago
she established a reputation as an ex-
cellent country hostess, she has never
before displayed a great interest In poll
tics. She has issued invitations for a re-
ception at her house in Chesterfield Gar
dens In honor of the premier and Mrs.
Asquith on the ed, which is to be the
first of series. Lord Craven. who is
liberal peer, was made captain of the
Yoemen of the Guard recently. so Lady
Craven is on the government side.
In this connection 1t is curious to note
hostesses on the liberal side are Ameri-
cans-the Countess of Granard nee Mills,
Mrs. Louis Harcourt, nee Burns, and the
Hon. Mrs. Freddy Guest, nee Phipps.
about radical principles, but Mrs. Har-
court and Mrs. Guest are terribly in
earnest-in fact, far more so than their
husbands. At the dinner table of both
women guests who have jokingly abused
members of the present government have
had cause to regret it,
Mrs. HarcOurt'S weekly receptions,
which will be continued after Easter,
have proved an enormous success. Every
political, literary and artistic celebrity
in town foregathers there. Having taken
the plume. Lady Craven also intends to
give semi-poiitical dinners in May and
June. On the conservative side, al
though there are many American wives.
not one shows any liking for political en-
tertainments, a fact which many regard
as a calamity for the opposition.
One of the. greatest sufferers from suf-
fragist persecution is Mrs. Asquith. Her
extraordinary experiences threaten to af
feet her health. Some women the other
day actually tried to throw themselves
before her automobile and she has re-
ceived dozens of letters threatening to
poison her and her children. These days
she never knows when she may find her
home in a state of siege. Like her hus-
band, she must always go about under
police protection. while the younger chill
dren cannot leave the house except under
guard. Little wonder is expressed that
she is interesting herself in the proposal
to make the suffrage unions financially
responsible for the actions of their men,
bers.
King George has Cancelled all engage
ments while the industrial unrest remains
acute. The feeling is that his place is
In the capital, ready at call in case of
any sudden crisis Accordingly, no dates
for proposed visits to foreign courts have
been fixed. and even the visit to the
Royal Naval College at Dartmouth has
been postponed. Home engagements, in
vestitureS and courts will be carried out,
but beyond these the king will do nothing
until the miners war ends.
Mrs, Cecil Bingham. until recently Mrs
Chauncey, has followed up the great sue
cess that attended her ball by giving
smart dinner party at her new home on
Grosvenor place. Among her guests were
Lord and Lady Granard. the Duchess of
Marlborough, Lady Paget, the Marquis
and Marchioness of Hamilton, Lord Rib
blesdale, Lord Lingan, Mrs. Ian Malcolm,
only daughter of Mrs. Langtry, and Lady
De Trafford.
Mrs. Spender Clay, whose husband has
been ill in India, is now on her way
home. Hers is a sad homecoming, for
during her absence her little two-year-old
daughter died at her town house on Hill
street, Berkeley Square.