The Washington herald., 1913-03-15
1ynsht. 1918. by Court Gossip Syndicate,

Wofgnsht, 1918, by Court 6ossip Syndicate)
The premiere of the "Rosen Kavalier"
in Covsnt Garden Opera House. Lon
don. was witnessed by a brilliant au-
dience, headed by King George. Queen
Mary, Queen Alexandra, Princess Vic
toria. and Prince Arthur of Connaught.
who occupied the royal "loge." This
latest and dashing Niennese addition TO
the modern musical stage has taken
London by storm. as it did the con-
tinental capitals. where it was received
with marked success.
Queen Mary wore robe of bleu de
Rois brocade, patterned with bold de-
sign in gold thread, the corsage scintil-
ating with jeweled embroidery, with a
ma gnificent necklace of sapphires and
diamond tiara. Queen Alexandra s
dress was of black chiffon, and she wore
a small tiara of diamonds, while Princess
Victoria was attired in white lace.
After the first act Mr.. Beecham, the
impressario. was invited to thei majesties'
retiring room TO be presented, and at the
same time the Austro- Hungarian Am
bassador, the Marquis de Several and
Lady Ripon. who entertained them in
her box. were comma nded to the royal
salon. Magnificent dresses and jewels
were worn by the ladies. All the en-
baSsies were represented. The German
Amha ssador and his handsome wife.
Princess LiChnowsky, were Lady Gu
nard's guests in the big pit tier box
facing that of Mr.. Alfred de Rothschild.
and the Russian, French. and Spanish
Ambassadors. the last named accom-
panied by his wife. were occupants Of
stalls.
King Manuel had loaned his box for the
royal suite. and its occupants were Miss
Charlotte knollys, Col. Streatfeild. and
Lord Charles Fitzmaurice. Mrs. George
West and her sister, Mrs. John Leslie,
were in a box adjoining that of Sir John
and Lady Iister-kaye, and the Duchess
Of Marlborough was entertaining in
grand tier Ioge. Lady Annesley appear
ed in black and white dress. a high
aigrette rising from her diamond crown
gIttering with Ilnonds, Lady Cynthia
iIea Rsn Re- hoF@ csrns LADY Srd W'n and
Lady Cha. Beresford, Sir Ernest Cas-
sci. Lady Montgomery. and Lady Gro
mcr were others in the brilliant as
semhly.
Abbotsbury Castle. the historic Dorset
shire residence Of the Dowager Lady IL
chester. mother Of the present earl, has
been burned to the ground and practi-
Caly all of its contents. including some
Triceless Italian pictures. have been de-
stroycd
The castle is on the Dorset coast line.
%rt Yards away from the famous Chesil
leach midway between Weymouth and
BIidport and is exposed 80 the hercest
gales that blow in the wild West Bay,
which it faces.
Tile fire was discovered ny one Of the
servants in one Of the twelve bedrooms
on the second floor. but the inmates
were beaten back by smoke and flam2.
and before the villagers of Ahbotsbury,
2 mile away. could he alarmed the bed
and dressing rooms were in blaze. The
nre, famed by the rising wind, had
gained a complete hold on the old castle.
a nd the woodwork in the new wing burned
like tinder There was a deafening roar
when the stone tile roof fell in. but the
second floor rid the great mass Of de-
iris for mic time. and then the whole
interns. structure collapsed. leaving just
tie rIre walls standing. At midnight.
when the West Bay gale was flashing
Itself into a fury, and sending sprays OF
:Oam almost up to the burning castle
itself the destruction Of the fine old
mansion was complete. and the valuable
contents had become entirely involved in
the hiaze.
The hopelessncss Of attempting to
get out any of the old Shippendale fur
niture, the costly pictures in the Ii
brarY. and the other treasures in the
house was realized from the very com
hut some managed to en-
ter the smoking room. which leads out
into the lovely winter gardens, in the
west wing, and wcrr able to bring
away SOM, clocks. books, and few
pieces Of furniture. When dawn broke
nothing hut 4 black. Eaunt skeleton re-
mained Of one Of the most picturesque
marine residences.