Omaha daily bee., 1913-12-14
n IRIS. LoRILLARD SPENCER.
M one Of the most beautiful and
AV n ohar,,in1 Ne r.o1t n. 80 -

N one or the most Deautiful ana
49, charming as we'll as one Of
the wealthiest women In the fash
ionable Newport colony. will close
her lovely homa on the harbor front
and go to the Philippines as mis-
sionary.
At present Mrs. Spencer's nearest
neighbors are Mrs. John Nicholas
Brown, mother of the richest boy In
the world and Mrs. Elsie French
Vanderbilt, the former wife of Alfred
Gwynne Vanderbilt. In the future her
nearest neighbors will be the war
like, ferocious and ignorant Moros,
many of whom live on tree tops on
the island of Jolo.
Could any contrast be greater than
that between Mrs. Spencer's present
and future?
The members OF New York and
Newport society are still dazed with
establishment over her decision. Her
only son, Lorillard, Jr., who married
pretty Mary Sands, is aghast, but no
one is able to make Mrs. Spencer
change her plans.
Think Of the opera you will miss"
say her friends, to no avail.
Think of the loneliness of life
away from all your friends" say the
Junior Spencers, but to no avail.
think of the money you viii
spend on wretched, dirty savages,"
warn her financial advisers, but their
warning, too. falls on stony ground.
No worldly consideration weighs
with this high bred, brilliant woman,
who might lead the Newport set II
she wished, and who has long been a
brilliant member OF what Ward Nc
Allister named the 400" Knowing
her firm determination to 20 to the
Philippines, dt Is interesting to dis
cover her reasons for giving herself
to such a mission; and equally inter
esting to see what she gives up.
Before her marriage. Mrs. Spencer
was Caroline Bergman. Her parents
were enormously wealthy, and her
fortune far exceeded that OF the man
she married, the popular 'Lardy"
Spencer, q grandson Of old Pierre
Lorillard. Their combined fortunes
placed them among the wealthiest
members OF the New York-Newport
set. From the day of her marriage,
which took place before her
eighteenth birthday, Mrs. Spencer
became an important factor in so.
oiety. The Newport mansion, which
had belonged to Mr.. Spencers father.
fell to the bride and bridegroom, and
their entertainments were lavish and
delightful.
AS time passed. the Spencers be-
came more and more firmly en-
trenched socially. Their beautiful
town house on Fifth avenue was a
favorite place with the exclusive
members of society, as was their
Newport home. Their opera box
always held the gayest parties. From
a social viewpoint. Mrs. Spencer
could desire nothing else.
Three years ago Mr.. Spencer died,
and his fortune was left uncondl-
tionally to his widow. This, with her
own fortune, made Mrs. Spencer one
of the richest widows in New York.
To fill In her period of mourning she
took a companion and went for a trip
around the world. On this trip she
visited the Philippines. Because of
her wealth and social position, she
was entertained In as elaborate a
fashion as the Manila and other posts
could devise.
One day she expressed desire to
see the fierce Moros in their native
islands. She was taken TO the
Island of Jolo. which is the farthest
south OF all the Philippines. There
she met Bishop Charles H. Brent, the
Protestant Episcopal head of that
Wild diocese. and there she saw
savagery at its worst. Generously
she gave TO the various missions, but
she returned to New York overcome
with the feeling that there was some
thing more for her to do.
When the Newport season opened
she threw herself into fits gayeties.
II seemed as though she wanted to
test herself. as though she must see
just how strong a hold the Philip
pines had on her Imagination. But
aven at tha gavest dance abe would