The Washington herald., 1913-03-16
'pecial Cable to The Washington Herald.


London. March 15.-Just now, with
Easter but one week of. practically every
one who can manage 1t is away from Lon
don, but the signs of the coming season
are s-plenty. Mayfair is pulling up its
blinds, the town houses are undergoing
redecoration, and everywhere there IL the
promise OF social brilliancy.
The King and Queen intend entertain.
ing considerably, and there also will be
a number of foreign royalties visiting the
court. Among them will be the Crown
Prince and Princess of Germany, the
Duke and Duchess of SaNe-Coburg, who
are expected in June, while the King and
Queen of Denmark are coming to London
TO visit Queen Alexandra. An extra cour,
will be held in June; also, a state ball.
The grand opera season at Covent Gar
den will be unusually interesting by vir-
tue of the reappearance of Caruso and
Melba.
Once again it is most interesting to OBJ
serve the renewed efforts that are being
made in high places to effect a reconcilia
tion between the Duke and Duchess of
Marlborough. 1t is said with some au-
thOrity that Queen Mary is now taking
an active hand in bringing this about,
and this explains why the duchess has
had such marked attention shown her
recently in royal quarters notably at the
dinner given by their majesties TO the
German Ambassador last week, when the
Duchess of Marlborough was singled out
for invitation.
Reason for Nexation.
Certainly, there is much to be said for
the duchess IN the domestic tangle. To
suddenly receive a telegram from her
father in Paris asking whether her grace
was aware that the Gobelin tapestry with
which he lowered her was being offered
for sale is enough to make even a duchess
sit up In mitigation it may be urged
that BIenheim Palace, that vast. gloomy
pile with its unwieldly towers and solemn
wings. requires stacks of money TO keep
up.
When the last duke married Mrs. Ham
mersley, the roof of Blenheim. so the
story goes, was in such a shocking state
as to necessitate hurrying the marriage
forward to keep it from falling in.
The Duchess . General Favorite.
One thing is certain, the present duch-
ess is a prime favorite with the English
people generally. Her charitable work
and activities for social reform have not
only won Queen Mary's favor but that
of everybody. Now that the duchess has
beaten her enemies and won her courage
Gus fieht single-handed. except for her
nother-ln-laws s friendship, II would sur
prise nobody to see an early reconcilia-'
tion between her and the duke. Her dear
est friend at present is Lady Beatrice
Herbert and the two tall and distinguished
wCmen are a brilliant pair to watch.
Work. Hard for Ball.
Lady Marlborough is taking seriously
her place on the committee of the Yer
sailles ball, TO be held at Albert Hall in
June. The pretty Kentuckian has the
Polish quarrille in charge, and is spend
ing a lot of time ransacking the British
Museum for the authentic dress of Po-
land in Peter the Greats time.
Lady Marlborough, always enthusiastic.
has started her arrangements early 80
that she may have the prettiest women
and smartest men in her quadrille. There
surely is nobody in London who loves
dancing so well as the tall American, " no
attends at least a hundred balls an
nually.
From Dublin comes the news that Lady
Paget. who was Miss Paran Stevens,
wife of Gen Sir Arthur Paget, has is
sued invitations for ball to be given at
the Royal Hospital.
The Irish capital is delighted, as the
functions given by the Viceroy and Lady
Aberdeen are notoriously dull and there
are usually not sufficient refreshments
for the guests. Lady Paget's ball will
be the first big entertainment she has
given in Ireland.
Lady Paget's daughter. who is also
Lady Paget, having married a distant
relative. Sir Ralph Psget. is taking the
rest cure at the house of Lady de LisIe.