The Washington herald., 1914-06-28
AMERICAN GIRL
BRITONS' HOPE
She Is Needed to Regenerate
Peerage, Says Countess
of Warwick.
HAS BRAINS AND MONEY
Only Insurance of Survival OF 1e-
cadent English Families Lies in
lntermarriage.
HAS BRAINS AND MONEY
ny THE COUNTESS OF WARWICK.

By THE COUNTESS OF "Ah"tSNs
Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
London, June 1.-THE news OF Miss
Edith Havemeyer's engagement to the
old Duke of Grafton, who celebrated his
ninety-third birthday this week, has a
special interest for me, for the duke is
the head of my mothers family.
Lord Euston who is embarking upon
the sea Of matrimony for the second
time, is, think, a little on the wrong
side of sixty, but IL he can preserve the
tradition his father has established ne
may have a long tenure of the title. His
eldest son, Lord Ipswich, is quite a
charming man, full of culture and ad-
vanced democratic ideas; in fact. he is
generally REGARDED as a Socialist He
married lady from his country town
only last year.
The whole question of a union between
Bristish blood and American dollars Is
a very interesting one from a dozen
standpoints. Some OF these marriages
have been successful, others have no
toriously failed, though the failure is not
insisted upon in public. am inclined to
think that the percentage of successes In
future will be higher, for l find among
American women a certain adaptability.
Their Wit Steers Them.
They accept a new environment quick
" and cleverly. Their mother wit steers
them clear OF many an awkward situa-
ton. What they need to learn is that
English conservatism must be respected.
Very few Of them know how to treat
servants. They confuse service and slav-
cry, and have yet to find those who can
understand and accept the privileged
position of old retainers. This is a les
son they should learn without delay.
The next generation will manifest the
success or failure of the great expert
ment. I am a frank optimist and believe
that the stolid, self-reliant, strong. un-
imaginative country squire Cpardon this
riot Of adjectives) will mate successfully
with the rather nervous, enthusiastic,
romantic American woman. You may
find British pluck and American imag-
ination side by side If you want an ex-
ample YOU have 1t in one of the most
brilliant young men of the age. Winston
Churchill, whose father was big-brained
and whose mother is a woman of fne at
tainments and Enthusiastically Amer
ican.
1ntermarriage has tended to make our
aristocracy effete and cannot look with
enthusiasm upon the modern custom OF
our young men in recruiting the peerage
from the chorus girls ranks. I think we
need brain and character, II as q class
we are to survive. though I have quite
an open mind about the necessity of the
survival.
Must Invite American Girl.
But nothing suffers obliteration readily
and il the British aristocracy desires to
survive and recover its old power, or
part of it, l am sure the American girl
must be invited to help in carrying on the
work Of regeneration.
To get back to Lord Customs coming
marriage. As I have said. il will be his
second venture, he having married as
long ago as 1875 Miss Darlington Smith,
who died last year. leaving a son, Lord
Ipswich. and two daughters. have not
met Miss Havemeyer, but 1 do know
Lord Euston is a charming man.
His wonderful father still takes great
interest in the worlds affairs, despite his
age. but since his accident two years ago
when he had the misfortune to fracture
his leg. he has only been able to get
about by means of a bath chair, but he
never misses going to church twice each
Sunday.
An interesting visitor here this week is |
Princess Troubetzkoy, formerly Miss |
Amelie Rives. She does not spend much |
time in England these days but intends |
staying for the remainder Of the season. |
She, with her husband, is visiting Lord !
curzon.
Brilliant Dance Given.
One Of the smartest entertainments of |
the week was the dance given Monday |
night by Mrs Edwyn Dawes and her
brother, Maclaine of Lochbuie, for Mrs. |
Dawes eldest daughter. There were a
number of prominent Americans and |
Anglo-Americans present. The Maclaine |
is not unknown in the United States, |
believe. in connection with his attempt |
to rehabilitate his fortune via the vaude- I
vile stage.
Among those present at tn" dance were !
Prince Christopher of Greece: the Amer
lean Ambassador. Mrs. Page. and Miss
Page: the Countess of Essex. Lady
Cunard, Lady Irene Curzon. and Mrs.
John Astor, from which one can get
something of the American favor of the
party.
Lady Suffolk. who left this week for
the Continent, is much interested in the
attempt of Americans in London to Sc
cure a church Of their own, and imme-
diately acquiesced when invited to Join
the committee being formed for this pur-
pose. When she returns to town later
on, the former Miss Letter promises to
take an active part in the campaign to
raise the necessary money for building
q church.
Lady Granard, nee Beatrice Mills. who
has been staying at Windsor Castle with
the King and Queen, returned to Forbes
gave an official dinner in honor Of the
bilities were present.