Omaha daily bee., 1915-04-25
~ UROPEAN high society has become a
community of widows.

~ UROPEAN high society has become
community of widows.
This fact becomes even more In
teresting when 1t is added that the widows
are usually young and frequently good
looking.
Their sorrows, their doings and their
future furnish problems of much general
interest.
The dreadful slaughter caused by the
war has fallen with especial heaviness on
the upper and the wealthy classes. They
furnish the officers and these have lost
more heavily in battle, in proportion to
their numbers. than the men.
The loss has been particularly marked
in high society in England, for the British
officers are always men of means and
members of the upper and wealthy classes.
More than two thousand British officers
have been killed since the beginning OF
the war. This, of course, is large num-
Der of men to remove from one class OF
the community. and their absence is sorely
felt.
A French revioW of the war has estt
mated the losses OF German officers at the
enormous number of 10000. While the
French claim that they have lost fewer
than the Germans, 1t is hardly likely that
they have lost less than 10000 or two
thirds Of the number they give for their
opponents.
It is probably accurate to say that every
royal, noble and prominent family in the
belligerent countries has lost some mem
Der. The King of England, the Gar Of
Russia and the Kaiser have all lost near
relatives. The son of former President
of France has been killed.
Every Family in the
British Peerage Bereaved.
It is stated that every family in the
British peerage has been thrown into
mourning. This is probably correct II
relatives by marriage are included in the
list of those lost.
: The Countess Annesley is one of the
most prominent of the many high-born
English women who have been widowed
by the war Her husband, Earl Annesiey,
took service as a simple lieutenant in the
British Army Flying Corps, in spite OF his
high rank and wealth. He was one Of the
richest of Irish landlords and owned
$4,000 acres and two splendid old houses
In that country, as we'll as much other
property.
During a flying expedition over the Ger
man lines he was lost. II is not certain
whether he fell into the sea or was
brought down by a German bullet and
buried without identification, but he has
been given up for dead. Lady Annesley
is an attractive young widow, who was
only married few years ago.
The Hon. Mrs. Henry Lyndhurst Bruce,
whose fate is particularly interesting to
Americans She was, OF course, the hand
some and popular American actress, Ca
mile Clifford noted particularly for the
statuesque attractiveness OF her figure, so
different from "the rag and bone" type
now commonly cultivated. MISS CIHord
made a great hit in 1.-THE Prince or Pill
sen" and other pieces. She was COM
monty referred to abroad as the persona
hcation of the Gibson girl
Young Henry Lyndhurst Bruce, son and
heir OF the proud Lord Aberdare, fell reek-
lessly in love with the American beauty
and married her in spite OF his father and
family. Lord Aberdare was furious, and
his SON and heir had to leave the army
and go to work in the automobile business
But Camille Cliffords charm, beauty and
tact won the old lords forgiveness and ar
lection and she gained an excellent so
cial position.
Then the war came and young Bruce
went to the front as a captain In the
Royal Scots Regiment, After very gal
liant conduct he was killed in the terrible
fighting along the User River Now poor
Camille Clifford, after her romance and
all her social triumphs, must face harder
struggle than ever.
Lady Richard Wellesley is one of the
prettiest of the war widows In England.
Her husband was the second son OF the
Duke of Wellington and descendant OF
the victor of Waterloo. He was killed
while serving as a captain of the Grena-
der Guards, near the scene OF his an
cestor's famous victory.
Lady Richard Wellesley became a mother
soon after her husbands death was an
nounced Her father is Sir Maurice Fitz-
Gerald, the twentieth Knight OF Kerry
and head Of one of the most ancient Irish
families Her mother was a Miss Biseh-
offsheim, a member Of the wealthy and
noted London family of hs"h~--I