Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-20
London, June II.

- NGLAND has been literally
r. astonlshed by the splendid
services in the war Of young
lords and heirs to peerages married
to actresses.
The significant fact is that noble.
men with actress wives have dis
tinguishcd themselves very much
more than nobiemen married to girls
OF their own class. Practically
every one Of those with theatrical
helpmates has been mentioned for
distinguished service. while OF the
other members OF the peerage not
more than per cent have been SO
distinguished
1t seems to be established that
marrying an actress gives young
ldier ambition, inspires him with
patriotic enthusiasm and changes
him from lord into real hero.
Many Of these men have already
orave!y given their lives for their
country, but others are being men.
toned almost daily in the reports
from the war.
A very striking example of this in.
teresting phenomenon is the young
Marquis of Iieadfort, who married
Miss Rosie Boote, of the Gaiety The
a1re When the Marquis first an.
nounced his contemplated marriage
there was CONSERVATION in society.
He is the head OF one of the oldest
AnSlo.lrish families and one OF the
largest landowners in Ireland He
had not done anything to win fame
before that, but still it was thought
shocking that he should marry a girl
who had entertained the public in a
very successful manner.
The Marquis was barely twenty.
one at the time and an officer of the
Lie Guards. the first regiment OF
the British army. Report has il that
his brother officers were so displeas.
ed with his conduct that they
spanked him In the old.fashioned
way.
His mother Is even said to have
locked him up and sequestered his
clothes in order to prevent him from
wedding
With remarkable determination hs
orercame all these obstacles. When
he was warned by his immediate
superior in the army that he should
not make this marriage, he boldly
wrote 10 the late King Edward, who
was titular colonel OF the regiment,
saying: II am about TO marry Miss
Rosie Boote, Of tho Gaiety Theatre,
whom Your Majesty doubtless
knows"
Rosie Boote was charming girl
not only handsome, but endowed with
splendid health good spirits and
good nature. While the marriage
was still in doubt she sang with
brilliant verve song entitled 'Maisie
' Will Get There All the Same" in
THE Messenger Boy at the Gaiety
Theatre.
The Marquis and the actress ran
away one fine day and were married
by registrar" who performs the
humblest kind of marriages in Eng
land. The Marquis was then forced
to resign from the army and every.
body said that he and his wife would
be quite social outcaSts
a few months after the wedding
the Duchess OF Westminster, who is
related to the Headfort family, met
the new Warehouses at charity
bazaar and found her charming.
Then King Edward saw her Mt the
races and put the seal Of his social
approval on her, just as he had
recognized her theatrical talent be.
fore.
Instead Of being boycotted the new
Marchioness became brilliant sue
cess in society. She proved hereslf
a fine rider to hounds, was good at
tennis and al! kinds Of sports OF
course, she knew a good deal more
about singing and dancing than the
other society women, but she didn't
parade the fact unduly.
But the most astonishing change
occurred in the Marquis. Instead of
being reckless young spendthrift
he became dignifed member of
society, a successful landowner,
conscientious justice of the peace and
everything that British nobleman
ought TO be.
The climax Of this transformation
or character occurred only recently.