The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-08

match between Miss Rachael Guerney (which was Lady Dudley's maiden name) and the eldest son and heir of the Earl and Countess of Dudley.
 King Edward had been great friend to Miss Rachael Guerney's mother. who had considerable wealth and social position that was perhaps not quite on the same level as that of the heir to the Dudley title. At any rate a mar riage was arranged and ultimately took place; King Edward, who was then Prince of Wales, and his beautiful consort' graced the ceremony. while Queen Vic toria herself sent most gracious words of greeting to the bride and bridegroom. It was very soon apparent, however, to those who were fin the know that 1t was marriage of convenience and the young couple were before long the center of considerable gossip and surmise. They held out very cleverly. however, for many years, and therefore the action that Lady, Dudley has taken at this late date has occasion surprise. I am told that during the time they were occupying the Vice regal lodge in Dublin some years ar gossip ragged throughout the Irish cap itaI, and all sorts of stories were told which l dare say had few sparks ot
 truth which active tongues soon' fanned into a flame.
  edge of social life in London 1 remem- Der seeing the beautiful woman who was then the reigning countess and who is now the Dowager Countess Of Dud- ley She was then one of the lovenest women in the English court circle, ana shared with the Countess Of Lonsoaie, afterwards the Marchioness Of Ripon the distinction of being the most peautiiui as well as the tallest peeress in London, She was close to six feet ins height. with chestnut brown hair which she wore nushed back in pompadour from her low. broad forehead. Her eyes were amazingly blue, and very clear and large, and her complexion was as white ano l clear as it is possible to imagine. Her figure was very slim and she invariaoly | wore white in summer as well as Tn winter.
 1 Al that time the Dudleys occupied a very ugly, but stately mansion in Park Lane called Dudley House. This has now passed out of the family, however l as it was bought some years ago py Sir James Robertson, the south Africar
 magnate. Wonderful entertainments were given at this house wEAch poastee | of a superb ballroom, also used as l 1picture gallery Lady Dudley when sht i gave balls and receptions used to re lceive her guests at the entrance or thl' great apartment she stood upon sor' of dais erected at the top of the starr lease and clad in white With crown O great emeralds set in diamonds pressed How upon her beautiful brow she pre- sented a most entrancing picture. Ih' present earl and countess, however
 have never kept up any very great stat in London. the fact that they have al
 ways been more or less at dagger' drawn. being, no doubt, accountable fol this.
 London, of course, is full of American activities just now, and one sees al most as many members of the Unfte' States service in the streets and Il lplaces of amusement as one does Eng
 glish and French officers and men.
 have an idea that when the day ar
 rives there will be monstrous demon
 stration in American London, and tha international feeling and joy will go to gether actually hand in hand. N
 The other day I saw the Countess Q Ancaster busily at work serving te at one of the Red Cross hostels tha have been established for United State 7 officers. She was looking very hand some and wearing a simple and becom . ing gown of mole colored stockinett
 with a hem of mole skin, and narro'