The Washington times., 1919-05-25
and Enormous
Wealth, Surrenders
Her Heart
to the Son of a
London Doctor

- oMANCE is not dead yet in the
world, though some gloomy persons
- seem to think it is. Indeed we are go
ing to hear of many a modern romance
more wonderful even than anything that
happened in the legendary days Of
chivalry.
Lady Diana Manners, England's most
famous beauty and daughter Of England's
prOudest duke, has become engaged to the
son Of a mere doctor.
She could have married almost any dis
engaged man in England, or in Europe
prince, duke or millionaire. Not few
heirs to American millions sighed in hope
less alteration Of her. And now she ac-
cepts the son Of a doctor.
The fortunate bridegroomelect is Cap
tain Duff Cooper, who served
with credit in the Grenadier
Guards during the war, but
was of relatively small impor
lance in the vast mass of
leaders and soldiers engaged
in that struggle. In an army
where there are over a thou
sand general officers, what is
q captain?
Captain Cooper's father was of quite
pIebeian birth Toward the end Of his
career he achieved considerable success as
a surgeon, but that does not mean much
in q social sense. In fact, doctors. have
seldom been admitted on a footing OF
equality to the society Of the nobility and
the higher social circles generally in
England.
OF course we Americans, who have no
false artificial conceptions regarding birth
and wealth, would say that such men as
the late Doctor Cooper were the best in
Enzland-educated, cultured, OF service to
Humanity. and so on-but we can also IN
derstand the immense barriers created by
the age-long worship Of caste in Great
Britain end how often, too often, they have
held asunder loving. human hearts.
And this brings us to an understanding
of the great change in social conditions
and the altered point of view OF ducal
family that have made such an engagement
possible.
Before the war Lady Diana Manners was
known as the most capricious and extraVa-
CANT beauty in England, with not little
of the pride and haughtiness for which her
family was noted. 1t was well known that
the most eligible princes, dukes and earls
in England were suitors for her hand, but
while she smiled upon several OF them In
succession, she always found at last that
they could not pass the supreme test OF
her critical taste.
Once she was a member Of gay boat
ing party up the Thames. prominent
young nobleman fell overheard in the dark
ness and was drowned Lady Diana ap-
peared at the inquest in deep mourning,
tribute usually paid by women only to rela-
tiyes or men to whom they are engaged.
She looked the picture of tragic SORROW
and her appearance touched everybody.
How deeply her heart was concerned in
this affair is a mystery, but after 1t Lady
Diana plunged into social gayety with more
reckless abandon than ever.
To say that she was the brightest social
star in England is but feeble expression.
An unmarried girl is not supposed to be
social leader. Lady Diana was more. She
was the Incompatible attraction whose
presence made every gathering she at
tended the foremost social affair Of the
day.
She was not only the leading attraction
of court functions and aristocratic parties,
hut also of semi-public affairs such as ba-
zaars and charitable undertakings An in
teresting example of her popularity was
given at a great bazaar.
The main feature of the affair was the
sale of a pearl necklace quite literally
valued at $4,000 which had been presented
to the charity Every advance in the price
paid would, of course, benefit the affair.
Lady Diana placed the necklace on her
shapely bosom and after a few moments Of
spirited bidding sold it for $2O,O0O-more
than twice its value
It was we'll known that the extraordinary
number and richness Of her costumes
placed an almost unbearable burden on
her father, the Duke of Rutland, who for
q man of his rank is not particularly
wealthy Every day, or oftener, she
startled the world with some new costume
or fashion.
Her appearance at a reception attired
as Juliet, in fifteenth century Florentine
costume Of scarlet velvet trimmed with