The Washington times., 1919-12-21

tQral history Is tnere any reIerence, gOOQ
or bad, to the matchnakers. This omission
is, without shadow of doubt, perplexing. for
matchmaking has been an acknowledged
occupation Of women as long as history
runs Even in the proverbs and wise say
ings of all races we find no gems of cpl
gram that give the matchmakers definite
place In the scheme Of things.
This may be because there can be no
real definite Judgment upon the success of
their efforts-even when they are appar-
emily good or apparently bad. Who can
tell what factors which could not possibly
be known by the matchmaker made them
turn out miserably? And who can tell,
equally, what similarly unknown factors
made them successful?
1t is the filing of the divorce suit Of Mrs
Sidney Colford, one Of the most charming
and courted bellies of New York, Newport
and Philadelphia fashionable society, which
raises these philosophic thoughts and
presents the latest and most interesting
for years OF matchmaking problems. For
no less a person than Mrs. Reginald Van
derbilt herself admittedly made the match
between the beautiful Clare Knight and
the dashing Sidney Colford. It was she,
too, who brought together Mr.. Philip Pot
ter. nephew of the distinguished Bishop
Potter, and the charming and fashionable
Frances Downing, and the announcement
OF this engagement was made in her own
home at Newport
While this latter does not seem on the
surface to be apropos of Mrs. Colfords
divorce suit, rumor in fashionable society
links 1t very strongly, for it is the predic-
ton of this same fashionable society that
husband that her dear friend Cathleen Sc
lected for her, Mrs. Vanderbilt herself will
marry Mr. Colford, while the present Mrs.
Colford viii become the bride OF Mr..
Francis Potter, brother of Mr. Philip Pot
ter, whom Mrs. Vanderbilt picked out for
her other close friend, Miss Downing!
BY this 1t viii be seen how really very
amazing it is that no general conclusions
have ever been drawn about matchmakers
when such interesting results as those in
this case can occur, no matter how infre-
quently.
Once again, too, real life proves that un-
limited wealth does not insure US against
too limited happiness. 1t was only few
years ago that Mrs. Colford, the Million
Dollar Bud" only daughter and heiress of
Edward c. Knight, the Philadelphia sugar
king-so-called because her doting father
had announced upon her debut that he
would spend a million dollars upon her
to make her a happy debutante and an
other million to make her happy bride
was the most discussed debutante in New
port society. A little later she was the
most discussed bride: and now she is the
most discussed young matron, and it would
seem that her great wealth and Mrs. Van
derbfIt's propensity for matchmaking are
responsible for It,
Now that what for five years has seemed
the inevitable has actually happened, So
ciety. Janus-faced, Is looking both back
ward and forward. And correctly to under
stand the present amazing situation a slight
resume OF Mrs. Colford's career must be
given. For after all, the foundations of
the rumors and gossip now prevalent were
laid several years ago, when her parents
were grooming her for her social pre-em-
inency.
Some fourteen years ago the Edward
Knights arrived in Newport fresh from an
expensive and successful season at Monte
Carlo and other Riviera resorts. The
Knight wealth was breath-taking even for
Newport but in the beginning Jne Pooh
Bahs took them rather coldly. When, how
ever, they bought a large plot of land
fronting on the cliffs and running through
to Bellevue avenue, society had a change
Of heart
Almost by magic a veritable fairy palace
appeared upon that site. More than a mil
lion dollars was spent on the place. and it
was all to be the setting, so the Knights
said, FOR their only daughter, Clare, who
would make her debut there. Before
that. Of course, there must be a coming
out in Philadelphia And of that coming
out ball, the Quaker City talked for many
seasons. 1t cost many thousands of dol
lars, and rivaled in expensive sensations
anything ever given in that city.
In discussing the ball, Mr. Knight said.
Il hava already spent a million dollars to
make my daughter a happy debutante and
j am willing to spend another million to