The Washington herald., 1919-12-07

and social duties, II Is said. has
practically assured her election from
any one Of three London districts.
No announcement in months past
has created as much Of a sensation
in the smart set as the news Of the
young Marquis Of BIandford's en-
gagement.
The news that the young son of
Consuelo. Duchess Of Marlborough.
will marry Alexandra Mary Cadogan.
fourth daughter of the late Wis.,
count Cadogan, came Us genuine
surprise to metropolitan society. And
I am told not even the young mar
quis' grandmother. Mrs. Oliver. H.
p. Belmont. was aware Of the en-
gagement until she read about 1t in
the dailies.
Mrs. Belmont then hurried to the
cable office and sent her congratu-
lations to the young couple.
MARUIs IS
A CATCH.
Mrs. Belmont has been looking
forward to a visit from her daugh-
ter, the duchess. and 1t was reported
that the marquis would accompany
his distinguished mother to these
shores. Naturally, the debutantes
were greatly excited over the. ru-
mored visit. and many ambitious
mammas planned to land" the
young marquis.
The marquis has long been one OF
the matrimonial catches of Eng
Iish society. Not only does he pos
sess a title. but he also will. at
some future day. inherit a large
slice OF the famed Vanderbilt mil
lions. Such a combination is din
cult to find.
Not a few English mothers angled
after the marquis. and I imagine
disappointment reiGns supreme in
certain London homes today. hear
the young miss who will be the
future Duchess of Marlborough is a
very charming young woman. Her
family is one of the Oldest in Eng
land. and she is in high favor at
court. She is goddaughter of
Queen Alexandra
1t seems only yesterday read
about the christening Of the young
marquis. He was sponsored by the
late King Edward. and never has an
infant started life under more auspi-
cious circumstances than the one
time Consuelo Vanderbilt's Oldest
son.
The late king. then the Prince of
Wales. sent the young infant several
very handsome gifts. and when he ar
rived at st. James Chapel, where the
christening was to take place, he was
met by the duke and duchess, the in
fant's grandmother on his fathers
side, the Marchioness of Glandford.
and his grandfather on his mothers S
side, William X. Vanderbilt, ST.
In honor of the prince the infant
was named John Albert Edward Will
lam, and, IL 1 recall correctly, the
duchess later pointed with pride to
the fact that the infant did not whim-
per one bit during the entire cere-
mony.
The prince answered the customary
questions in a loud, firm voice, and.
following the service, had quite a long
chat with Mr.. Vanderbilt, who at that
time had settled millions upon his
daughter-millions which were being
used to restore the famous palaces Of
the Marlboroughs which, for a num-
ber Of years. had been in a state
verging on ruin.
1t seems as If 1t all happened but
yesterday and here is that tiny in
FAINT grown to manhood and engaged
10 be married. How time does fly!
Close friends of the duchess in this
! country tell me she always hoped her
boys would marry American girls
Which, in no way, is meant as a slight
to the lovely English girls. The
duchess, despite her long residence
abroad. is typically American. and.
unlike the Duchess of Roxburghe (the
former May GoeleD and the Countess
of Granard (the one-time Beatrice
Mills) she has never adopted the
manners and customs of Great Brit
| ain.