Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-25

~ OMANCE Is not dead yet in the
X world. though some gloomy persons
seem to think 1t is Indeed we are 60
Ing to hear Of many modern romance
more wonderful even than anything that
happened in the legendary days OF
cbivalry.
Lady Diana Manners, EnCland's most
fnmous beauty and daughter of England's
proudest duke, has become engaged to the
son Of mere doctor.
She could have married almost any dis.
engaged man in England, or in Europe
prince. duke or millionaire. Not a few
heirs to American millions sighed in hone.
less alteration OF her. And now she &C.
cepts the son OF doctor.
The fortunate bridegroom elect IS Cap.
tain Duff Cooper, who served
with credit in the Grenadier
Guards during the war, but
was Of relatively small impor- 49,
lance in the vast mass of
leaders and soldiers engaged
In that struggle. In an army
where there are over thou
sand general officers, what Is
a captain?
Captain Cooper's father was OF quite
plebeian birth. Toward the end OF his
career he achieved considerable success as
surgeon, but that does not mean much
In social sense. In fact doctors. have
seldom been admitted footing o.
eouality to the society OF the nobility and
the higher social circles generally In
England.
mi
false artificial conceptions regarding birth
and wealth. would say that such men az
the late Doctor Cooper were the best in
Observation-Disclosures, cultured. of service to
humanity. and so on-but We can also un
derstand the immense barriers created by
the age-long worship Of caste III 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 III social conditions
and the altered point Of view OF duca
family that have made such an enga cement
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 II was we'll 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 al last that
they could not pass the supreme test of
her critical taste.
Once she was member OF a gay boat.
ing party up the Thames A prominent
young nobeman fell overheard in the dark
a n
peared at the inquest in deep mourning,
tribute usually paid by women only to rela-
tves 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 mystery. but after it 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 a
social leader. Lady Diana 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,
but also of semi-public affairs such as ba-
zaars and charitable undertakings. An in
terestlng example Of her popularity was
given at great bazaar.
The main feature OF the affair was the
sale OF pear! 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 few moments Of
spirited bidding sold 1t for $20,000--more
than twice its value.
II 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
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 reception attired
as Juliet, in fifteenth century Florentine
costume OF scarlet velvet trimmed with