The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-08
American Duchess Gets
 Rid Of White Elephant
By LADY MARY.

London, May A.-(Speefal) )-People over here are considerably surprised at the per sistent rumor that the Duchess of Marl- borough has sold her town mansion in Curzon street to Lord Furness, the great financial magnate and shipbuilding multi millionaire
 Sunderland house was, if I remember rightly, built for the Duchess of Marlbor- ough by her father, the late W. K. Van derbilt, shortly after her marriage to the duke. The land on which it's square built. immensity solidly stands is of course of huge value, and is, believe, portion of the Devonshire property. The other side of Curzon street is in the ownership of the Marques of Lansdowne. The grounds of Devonshire house. the town residence of the Duke of Devonshife, at one time extended along the south side Of Curzon street, the houses that are now intervening being of comparatively modern Construction. Sunderland house is the most recent residence of large size ir this very aristocratic Mayfair street. So large is it, that it was built without any regard at all to that necessity of most London houses-namely, a garden or back yard. It simply stands there a great square structure that contains, l believe, more windows than any other mansion of it's size in London, forming a whole block on it's own account.
 As matter of fact, Sutherland house has always been rather white elephant to the Duchess of Marlborough, who, since her departure from Blenheim palace, has lived very little actually in London. Naturally, as she and the duke have agreed to differ Ion many points, she has done very little official entertain jrr cI,a !, 1rua living either at her charming semi-suburban home at Roehampton, or else further up the river, where she can take rest from the very ardous duties that she has as- stunned since she became a real hard work ing member of Londons municipal body.
 It is more than likely that when Lord Furness takes over the lease of Sunder- land house, a new era of social activities or very large scale will commence. He has immense ambitions toward that end, and is able to gratify them in most eX- travagant and appealing fashion fancy that the Duchess of Marlborough will take a smaller and less pretentious house in the Mayfair district. which she will re- gard as a pied a terre, and where she will be able to give those small dinner and supper parties for which she is fam ous As Sunderland house is her own personal property, she is at entire llb- erty to dispose of it as she thinks nt without consulting either the duke, her husband, or the Marques of Blandford, her oldest son, the heir.
 Speaking of the great houses of London. I was interested recently in fete ana bazar held in the grounds of Devonshire house during week in May when the climatic conditions of London were at their very worst The beautiful turf on which the tents were erected became sort of bog, into which the boards. which were placed to save the visitors shoes from the mud, sank in most depressing fashion The day that visited this some what melancholy charity function was the day that was also selected by Queen Alexandra, and it was marvellous to see the spirited and cheerful fashion in which this marvellous old lady walked, from tent to tent, quite undeterred by the fact that the gray clouds were sending down streams of water on the top Of an um- brella, that did not by any means pro tect her from the driving rain. She seemed to find her greatest enjoyment in a big marquee that was devoted to danc- ing or as they insist upon calling a cer- tain style of dancing over here, Amer ican jazzing."
 The royal lady clad in black vel vent gown. with jet embroidered