The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-15


 napolis naval school.
 mediately below the royal box, on the pit tier. This large box is always sub- scribed for by members of that most famous and exclusive club, Whites" and King Edward occupied the corner which coign of vantage he would care fully serutinize the occupants of boxes and stalls. In fact he paid a good deal more attention, very often, to the au- dience than he did to what was hap pening on the other side of the foot lights. But King George is essentially a family man, and so he evidently intends not to follow in fathers foot steps as far as his cisits to the opera are concerned at any rate.
 Everybody in the opera house was very interested in noting the presence of the latest royal bride and her husband Lady Patricia Ramsay and Commander Ram say. They were in the stalls, and Lady Pat was looking remarkably pretty Tn gown of pale blue trimmed with feathers and carrying a feather fan composed of three long ostrich plumes shaded from dark to pale blue. I noticed that be- tween one of the acts of La Boheme, Lady Patricia and her husband went and made brief call upon the King and Queen, and afterward they visitedl the Princess Royal and Princess Maud, who by that time had been joined by the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert and Prince George.
 The list of subscribers to the opera this year is, I am told bigger than it has been for many years. Many of the old-time subscribers have dropped out, but in their place has risen a positive host of new people who are obviously anxious to outshine the less wealthy members of the old aristocracy. The Duchess of Marlboroughs name does not appear on the door of her accustomed box this season. In it's place l noticed that of Mrs. Eckstein--a rather strange change in owners to the mind of the nor dant humoristsl Lady Beatty has one of the best boxes on the grand tier not far away from that of the Princess Royal who is a great friend of the ad- miral and his popular American wife. $
 I noticed also that Lady Hutton, the wife of the new newspaper baronet, Sir Edward Hutton, also has box on the grand tier, and so have the two Michel ham baronesses-the dowager and the wife of the present Lord Michelham- Both of these ladies are now engaged in a tremendous law suit, in which are involved many millions of pounds. Lady Miehelham, the younger, is a woman who has passed her first youth and who mar ried. practically his fathers death bed the heir to the Michelham title and estate who at the time of the ceremony was not 19 years of age Tremendous revelations are expected during the progress of the litigation which bids fair to last for long time.
 I noticed that MT. Pierpont Morgan has taken a box for the season, also MT. | Robert Gardiner, MT. Washington Sin 1 ger. Mrs s. Whitburn, Mr. Ernest Gu nard MT. Dempster Smith, and Mrs Ritchie all of whom are Americans The l last named, Mrs. Ritchie-is the daugh- l ter of that well remembered and wonder ful American lady, Mrs. Ronalds, whose | death two or three years ago brought to an end life of extraordinary interest and almost historic connection.
 l It is interesting to learn that The 1 American Differs club, which has been l for so long housed in the Earl oi Chesterfields splendid mansion in Curzon street, Mayfair, is soon to pc | given up, and that Lord Chesterfield and his family will come into resi- dence there about the middle of June The Duchess of Marlborough has, hear, definitely taken a lease for the usual "99 years' of No. 1 Portmar l Square, which is one of the most beau l tiful of London's garden spaces" | passed there the other day and saw quite an army of workman in complete possession of the old-fashioned brown | fronted mansion, so I gather that th' ! duchess will move in'' as soon as pos ! sible
 Talking of houses that are beine occupied in London. I am reminded Q some fine old castles in the countr,
 that have recently come into the mar ket and that are awaiting tenants For the first time in it's history I be l lieve. the baronial seat of the Lord
 of Gilsland, and later on the home e the Earls of Carlisle--Naworth Gas tle-is to be let furnished for tern of years This ancient castle stand
 in a park of 800 acres. at the soutl
 of the River Irthing near Bramptor Naworth Castle was a feudal stroE g
 hold, first mentioned in the reign 0 Richard IT. The character of tn
 building throughout remains un
 spoiled. though it has been modern
 ized as a place of residence. hay never been there, but I am told tna armor pictures, tapestry and antiqu
 furniture of great value adorn th
 banqueting hall, the corridors and In
 state rooms. Added to the sattrac
 tion of the wonderful gardens an iparl lands of this estate, there
 shooting over 10000 acres and trou
 fishing of most alluring nature nea its very doors. Another historic es
 tate called Douglas Castle, in Lanark
 shire. is also to be let for a long tern
 fully furnished and provided with an I tiquarian objects of interest.
 The fact of the matter is that Eng lands aristocracy is very hard put { it just now to make both ends meet Ivery few of them have been profiteer lduring the way. They have lost nc only money. but the men who wer
 building up the family name and
 whom they looked for successor
 Now, in all likelihood, these wonder full castles that have been for cer lturies in families of renown will pas
 for q time into the Keeping of wealth