Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-21
Will the
Dignified
Chatelaine of
Famous Old
Floors Castle.
Who Was N
the Gay j,

'VHE duchess or R0xburghei who was
formerly May Goelet, Of the New
York multi-miiionaire family, has
a new sister-in.law, Miss Jose Collins, who
has enjoyed 1--WE years OF success in the
London music halls.
The cable dispatches have already an.
nounced that Lord Robert Innes-Ker,
younger brother of the Duke OF Roxburghe,
had secretly married Jose Collins vaude.
vile actress and music hall singer and
daughter Of the once celebrated LottIe Col
Inns. who sang ''Ta.rn .ra -boom.de.ay" TO
crowded vaudeville houses in America.
Perhaps the most interesting part OF this
astonishing marriage is the embarrass-
ment 1t will cause to the digniHed Amer.
lean Duchess OF RoXburghc. Her husband
as Duke holds the highest rank in Eng.
lands peerage, and the Dukes come next
10 the King at state ceremonies. The
Duchess occupies CORRESPONDENCE high
rank TO her husband, and arrayed in robes
and coronet stands near the Queen at Ger.
tain ceremonies.
Indeed. the Duchess is especially prom.
inent at court. because Queen Mary has n
particularly high regard for her and es.
teens her as highly as any OF the Amer
lean women who have married into tho
pecrage.
When Miss Goelet married the Duke OF
Roxburghe In 1903 1t was considered a
very brilliant match, not less 40 than the
marriage OF Consuelo Vanderbilt and the
Duke OF Marlborough. The Duke OF Rox-
burghe belonged to an extremely ancient
Scottish family and his mother was q
trusted conhdante OF the reyered Queen
Victoria. His castles and estates spread
over 10000 acres OF the Scottish border
counties.
The Goelets are, next to the Astors. the
largest owners OF New York real estate.
and Miss May Goelet brought TO her hus.
band fortune that was extremely useful
In helping him to maintain his ducal rank
II IL estimated on reliable authority that
she inherited $15,00O,000 from her late
father. She has spent her wealth with
great liberality In improving the Rox-
burghe estates and in other ways that
would add to her social influence and pop.
ularity, but without foolish personal ex-
travagances. The Duke had no London
house mt the time of his marriage, and the
Duchess purchased and restored Chester
field House, the largest mansion In Lon
don. for their use.
Ever since the Duchesss marriage her
career has been brilliant and dignifled
success from the social viewpoint.
And now she finds herself saddled with
{, sister.in.law who has appeared for years
at the Tivoi and other music halls in Lon
don; who has been billed at many vaude.
VILE houses In America; who has starred
in such lively musical skits as alone at
Last" and "Matrlmony, Ltd" II does not
add in the least to the social eligibility OF
the Duchess's now sister-in-law that her
mother sang boom decay" and
other music hall ditties; that she has n
father occupying some minor theatrical
post in America; that she has younger
sister on the music hall stage who has
sung 81 Could BE Coaxed" and other little
masterpieces.
Readers OF the present generation may
need TO he reminded that the brides
mother. Lottie Collins, belonged to the old
fashioned type OF noisy, slap-bang vaude-
willie performers. When she sang her most
famous song she stamped her feet on the
floor with a noise that shook the house
and waved a wealth of lingerie in the air.
They were robust, full-blooded charmers in
those days. rather different from the
shrinking types of refined girlhood who
nre now sought In vaudeville. The present
Lady lnnes-Ker would be able to amuse
her ducal relations with some entertaining
"reminiscences OF old-tifne music hall per-
formers.
There appears to be n very serious com.
plcation in Jose Collinss past. The cable
dispatches state that she was divorced in
1919 by her first husband, Captain Leslie
Chatfed, an Engiishman. Could the
has been involved In a divorce suit?
And what would Queen Mary think about
such matter? Her Majesty holds the
strictest views about divorce and has only
recently given orders that no divorced
woman can be presented at court. Sho
expects those members OF the nobility who
enjoy her friendship to follow her views
on divorce.
Now the divorced Jose Collins is the
wife OF Lord Robert Innes.Ker, and ordi.
t,f1x dYIlra rs a e S,,1
highest society and is presented at court
Immediately after her marriage
The Duchess Of Roxburghe would be tho
natural person to present her new sister.
in-law to the Queen, but we may be sure
she will not attempt to do that Will she
even receive her sister.in.law in her home
or recognize her IL she sees her in the
street? Those who know the Ducheas's
social pride, the dignity OF her life and
her Intimate relations with the Queen be.
lieve that she would never recognize her
divorced music hall sister.in.law.