The Washington times., 1921-03-27

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The Unimpressive, Unattractive Looking
Duke of Marlborough, Who Could Not
Live Happily with One Charming Ameri.
ean Wife AMI IL Now Reported About
to Marry Another.
aytsel , LONDON, March IS, 1921.
VHE highest social circles feel an un-
usual interest in the very fascinat-
ing and complicated romances of
/ the divorced Duke and Duchess of Mari.
borough.
The Duchess, after years of misery with
her noble husband, many years of separa-
tion and few months of divorce, has de-
cided to try married life anew with fasci-
mating mddle,aged French sportsman, M.
Jacques Balsan.
The Duke. after having proved again and
again that he was not a satisfactory-or
even olerable-husband to one charming
American girl is credited with having per.
suaded one of the most distinguished
American beauties in European society to
become his bride-Miss Gladys Deacon.
still another interesting problem, that
Is perhaps the most puzzling of all, arises
in connection with these matrimonial an
nouncements Why has the beautiful,
much-admired Miss Gladys Deacon, after
refusing the most eligible men in Europe
for fwppfv 70 fha
Duke of Marlborough? What can she see
in this little, round -shouldered, sour-faced,
cynical nobleman?
Social observers feel that some pecu-
larry interesting and modern questions
are involved here. Why are all these more
cr less middle-aged persons plunging hope
lui, into mstrimony? One might have
thought that they would have become dis
couraged by their painful experiences Of
matrimony and various disillusioning re-
lations.
In earlier generations It was supposed
that romantic feelings passed away with
youth or, at least, became very calm. Now
these new social occurrences are accepted
as evidence that romance and sentiment
are being preserved later and later in life
In fact. they say that middle age is now
the really romantic time of life. Some
even go so far as to assert that woman
becomes most fascinating and attractive
after forty.
Those who have seen the Duchess Of
Marlborough recently declare that she has
not looked so happy in twenty-six years
not even at the time of her marriage. It
is common knowledge that the Duchess
was married in New York in 1895 and
that she is now a grandmother. She is
amazingly young in appearance and to-
day she is looking younger than at any
time in the last ten years
The reason, Of course, is her engagement
to M. Jacques Balsan, the French sports
man, who himself looks remarkably young
for middle-aged man., Just before her
engagement was announced and when So
ciety knew how friendly the Duchess was
Within. Balsan she remarked to a friend:
II was married to Marlborough through
the arrangements of my family. II marry
Jacques, it win be for love"
There Is, the secret of eternal youth
to be really in love!
The Duchess gives up good deal from
worldly point Of view when she marries
M. Balsan.. She will cease to be real
Duchess and ut is understood that she
will call herself simply Madam Balsan.
As matter of fact, several English
Duchesses who have married commoners
have continued to use their titles, but the
practice is not strictly legal, and a woman
who follows II cannot be received at court
The Duchess has given up many other
things through her divorce from the Duke.
She has sacrificed the position she could
lave occupied at court and at great state
ceremonies. such as the coronation, IL she
we're the actual wife of the Duke, even
hough separated from him
She has given up Blenheim Palace, one
OF the largest and stateliest houses in Eng.
land ON which ha had NJ ho