The Washington times., 1921-10-23
LONDON, Oct. 12.

FASHIONABLE society in London has
~ grown indifferent to the endless
= number of divorces 1t has of late
been ,called upon to take note OF In its
smart circles. And yet. just at the present
moment, society has walked up from its
boredom and is discussing with very keen
interest a divorce action just begun py
one of England's most distinguished peers.
For the Earl of Cathcart has petitioned
the courts to set him free from his beau
tiful young wife, and he has added
piquant interest to the suit by involving
the gay young Earl of Craven, who is
himself in trouble with his young and
pretty wife.
The blasted romance of the Cathcarts Is
pointed to as another proof that May and
December should marry within their own
sphere of years Lady Cathcart Is thirty
two years younger than her distinguished
noble husband The Earl was confirmed
bachelor of fifty-six when he met and
married his young wife three years ago.
It is also pointed out that an ambitious
young woman should inquire into the liber.
ality or parsimony of nobleman when he
proposes unless she is prepared to be dis
appointed with things after marriage. The
Earl Of Cathcart is an immensely rich peer
but his young wife declares that he is
as stingy as he is rich. The noble Earl
has Scotch blood in his veins. and is no
spendthrift. -.
Evidently there have been heartburn
inxs on the part of the Earls wife because
d what she regards as the niggardly
allowance for her clothes and pin-money.
But she put up with this as best she could
and made as brave show as possible with
her pitiful little wardrobe of clothes.
AT last the worm turned. Lady Cathcart
decided that she would have one good time
In her life no matter how much 1t upset
the parsimonious old Earl She was in
yited te house party at gay Deauville,
France. She had gown or two which
were sufficiently presentable to try and
get through the weekend with fair show.
ing of smartness.
But this little breath Of freedom and
fnn at Deauville was the last straw. The
newspapers hearu that she had made
lucky turn at the wheel OF fortune at the
gaming table and had won several thou
sand dollars. when they asked her about
Il she frankly admitted that she had won
a rather neat sum. but remarked that she
was sorry 1t was not the fabulous amount
that had been reported. adding: esy
Because | am very hard up and ! Ger.
tainly need the money" a.s
Lord Cathcart on reading this statement
in the paper became enraged. At the same
time he noticed photograph of his attracr
tive wife sitting happily on bench with
fhe rather notoriou young Earl of Craven.
Roth were smiling ioyfully and seemed to
be having altogether too good Tina
This was more than Earl Oathcart could
stand He ordered his solicitors to insert
This rather unpleasant advertisement In the
London newspapers:
We. Messrs Bell, Brodrick and Gray.
solicitors, of Ormond House, SO. Queen
victoria street, e. c. 4, as Agents for
and on behalf of George Earl Cathcart,
nj 5s Pont street, s. w. !, hereby give
notice that he has expressly with
drawn any authority which his wife,
Vera Countess Cathcart, late of b6,
Pont street, aforesaid, may have at any
time acquired to contract in his name
or as his agent or in any way to pledge
his credit, and that he viii not be re-
sponsible for her debts or obligations
wbensoeyer or howsoever incurred.
Bell, Brodrick and Gray.
Lady Cathcart read the advertisement In
the morning newspapers, and rather weari-
,v told the reporters that she was not sur
.rised at the "horrid announcement"
although Immensely rich, my husband
Is most awfully stingy,' said Lady cam
cart "He was always anxious to have me
appear at the great social functions, In.