The New York herald., 1922-02-19
Riviera Villages Cut Prices,
Bringing Flood of Visitors
Old Time Visitors Struck With Changes Famous Play
ground Has Undergone-Mrs. Seth Barton French
Entertaining Extensively at Villa Rocca Marina.
ny MAY BIRKHEAD.


hazards of the casino and the sporting
club, but are going in for golf. tennis.
motoring, racing. and are lavish in their
admiration of the region which seems
to have surpassed all their anticipations
of its majestic beauty.
Indeed, for the ha bitue or the new
conner the spell of the Riviera seems.
as of Old to be inexhaustible. Where
else is there such setting and atmos-
phere, and where else is the sojourner
solicited by so many varieties of excite
ment and charm? The scenic combna-
tion of mountains and the sea cannot
fail to thrill the most hardened traveller,
and the winter air, without being cold,
has a zest and tang which exhilarates
every one. One is struck anew by the
grandeur of this region when motoring
up the steep mountain paths to the golf
club, where good course, occasionally
swept by the clouds, has been laid out
I ZOO feet above the sea. AS you creep
along the tortuous paths of Mont Angel.
with rugged precipices above and be-
meath you, you wonder where human in
genuity can have found a golf co irse,
but eventually there it Is before you, diff
ferent from any other and vastly anus
ing and interesting to those who have
The air is incredibly crisp, and until one
becomes accustomed to playing at this
height there is ringing in the ears.
The walls of the golf club are adorned
with caricatures of famous old habitues
of the Riviera, such as James Gordon
Bennett in the act of paying out money
with both hands at Ciros and a more
recent one of Mr.. Vaglano, the Greek
shipbuilder, holding forth at chemin de
fGp tln 10,
covering all numbers at the roulette
table.
All Visit Unique Course.
All who come to Monte Carlo, whether
golfers or not visit this unique course,
particularly as the trip gives them an
opportunity to see unrolled before them
scene of unsurpassable beauty ana
grandeur 1t is Switzerland and the
Mediterranean with its promontories re-
vealed in one vast colorful canvas, from
the rugged SUBMITS capped with. snow
and clouds to the blue and green
of the sea, along which palm trees grow
in profusion. An added touch of color
is furnished by the white buildings of
the city below and of the villas scat
tered over the mountain sides with their
red roofs
The only expression of disappointment
that one can hear as far as the beauty
of the Riviera is concerned Is caused
by the lack of flowers The magnificent
mimosa trees, for which this region has
a worldwide reputation. are only now
just commencing to bloom while they
should have been out in full force ten
days ago; the gorgeously colored carna-
tions are not to be seen in their usual
profusion there are practically no roses
and there are scarcely any wild flowers
as yet In the fields. 1t Is evident that
the long drought and cold weather have
kept the flowers back. Until recently
there has not been a good days rain all
winter. Rain or shine, however, does
NOT prevent the visitors from coming
and now with the boats coming directly
from New York to Monte Carlo the
season, though late, will yet be ami
mated and Americans will be more
numerous than ever.
Though Cannes is the great center for
those who rent villas, the villa life
around Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu and Monte
Carlo has not been dull. Those who
have been entertaining extensively in
their villas are Mrs. Seth Barton
French, who has the villa Rocca Ma
rina on the bay Of Vilefranche. Mr..
his pupils often favor her with a visit
when she entertains. At her last con-
cert NJ. de Reszke and his pupils gave
musical play in one act entitled "All
Fools Day" by J. NJ. Barotti, with
music by Give Carey. The little play
was acted and sung with no end of
spirit by the talented amateurs. A
large number of the American and Eng
lish colony were present including the
Hon. Mrs. Kennard, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
Clews. Jr., Count and Countess Gautier-
Vignal, Captain and Mrs Erskine Bolst.
Prince and Princess Christopher of
Greece and Mr.. and Mrs. William B.
Leeds. Others who are prominent in
the villa life of the Riviera are Princess
Karageorgevitch. who is an American
(she was Mrs. Huger PratD; the villa
Scoglietto near Beaulieu, and Nine Bal
san (nee Consuelo Vanderbilt), who was
formerly the Duchess of Marlborough
Mr.. and Mrs Spencer Eddy. and Mr.
and Mrs. Claus Spreckels frequently en-
tertan in their villa at Cap Ferrat
Mr.. and Mrs Blythe Branch, who have
the Virginia Cottage near Beaulieu, en-
tertained General and Nine. Taufflieb
at dinner the other evening. Sir John
and Lady Ward are occupying their
Villa Rosemary which was presented to
them by Lady Wards mother, Mrs
Whitelaw Reid Mr.. Anthony j. Drexel
has a villa at Cap Ferrat. Mr. and
Mrs. Edward Tuck have villa in
Monte Carlo and have been entertain
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Amos Tuck French
Sir Robert and Lady Hadfield have the
Villa HolZer Mrs. Herman Frasch,
who has a beautiful villa at Cap Fer
rat. Is expected soon from America She
will be accompanied by her daughter,
Mrs. Frasch Wilton.
Prince and Princess Christopher OF
Greece. who have the villa Kazbeck.
which was formerly the property OF the
Grand Duke Michel of Russia. have
been entertaining extensively. At the
moment they have The Princess Nicolas
of Greece and her two daughters. Prin-
cess Olga and Princess Elizabeth. who
have recently arrived from Athens as
their guests Mr.. and Mrs. Craig Blddle
have the villa Val-Fleuri in Cannes
Comte and Comtesse Boni de Castellanc
and their baby who have been passing
several weeks in their villa, are return
ing TO Paris to-day. His mother, the
Duchess de Talleyrand, is expected TO
motor from Paris soon.
Mrs. Leslie Cotton, the American por-
trait painter, who has painted many
portraits Of persons prominent in both
European and American society, is here