Evening star., 1923-12-17
BY THE MARaUIsE DE FoNTENoY.

Lady Diana Dun-Cooper, now in
New York in connection with THE
Miracle" play at the Century, and
whose father, the Duke Of Rutland,
has inherited from the first duke
the most capacious silver punch
bowl of the United Kingdom, as large
as bathtub of Falstaffian capacity,
indicative of ancestral hospitality at
Belvior Castle, presents most
striking resemblance to Dorothy Yer
non, the heroine of the romance of
Haddon Hall, from whom, indeed, she
is descended. Indeed, the likeness of
Lady Diana to the portraits still ex-
tant of the lovely Dorothy has often
formed the subject of comment in
that the apparit7ons of Dorothys
ghost which is said to haunt Haddon
Hall at certain times of the year
are of such a fieeting character that
no one has yet had an opportunity
of establishing a real comparison be-
tween Lady Diana in the flesh and
the specter of her beautiful ances-
tress.
Haddon Hall has been the bourne
of pilgrimage of SO many American
tourists. attracted thither by the
story Of Dorothy Vernon, that few
words on the subject may be of
timely interest. Situated on the
banks of the River Wye, in the fair
est portion of the county of Derby.
and surrounded by terraces and
gardens that have been the inspira-
ton of much more modern land
scape adornment, Haddon Hall is
-. hn
finest examples of the Norman and
early English architecture to be
found in the United Kingdom. Men
toned in Doomsday Book, compiled
IN the reign of William the Con-
queror, 1t formed part of the many
gifts made by that monarch to his
illegitimate son, William Peverill of
the Peak, from whose descendants 1t
passed into the possession of the
Vernons. 1t was to Sir Henry
Vernon of Haddon Hall that Lord
Warwick, the "kingmaker," wrote in
March, 1471, a letter which consti-
tutes the only remaining specimen
in existence of the handwriting of
the last of the barons." Sir George
Vernon, who by reason of his mag
nificent hospitality was popularly,
known as 1.-The King of the Peak" :"
was the last of the Vernons of Had
don Hall. He had an only child, the
heiress to all his property and
estates, Dorothy by name.
X X y
She fell in love with John Man
ners, the scapegrace younger son
of the first Earl of Rutland, who was
known throughout the countryside
for his wildness. Horrified at the
prospect of his daughter becoming
the wife of one whom he regarded as
an irredeemable ne'er-do-well. Sir
George drove him from his house
and sought by every means in his
power to prevent any communication
whatsoever between the young low
ers. Jack Manners, however, man
aged to find employment on the Had
don Hall estate in the disguise of a
woodman, which enabled him to con-
tinue his courtship of the fair Dor
othy. their mutual affection being
strongly enhanced and strengthened
by this touch of romance. In vain
Dorothy, known far and wide as the
"Princess of the Peak" pleaded with
her father to withdraw his opposi-
ton to handsome Jack Manners. But
all the impression she created upon
her parent was to cause the closest
watch to be kept on her movements.
At length. despairing of ever win
ming Sir Georges consent, Dorothy
land Jack Manners resolved ee end
their suspense by a dramatic coup.
One evening In August Haddon Hall
was the scene of festivity and revelry.
from far and near in the county the
guests had noeksd to enjoy the hos