Evening star., 1928-05-06
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Ambassador and Mrs, Houshton Announce
Royalty's Special Courtesy to Members of
Embassy Circles in London.


to chuckle for days, Prince Henry,
Youngest of the sons. probably is the
most oookish of the group and h. has
well balanced library with books de-
voted to the cult OF Tzaak Walton pre-
dominating, He is a student OF legiS~
lative history and having recently been
given a seat in the House of Lords,
his friends say he will attend the de-
lioerations Of that body with greater
regularity than his brothers,
Miss Ruth Thayer, daughter of the
late Bayard and Mrs. Thayer, who soon
is to become Mrs, Eldridge Gerry
Greene is we'll known in Washington,
where she has visited her uncle, Mr. G.
Ritehie Simpkins. Mr.. Greene is In the
diplomatic service and until recently
has been stationed In the most distant
post under the Department of state,
that of Bangkok. II is probable that
he will bring his bride to Washington
after the wedding in Boston where he
will be stationed temporarily. pending
another assignment The bridegroom
prospective is kin to all the Gerrys'
Including the Senator from Rhode Is
land. and his intended bride is cousin
to the most illustriouS Of the Thayers,
the Countess Won Molkte, the Countess
de Commings and the Viscountess de
Roderer. and also is related to Mr.,
Eugene Van Rensselaer, Thayer. who
married the former Elizabeth Harding
Prince of this city. A member oI
notably talented family. Miss Ruth
Thayer. has shown herself exceptionally
versatile. Sc never cared for social
pleasures and after getting her degree
at Radcliffe she contemplated entering
the foreign service. but finally decioeo
against that in favor of place IN the
business world. She is now head OF the
woman's department of a powerful Bos-
ton bank and is deemed one of the
shrewdest financial advisers in her field.
She also is a good linguist and in every
respect in an ideal wife for the amoi-
tious diplomat whose career is just be-
ginning. Mr.. Greene was born IN
Dresden nearly 20 years ago, where his
parentS were anamored Of art ana
music, and he took the B. A. degree IN
Harvard in 1918 after which he passed
the examination required by the state
Department and went to London as
third secretary of the embassy IN 1918.
He returned to London as second Secre-
tary in 1917 after serving for year III
the Latin American division of the
State Department
y v
Mrs W. Harry Brown of this city
and Pittsburgh, who sailed for England
the last OF April, had hoped TO secure
one of the great London mansions for
the court season, but to her oisappolnt-
ment no less than three have since
her oyertures began in December been
sold with the idea of conversion into
aDartment houses. Gloucester House,
Iarsdowne House and now Devonshire
House have all been yielded to the de-
sire of their owners TO Eshten tner
burden of taxes and to meet the IN
creasing demand for more stately
anodes for the rich invaders from over
the seas The Duke of Devonshire has
been compelled to sell three of his
country estates and sigh OF regret
went up all over the fiower-rearing
world when he destroyed the miles OF
hothouses at ChatSworth because he
could not afford to retain them in order
nor to defray the expense Of moving
them. Devonshire House so years ago
seemed as sure Of continued existence
as ST. James or Buckingham Palace,
but the World War upset previous es-
Inmates. Lansdowne House. once the
scene of the glorious reign of the
former Jennie Chamberlain. OF Cleve.
land, Ohio, as the Countess of Essex,
is divided into a series of splendid
apartments. the rare mural paintings
having been spared as much as posa
sible in the renodeling; and these rent
for sum which Is restoring the broken
fortunes of the family. Gloucester
House, once the seat Of royalty, has
not been so conspicuous in Londont
social history since the days Of Thack-
cray. who recites its record Of revels
in several of his books.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Lowe of Grand
Rapids about 20 years ago began the
making of an 80-acre estate near that
city. planned after an English country
place they had admired during q
coaching trip through the British Isles.
Michigan's climate two-thirds of the
year resembles that OF the English mid.
lands and it was possible 10 create the
same peaceful lovelineSs by the liberal
importation OF English garden herbaRe
and flowers. Holndene is the allurinR
title OF this estate and 1t has recently
been praised by visiting architects and
florfculturiSts for the perfection of de-
tail which has entered into every part.
There are a number Of acres kept in
LKlEM A1&LtF6 NkdbS, WGii NDUuE0 WlLEl
everRreens and oak with the additions
Of Towering shrubs on the outer edges.
Lawns and rolling enninenceg have been
fitted into the general effect. for a re.
nowned water.color painter planned
the garden Miss Ellen Shipman, land.
scape artist, had q hand In the actual
arrangement OF the flower beds Sim.
plicity Is the keynote OF every effect and
the result Is to feel the beauty and
refreshment of properly arranged
blooms without that safety which fol.
lows adniring too many, even of the
rarest and most fragrant flowers Mr..
and Mrs Lowe got their garden equip.
neft right at home. though connofs.
seurs often ask II 1t is from old Italian
castles and gardens