New Britain Herald Newspaper, March 22, 1930, Page 13

r Matrimonial Venture of " nglands, ¢Uke Couldn’t Get Along With His First Two Duchesses, v 7 % e i I IS AN NI IR AR 3 ” 3 Gt K7 & /%%%mg,.mmw%/ < e N A sy Dremnemnmmnrmon: nable Beach at Deauville, Where Lingerie and Other Feminine Attire Floated Ashore from the Duke of Westminster's Y LONDON. AYFAIR was puzzied —and more than mildly excited — when the cngagement was re- cently announced of the beautiful Loelia Ponsonby, daughter of Sir Frede y Treasurer to the King, and thé dashing Duke of Westminster. Women by the score have adored tie Duke. A couple of society belles have married and divorced him. He is re- ported to have threatened to horsewhip one, and to have turned another out of his home. All Europe has echoed glamorous rumors concerning s wealth, his extravagance, his gay par- adventures. But the intrepid M not balked by all th a dinner her parents announced her engagemen to marry ong of the most spectac figures in English societ: Mayfair is puzzled because it cannot understand why the beautiful younyz Miss Ponsonby chose, above all ler cligible and wealthy young admire a man who is 51, and_whose matri- monial history is a_malter of gossip over the tea cups. On the other hand, Mayfair was excited because it was in- teresting to see just how the resolute voung woman would handle and curb the caréfree Duke. A great sportsman and host, the Duke has been a figure of romance for vears. Perhaps he was born out of his time, although he has managed to get a good many thrills, He hunts wild boa: sailed over the stormiest seas vacht and he has been sought after by innumerable women of society. In addition, he ow fair and its rival, Belgravia, as well as magnificent estates in Cheshire and Scotland. Nevertheless, his adventures have been so costly that he had to part with historic Grosvenor House to pro- vide himself with ready cash. The Duke’s romances began early, for when little morc than a schoolboy, he fell in love with Constance, daugh- ter of Colonel Cornwallis-West, known to her friends as Shelagh. The Duke's relatives opposed the marriage becau had not been forgotten th: Cornwall according o much attention from King miles of May- But. the Duke, in those days young Lord Belgrave, was madly in love with Shelagh. ~ He was sent to Africa to forget her. There he deliberately be- came emtangled in what threatened to be a society sensation. His parents re- lented and withdrew their opposition to his engagement to marry Shelagh. About the time he mar her, in 1901, he came into his great inher- tance. Shelagh, a very beautiful girl, hig| irited and proud, had received unbounded admiration before she met the Duke. But after her marriage she found herself thrust into the back- ground, while other women, as later charged, enjoyed the freedom of the Duke’s castles. She, who had had Mayfair at her feet, found such a situa- tion almost intolerable. But for the sake of her children she remained pa sive for a number of years Mecanwhile, the Duke, who had a sion for gaicty, was rarely at hom His name was coupled one week with that of one woman and the next w at of another. His friendship fascinating Gaiety Theatre caused more whis hen he e ned his friends Shelagh was not s the hostess. Indeed, it was only when he gave the dazzling and brilliant entertainment expected of a Duke that lie was scen publicly at her side. And this did not satisfy Shelagh, who desired 1 to be the hostess of lords and ladies than to have a peaceful and happy home. Gloriously gowned, crowned with jewels, upon which experts have written volumes, mistr f some of the statc- | hom nglad, Shelagh was crtheless, a very unhappy woman The one tie that bound the duke to her, however, was their little son. A heautiful child, that had inherited the handsome f of both parents, he looked a veritable little prince. Te was the heir and from the day of his hirth the duke began to plan for him a brilliant and spectacular future, There was nothing, le always said, (h was splendid ~and magnificent tha: per. 28 A AU PO O acht. I'he First Duchess of Westminster, Shown With “Gowk,” Her Prize Mare Which Took First Place in a Wiltshire Race. would not be accomplished by his son. But one day he deeided to take the duchess abroad, as a sort of peace of- fering, leaving the boy at home with nurses. While they were away the lit- tle heir fell ill. Nobody knew wt ailed him. Perhaps he longed for h parents. At all events, his illness was short and when the di ught parents returned, it was to discover that their little boy was dead. Their common sorrow did not seem to draw them more closely together, however. The duchess let it be known that she did not beliecve her husband 1ld understand her grief. He, on the hand, bitterly criticised the choice of nurses for the boy. Their two little daughters appeared to be of scant interest to him, in comparison with his grief over the death of his son As a result he plunged more avidly than ever into gaiety. Mayfair an later Deauville and the other smar watering places of the continent began hear many stories about his gay parties and his adventures. So muc o that it was said he and Shelagh at last were at the parting point At this period the Duke found no ment too wild, ceentricity urd, as long as Tped him to forget the loss of his son. Once the Marquess of Cholmondeley, who was very proud of ha as he thought, bur dinner par Duke openl coffed at the Marquess's confidence his inventions, and dared the guests to burcle (he Marquess's home. The guests becam i over > idea that of id, did break into the house, arricd off many of the valuables. These, however, were returned, b of thost practical jokes end with a laugh. The tg hlame for it VPassionately fond of Duke, nonetheless, wa tradictions. He som heauty, the favors for A ma would do A But Fashionable London Society Expects the Third Will Tame Him. Snapshot of Westminster, the W Duke of hose Adyentuyes Have Amused a Continent. unattractive He heard once of t sad destitute, poor inte and b W « old her provided vest of her orie ore was of though, they IR 2 W a most omen for her woiil Ver “Hats, floated scandal {rocks to the crowd lingerie and costly on 1o the shore ed delight of the at Deauville.™ 1 his ideal of beauty I'he of the final break betwe himself and Shelagh is not definitely know But little by little Mayfair be- gan to hear that Shelagh had gone onc of the e s and isolated herself. hen the Duke, so the tory went, followed her the exchange of opinions that followed put an end to any pos- sibility reconcilia tion. At any ra soon followe t wa one Duches ¢ their hom Eton -Hall, and the Duke depart ed in su a hurry that some of Awere | I'he once of a a divor In court more appeal the chil sake, for own and mine. | return to will d make onc to yol dren f not vou do willing to bygones to an Violet, the Second Duchess of Westminster, Wha Tossed the Feminine Clathing from Husbaud's Yacht Into the rormer Sca Beautiful Miss Loelia Ponsonby, Whose Announced Engagement 1o Marry the Duke of Westminster Recently Startled London’s Mayfair. night over, the Duke returned to his old pursuits. the exclusive elaborate , and some- ould meet fe, She- r even the Freddie ex-wife. ¢ be said, feminine in later as ome ever. an idea not the Duke of vou happy.” h a y L venty none o proud Shelagh considered admitting zlish jour- invited Duke. o her immedi- dent to re » his llowed him. e that they They went ce and then n the crowd be- ; > Duke_decided he wanted to d ‘ home. So he and scandalized delight of e crowds Soon unced hough the to be admitted to his h Deen enter, she sa t ting upon th There was a trement oclia n reform veforming altar hus met again. prised, London was ! with a keen howeve see whether be permanent xpected: If oGk He amused duke's marriage me. One thing d appear wit met interes with some : f he gives orders that preparation excitement s be vefused he to be the aff meanwhile, and ission, past have dreamed, o 1 LI A I O I L AL M T %, w, LA OIS I I W, 1 7 A AN I I I 5