ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17139, 19 April 1919, Page 4 (Supplement)

ITEMS OF SOCIAL NEWS.

Lady Ctynthia Curzon, who is wellknown in social .circles, is Ithe second of the three daughters of Lord Curzon of Kedleston by the first Lady Curzon, who died in 1906, and was the elder daughter of the lato Mr. L. Z. Leiter, of Washington. Lord Curzon, who is Lord President of the Council and' Leader of the House of Lords, was one of India's most distinguished viceroys, and. held office first from 1898 to 1904, and for an extended period—l9o4 to 1905. •

Lady Lowther is the widow of the lato Sir Gerard Lowther, G.C.M.G., who was the first and the last baronet, as he died without leaving any male issue in 1916 Sir Gerard Lowther was British Ambassador at Constantinople from 1908 to 1913, and was a son of the laioe Hon. William Lowther, a brother of the 3rd Earl of Lonsdale. Lady Lowther, who has two daughters, is an American, and is tho daughter of Mr. Atherton Blight, of Philadelphia.

The Counless Pauline Pappenheim, whose engagement to Count Siegfried Habon-Levetzau of Denmark, is announced, is the only child of the Count Maximilian and Countess, l'appenheim of the mediatised sovereign house ot Bavaria. Count Maximilian x'appouheim renounced all his sovereign rights as a medwltised qpunt of the German Empire in April, 1890. The Countess l'appenheim is an American, and is a daughter of Mr. Charles Wheeler, of Philadelphia. Tho bridegroom elect is the eldest son and heir ot Frederik, Bth Count of Raben-Levetzau of Christiansholm.

. The late Lord MichelhanS, who is B(kid to have possessed the finest collection of jewels in the world, including some famous Russian stones, was once asked by a would-be connoisseur if a certain specimen were not of considerable value. Not wishing to hurt the feelings of his inquirer, Lord Michelham proceeded to tell him the story of the young man who showed the late Lord Rothschild a ring containing (it was alleged) a ratehr precious stone. " Yes," said the great financier, " it is quite good. 1 have a whole mantelpiece of the same stuff in the* next room."

Mrs. Wilson, who accompanied the President on his visit to London, is sure to win friends wherever she goes. Yet curiously enough, her entry by marriage into White House was regarded with something like apprehension by American society. For she had a reputation of being clever and dashing, but a little too flighty to uphold with proper solemnity the traditions of the one Palace of the United States. The critics were at once disarmed, however, when the new hostess entered on her duties. She is, in fact, a woman of quite unusual powers and versatility, and can play the part of uncrowned queen as well as that of cook, for she often goes into the kitchen herself to prepare something to tempt the Presidential appetite.

The Marchioness of Lansdowne, V.A., C.1., C.H., has two great-grandchildren— the Earl of Burlington, in his second year, and Miss Anne Mcintosh, in her first year. Lord Burlington revives a sub-title in the Duke of Devonshire's family created in 1745, and, not in use since that time. He is, of course, the son of the Marquis and Marchioness of Hartington, and has statesmen on both sides of his house in the eighth Duke of Devonshire and the late Marquis of Salisbury. Miss Anne Mcintosh, daughter of the late Captain Angus Mcintosh and of Lady Maud Mcintosh, had a very celebrated namesake and ancestress, who was said to have 'saved the life- of Bonnie Prince Charlie. She rose and rode at the head of three hundred clansmen. The Mcintosh and Mrs. Mcintosh are wintering in London, whence they came from Scotland to meet their widowed daughter-in-lay and their little grand-daughter when they returned from Canada.

Of Miss Elizabeth Asquitb there is nothing to bo said. The recitations that she ■ gave, the playlefc which she wrote, tie fancy dresses that she designed and wore, the epigrams she evolved, tne programmes which she sold, the bazaars she attended have been published broadcast. So early did the bride-to-be begin her activities in social life that, it is a little difficult to realise that she is but twenty-two. Her fiance is almost twice her age. She has been with people much older than herself always, ana iB a delightful companion to them. Her only brother is also preternaturally old for his years. He is a brilliant Winchester boy, called by his pals the "Puffin"; his pals only know why. The ex-Premier's two younger children are so much younger than their step-brother and sisters thaJb they have had just the companionship of their pairents, «|ach other, and their contemporary friends.

Miss Elizabeth Asquith is engaged, and very shortly to be married to Prince Antoine, of the House of Bibesco, The princely title is Brancovan and St. Empire of Bessarabia. It was taken by George Demitrius Bibesco following his marriage with Zoe Mavrocordato, adopted daughter of the last Prince of Brancovan. The children of this marriage were authorised in Austria to carry the title of prince in 1860. The family is an old one; its present head, Constantino Prince of Bessarabia and Branoovan, resides in Paris. His sisters have married Frenchmen ; one is Countess Matthew de Noailles, the otfler Princess Alexander Cara-man-Chimay. Their mother, who resides mostly in Paris, is the daughter of Mourns Bey, who was well known in London when he was Turkish Ambassador there. Prince Antoine of the family of Bibesco is Councillor at the Roumanian Legation, and was previously in Petrograd. He has a house in Grosvenor Road, facing the river, where all that there is of the most modern in artistic and literary circles were wont to meet.

We have grown to look upon all the girls who were out before the war as older than they really are. It is the fault of the war, which made every year as long as three to look back upon. Lady Rosemary Leveson-Qower, who worked hard and steadily at her mother's hospital in France through the struggle, and was mentioned in despatches, js in the early "twenties." She is essentially an outdoor girl, deserving the greater credit for serving in a hospital. Riding well, golfing quite creditably although not an enthusiast for the game, and a lover of free, outdoor life, her engagement to Viscount Ednam, eldest son of the Earl and Countess of Dudley, ensures him a companion in his sporting tastes. Lady Rosemary's education was finished in Dresden. At Stafford House, when her mother, MiJlicent Duchess of Sutherland, reigned there, she met many of the celebrated people of the dav of British and other countries. Lady Rosemary is very charming in manner, rather reserved save with her intimates, and a real lover of horses and dogs.

Viscount Ednam is in a crack Hussar regiment, the Royal 10th, and has served and been wounded in the war, and won the M.C. He is a thorough sportsman, and, although not far advanced in his "twenties," has seen a good deal of the world. In his teons he visited America. He is a rider to the manner born, and has a liking for steeplechasing. When he was a little lad he had a riding accident, and fradtured his arm. It did not stop his love of the pastime; his one anxiety was to be well enough to be in the saddle again. He has four young brothers and three sisters. He is a soldier and a sportsman before anything, and has a great appreciation of music, his taste inherited from his mother, and he ie a good shot and loves country life. His grandmother, Gcorgiana Countess of Dudley, has tho R.R.C., and his mother is a 6.8. E. Both have been of great service to the Empire in this awful war, and Georgiana Lady Dudlev also in the South African war. Lord Ednam's wedding to Lady Rosemary Leveaon-Gewer prill not be long delved.