DOWAGER RULE IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2630, 10 August 1904, Page 70

DOWAGER RULE IN LONDON.

It was said the other day by a wellknown society man that "widows rule London," and certainly the dowager has never occupied a more important or conspicuous position than she does to-day. Widowhood, even for the mid-Victoi-ian matron, meant an immediate and permanent social eclipse, unless she was required to hold the actual reins of government dirring ason's minority. When that young man grew up, and married, his mother retired to the- dower house which generally formed a part of large estates, and occupied herself with good works, the supervision of her garden, and needlework. The juvenility and blitheness of the modern grandmother has become proverbial, and it is fortunate for the gaiety of nations that so entertaining a dame does not allow herself to be placed prematurely on the shelf. Although, owing to her advanced age, she is not able to take so prominent a share in society as formerly, that grand old lady, the Dowager Duchess of Abercorn, still interests herself in tlie welfare of her many relatives and friends and the progress of events. She is also able to entertain small house parties, and among tne recent visitors to her pretty place in Sussex has been the Duchess of Buccleuch. The Duchess of Abercorn is the mother of 13 children, and is the grandmother and greatgrandmother of a bevy of well-known men and women. Blessed with a vigorous constitution, this marvellous lady recovered, not long ago, from an illness which would have given cause for anxiety in the case of a person half her age. Built on different lines, the Dowager Lady Londonderry, who was married in the remote forties, is still active and energetic, and manages her Welsh property with a, firm hand. This lady was a Miss Mary Edwards, and a great heiress, and since her widowhood her heart and home have been chiefly in her native country. Lady Londonderry is renowned for her almost masculine strength of mind', and also for her kindness and generosity. She shares with Baroness Kinloss and one or two other ladies the distinction of having held the office of churchwarden. Perhaps the widow who shines most brilliantly in the social firmament is Consuelo Duchess of Manchester. Endowed with good looks and brains, she has been a social success since she first arrived in England, as the bride of a former Lord Mandeville,

aiearly 30 years ago. Her Grace has the reputation of being the most witty feminine conversationalist of the Cqurt, and she entertains ni3st delightfully. Her "little" dinners, frequently arranged for Simday, are oiten honoured- by the presence of royalty, and axe perfect examples- of the art of entertaining. The Duchess has been &■ persona grata with the King and Queen for many years, and is invariably ' include^, in any important house party invited to meet them. Another American, who is now a widow for the .third time, and is yet a handsome, voimg-lookiiig woman, is Lily Duchess of JSlarlboxough. She began life as Miss 1-ilian Price-; her first husband was Mr Hammersley, an imuie'nsely rich fellowcountryman, and lier second the late Duke Of Maryborough. As chatetain3 of Blenheim she had a 'splendid but meteoric1 jejgaj. and her marriage, .which was a roinanticloya match, with tie late Lord Wil- -. 21am . Beresford only lasted a short time. . , ' Sha now lives principally at Detpdene,- her " layeiy' .place- near Dorking, but she comes ' occasionally to London, and is often' in her box at the- opera. , Lady Bective i» a wealthy who is much to the- fara in th« ultra-ari&tocratic, •philanthropical set. , Slie has h«ld her title in undisturbed possession for 36 years — rather a rare circumstance in the annals of Debrett. Politics vividly interested this • versatile lady in her youth, and sKe often successfully canvassed districts at election times,. Lady -Bectave is musical, and a--regular attendant at the opera, often in the society of her lovely daiighter, Lady Henry- Bentinck. Catherine Duchess of TYefctminsfcer, mother of four children, who include a- bride of last year, Lady Mary Crichton, is a still young and pretty widow. She prefers country amusements to the exhausting round of town festivities.