EUROPE’S NOBILITY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10, 8 April 1922, Page 3

EUROPE’S NOBILITY.

BEING SAVED BY AMERICAN 'MARRIAGES. (San Francisco Chronicle.) From making the world safe for democracy the American has turned to making it safe for hereditary titles. At least that seems to ho the prevailing European impression. “L’Avenir,” of Paris, in commenting upon the wedding of Miss Evelyn Gordon of New York to the Duke do Crussdl, quotes a witty dowager as exclaiming: “Three years ago these Americans wore trying to malic the world safe for democracy. Now they are trying to make it safe for nobility.” It may occur to some that American dollars have been doing duty on the European front for a long time. The titled fortune-hunter, in fact, is a tradition in American society. But recent international alliances have been taken as indications that the whole institution of nobility is depending on America for support. That America could and would give philanthropic aid to the starving hordes of Russia, Austria, and Armenia was taken for granted. Similarly it was considered as appropriate that American dollars should be called upon to rescue impoverished European art. CAPTURING AN OLD TITLE. “Why, then,” asks a leading London weekly, “should America hesitate to revitalise European nobility? Is it not a vital part of c.ld world culture?” Whatever the answer to this question, it is visibly true that Americans are playing an increasingly important part in old world society. When Miss Evelyn Gordon married the Due de Crussol she invaded the unrecognised hut still powerful royalist nobility of France and at the same time acquired one of tilt oldest titles in the ?testhru world. Theroso Strother of Bah imoro took on similar distinction in becoming the bride of Count Joan do Percival. And if renovts are true, Mrs. Alfred E. Norris of New York will go—or has already gone—outside the ranks of America’s late allies and become attached to one of Austria’s oldest families by marrying Baron Gustav von Hapsbiug, REAL POWER BEHIND GREEK THRONE. But when William Leeds, heir to the celebrated tin-plate millions, married Princess Xenia, he made his family the real power behind the none-too-stnblc throne of Greece. His mother, of course, preceded him in this step when she married Prince Christopher, brothel of King Constantine. But the young man’s marriage has cemented the two families—has effectually identified the Leeds tin-plate with the crest and seal of Greek royalty. Now Mrs. Leeds dreams great dreams according to the foreign press. While neither she nor her sou actually aspire to a throne, Mrs. Leeds hopes to sep the sunny isles of Greece, returned to their ancient grandeur. If there is that much power in her millions, she will restore the city of Athens to the place it once occupied in the culture of the world—will make its marble halls once more the home of the earth’s greatest statesmen, philosophers and poets. Mi’s. Leeds became known to European society ten years ago, when she was introduced in London by Lady Paget, formerly Miss Mary Stevens, of New Y’ork, She soon became celebrated as “the most beautiful American widow in Europe” and one of the most popular hostesses in London. Mrs. Leeds, having inherited more than 30,000,000 dollars from her second husband, the TinPlate King, did not hick for money. But it was her personality that made her.

TIN-PLATE KING’S WIDOW MARRIES PRINCE.

Whatever ambitious the beautiful American may have developed in the last year or two, 'public opinion on two continents has acquitted her of any ulterior motive, in marrying Prince Christopher. When that wedding took place the fortunes of the Greek reigning house wore at 'their lowest ebb? The King of Greece, according to pppiilar 'belief, was under the thumb of bur wife, • sister of the deposed Emperor Willirtm. The Greek court Was derid*: edly pro-German and hence not particularly popular with the Allies. King Constantine had been forced into exile and was then living in Switzerland. Furthermore, Mrs. Leeds openly scoffed at several lessor principalities which from time to time were looking for rulers. A story which went the rounds about that time declared that only her influence kept Prince Christopher from making a try at the throne of Lithuania. REJECTED A THRONE. This story finally turned up in Colonel .Repington’s celebrated diary, and goes somewhat as follows: ‘Tt appeared that a Russian, formerly in the dipldraatic service and then living at Berne, Switzerland, came to Prince Christopher in the spring of 1918 and told hjm that a deputation had arrived from Lithuania to offer him the crown of the newly-created State. “They had ohoacti Prince Ghristonheli because he was orthodox, royal, with iu\ German blood, and was about to marry, an American wife. “The deputation of twelve turned up in due cohrse, blit Prince Christopher disappointed them by declining the thrpne.

“Mrs. Leeds fled to avoid the scene, but Princess Helene of Greece and others of the Greek royal family made great fun of it, curtseying to Mrs Leeds, dressing up as Lithuanian nobles with tablecloths and bringing in sham crowns on cushions. “Mrs. Leeds declared that she would rather be a lamp-post in Now York than a queen in Lithuania, but Queen Sophie, the Kaiser’s sister, was furious when she heard of it at Zurich.” After Mrs. Leeds had married her prince, however, Fate turned another card. The reigning King of Greece, bitten by a monkey, died. Vcnizelos, arch-enemy of Constantine, was defeated in the national elections, and Constantine, in effect, was recalled to the throne. A LOVE MATCH. Time went on and Mrs. Leeds, non the Princess Anastasia, fell ill in Athens. Young William Leeds was in Japan at the time, but when lie heard of his mother’s illness he started moving toward Athens at top speed. Utilising rail, water and air transportation. He had never seen the Prince«e Xenia or

any other prevailing Greek or related princess, and lie now declares that it was a love match voluntarily entered into.

The Princess Xenia is the daughter of the Grand Duke George of Russia, who wag killed by the Bolshevists, and a sister of King Constantine is her mother. But, though of the blood royal, she could hardly be considered as highly desirable from that standpoint because at least seven heirs stand between her and the throne of Greece, and she is as poor as a church mouse in the bar-, gain. Considered on her own merits, she is a thoroughly agreeable and intelligent girl, whose beauty lias been marred somewhat by a touch of sadness. European opinion, therefore, has concluded that Mr. Leeds was swayed largely by motives of affection artel pity, with the political element as a mere re-enforcing factor. The outstanding fact of the situation, however, is that' the Leeds millions, even though the intdrest is all that is now available, is entirely at the disposal of the Greek crown. For this reason it is snppe ed that young Leeds was altogether ua ome into the royal household. As for Mrs. Leeds, she has practically admitted that she longs to play a big part in world politics. RECEIVED WITH OPEN ARMS. Returning to the case of the Duchess do Crussol. nee Miss Evelyn Gordon, witnesses of this wedding say the American girl was received into this ancient line with open arms. No crusty dowagers turned up their noses or allowed their triple chins to quiver with scorn at the thought of this alliance. No decayed dukes made any slighting remarks about Amertea being a wilderness when the Ho'-e of Crussol was mildewed with ago. Six hundred peeresses and nobles of the royal party filled the private chapel in the historic Chatea d’Uzes during this wedding.