Gilded Age Doings at Ducal House

The Figaro says that the Duchess of Marlborough (formerly Miss Consuelo Vanderbilt) has been led by the praise of injudicious friends to overrate her elocutionary gifts to such an extent that her “Victims” have nicknamed her the “Demon Reciter.” –
Though she eventually became an integral part of the British peerage, when the newly minted Duchess from the U.S. was skewered regularly in the press after first marrying the Duke of Marlborough. Above is a newspaper cartoon poking fun of the newly minted Duchess’s authenticity.

COUNTRY HOUSES ENTERTAIN

Mild Winter in London

Warm Nights Are Swelling the Spring Buds

The Chatsworth Party a Most Gorgeous Affair

Former Miss Vanderbilt Nicknamed the Demon Reciter

LONDON, Jan. 8. -The weather has been exceptionally mild and trees and shrubs are budding. Wednesday's was the warmest winter night in London since 1890; the temperature was 40 degrees. In the day time the temperature was 55 degrees, or 12 degrees above the average. All the country houses are most busy entertaining, country balls, amateur theatricals and tableaux being the staple attractions. Theatricals have become a positive craze, and plays like “Rosemary” and “David Garrick” requiring the best acting, are unhesitatingly chosen.

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire’s party at Chatsworth has been a great success. The shooting was excellent. On Thursday the Prince of Wales, Earl Grey, Lord Elcho and five others secured a record bag, including 800 pheasants. Everything was on the most gorgeous style. Instead of the usual shooter’s lunch at a keepers cottage, or in a barn, the Duke of Devonshire had a huge tent erected at a convenient spot and an elaborate luncheon was served there daily by the servants.

The Princess of Wales and the ladies of the party drove there in a four horse brake with postillions and an escort of mounted police. Both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Devonshire wore astonishingly loud shooting suits, with enormous checks. After luncheon the Princess of Wales generally accompanied the shooters to the shooting scenes.

Lady Randolph Churchill and Mr. Arthur Balfour, the first Lord of the Treasury, generally devoted the day to golf. Theatricals on Friday night were quite successful. The Figaro says that the Duchess of Marlborough (formerly Miss Consuelo Vanderbilt) has been led by the praise of injudicious friends to overrate her elocutionary gifts to such an extent that her “Victims” have nicknamed her the “Demon Reciter.”– From the Morning Press, 1898

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia