Gilded Age America Visited England

Gilded Age socialite, J.J.VanAlen was married to Emily Astor, daughter of William Backhouse Astor Jr, and Caroline Astor. Her parents were not happy about Emily’s choice so they eloped. Emily died 5 years into the marriage, after giving birth to 4 children. — Public domain image of J.J. Van Alen.

AMERICAN GUESTS OF TITLED FOLK

Every season the colony of Americans in London is liberaly increased by a goodly crowd of wealthy free-born citizens, who go over to enjoy the gayeties of Mayfair and visit their titled relatives and friends. This spring the exodus from New York is larger than ever, and there is hardly a Marchioness or Duchess, Countess, or even a Princess, who wild not entertain Americans this year. Of course, the two Duchesses of Marlborough, her grace of Manchester, the Countesses of Craven and Essex and almost a score more are Americans themselves by birth, but for all that there are many Americans who, on the strength of their own charms and good looks, are on the visiting lists of titled folk, to whom they are not related by blood or nationality.

Miss Louise and Miss Nancie Morgan, for example, who have been presented at court, are very much in demand at the country places of Scotch nobility, and are much admired and entertained by the Marchioness of Lorne. Miss Louise was asked to serve as a maid of honor at the vice regal court held at Holyrood. Mrs. Frederic Tams visits Lily, Duchess of Marlborough, and Mrs. Benedict, when she is in England, is one invariably of the Duke of Newcastle's house parties. Between Easter and the opening of the Newport season J. J. Van Alen is one of the ever increasing body of wealthy Americans who open houses in London and entertain and are entertained. by wearers of strawberry leaf coronets.

Since the marriage of his daughter, William K. Vanderbilt has the Prince of Wales frequently and Mr. Vanderbilt is one of the few Americans whom the prince heartily likes and who has received hospitalities at Sandringham. The Clintons of New York have been heartily welcomed by the Duke of Norfolk. The Countess of Castle-Jane has done more than any other woman from the United States to introduce pretty American girls into the aristocratic circles of Parisian society and under her chaperonage, Miss Addie Montgomery made a second debut and sensation this spring in Paris, while Mrs. Cecil Baring, who was until last autumn the beautiful Miss Churchill of New York, has been stopping with her husband in the palace of the Prince of Monaco, an ardent admirer of the wit as well as the good looks of Uncle Sam's daughters. — Los Angeles Herald, 1899

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