THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2603, 10 September 1909, Page 3

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

SOCIAL XEAVS. (From the Society Papers.) N-c-ws c-ornes from America of the engagement of Miss May Sutton, the champion tennis player. Although she has lived nearly all her life in the States, Miss Sutton was born in Plymonth. and was quite a girl when she boat ail-comers at her favorite game. Curiously she was not at all attached to tennis when she first tried to play it. and her sisters, who taught her how to use the racquet, gave her up in despair. After a few games, however, she soon showed her prowess, and her playing at Wimbledon in 1905 and 1907 surprised everyone, the most expert players being astonished at her success. Miss Sutton by no means confines herself to contesting players of her own sex: she has beaten some of the best men players in America. She believes that the woman would-be tennis champion can find no better opponent than a first-class male player who does his best to beat her at the nets.

The Countess of Northbrook, who is this season taking out two charming daughters, was Miss Florence Eyre Coote. and when very young married the .fate Sir Robert Abercromby, a Scottish baronet jjossessed of lands, money, and a long pedigree. After some years of wedded life she became a widow in 1895. and some four years later took as her second husband Lord Northbrook, who was then Lord Baring. Lady 'Northbrook's eldest daughter. Miss Nina Abercromby is one of this year’s debutantes. Both are pretty and popular girls, who have inherited a large share of the beauty fpr which Lady Northbrook has been so remarkable She, though past her first youth, is still exceedingly attractive, with her tall, graceful figjurc, fair complexion, and wealth of fluffy golden hair. She is an amiable, home-loving woman, very fond of her children, one of whom is the very eligible young bachelor, Sir George Abercromby.

A striking feature amongst tho guests at the Royal Society’s luncheon to Lieutenant Shackleton, was Prince Roland Bonaparte, who came from Paris to do honor to the hero of the day. Prince Roland Bonaparte has distinguished himself both in letters and in science. Ho has travelled much, and has devoted himself to the study of geology, zoology, botany, and in paiticul.ir anthropology. Nearly a quarter of a century has elapsed since ho published his first work on “Tho Inhabitants of Surinam,” which was laid before the French Geographical Society by the celebrated De Quatrcfages. As a result of a journey in the cradle of tho Bonapartes, lie produced “line Excursion on Corse,” treating anthropology, and botany of Corsica. H<- travelled on an exploring expedition through North America,. Canada, aim Mexico, studying the Indian races. In 1907 lie was admitted to membership of the Academic des Sciences. Now lie is president of the Frenrh Geographical Society, in which canacity he was invited to the festive gathering at the Royal Society’s Club. But for indisposition Prince Roland would have presided at the Aeronautical Conference, which was held in London last January.

Not many people are aware that the huge vaults that extend under practically the whole of St. James’ Palace are utilised for the storage of the wine required for the various Royal residences, and there is a very complete bottling establishment there. The still wines for the King’s table, such as hock, cliablis, port, and claret, are all bought in bulk, and after being allowed to mature properly are bottled there, and stored awav until required. In addition to Buckingham Palace, Win(por Castle, and Sandringham, bottling takes place here for [Marlborough House, Clarence House. and other residences of the different members of the Royal family. Large purchases of wine are made every year as opportunity offers, and exports are constantly employed in travelling about the vihojards of the Continent seeking suitable vintages. It will he gratifying to colonial cousins to learn that-of recent years both the King and Queen have shown an increasing liking for the light wines of Australia, and a large stock of these wines is now maintained at St. James’ Palace. All the wines bottled carry plain white labels with the name of the wine and the vintage on them in gold letters, surmounted by the Royal crown.

The announcement that Countess Elizabeth Seofried has left her home in Austria to visit her parents, Prince and princess Leopold of Bavaria, at Munich, reveals the happy conclusion of a Royal romance. Princess Elizabeth of Bavaria was 19 years of age when she fell in love with Baron Otto von Seofried, a young lieutenant in a Bavarian regiment. Princess Elizabeth like all members of the Bavarian Royal family, was a Roman catholic, and Baron Secfried, apart from his inferior birth, was a Protestant. When Princess Elizabeth told her parents she desired to marry the young baron, they objected and forbade all further intercourse between the young couple. On December 2. 1903. Princess Elizabeth fled from the Royal palace, where she lived with her parents, during the night and met Baron Seefried, who was waiting for her, and eloped with him. On the following day they were married at Genoa. The Bavarian Government immediately dismissed Baron Seefried from the army, and issued a'warrant against him on the charge of abducting the Princess of a Royal house. In these circumstances the young princess, after finishing her honeymoon,, went to Vienna to enlist the sympathies of her grandfather, the Emperor Francis Joseph, her mother being the Emperor’s eldest daughter. Baron Seefried was not- only a fugitive from justice in Bavaria, but was also penniless, so tho young couple were entirely without means. Early one morning they drove up to the' Imperial palace in \ ienna. Baron Seefried remained in the cab while the Princess Elizabeth entered the palace and threw herself on her knees before the Emperor. The aged and kindly Emperor gave Baron Seefried a position as officer in an Austrian regiment, and has granted the young couple an allowance. Finding that the pair lived happily together, the Emperor raised Baron Seefried to the rank of count-, and bestowed an estate in Moravia on him and his wife. His Majesty also repeatedly interceded at Munich to bring about a reconciliation with tho parents of the Princess, who had refused to have anything to do with her. and now his efforts have been successful.