6
THE SUNDAY OREGONTAN, PORTLAND, JANUARY 19, 1908.
L ,lpiglgf Rumor Has It That Beautiful
YMMm Nora Langhorne Will Become the Bride
mml'' of Prince Francis of Teck
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jw" LMOST before her entrance to so-
ctety has been made, six months
In advance of her presentation at
court, a ceremony set for next June,
Miss Nora Langhorne has the chance
to make a more brilliant marriage than
even the notable unions to the credit
of four sisters.
Prince Francis of Teck, the good
looking brother of the Princess of
Wales, Is mightily smitten with the
beautiful young Virginia girl, and
Britain actually begins to believe that
Miss Langhorne will become a relative
by marriage of the future King of
England.
If she does so. It will not be sur
prising, for her four sisters like her
self had no other dower th'an that of
beauty, that Charles Dana Gibson Im
mortalized in his famous creations, yet
each has married wealth and high so
cial station.
"The Five Beautiful Langhornes" is
the way the girls have always been de
scribed, and the designation Is one
whose accuracy has never been ques
tioned. They were brought up in the old
Langhorne family mansion, near Char
lottesville, Albemarle County, Va.
"Mirador" the house is named, and
before the war Us owner, Mr. Chiswell
D. Langhorne, was the possessor of a
thousand slaves and a big fortune. As
a result of the conflict much of this
wealth passed from the family, and
nothing but the lure of a personal
charm passing description carried the
girls to their present place.
The oldest of the five is Mrs. R. Mon
cure Perkins, the Mrs. William Astor
of Richmond society.
Next' in the list comes a woman
whose beauty has been carried by the
art of her husband to every corner of
the world Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson,
wife of the well-known artist.
Zl was the skill of Mr. Gibson that
first caused the five Langhornes to be
come known as "The Gibson Girls. In
the course of his many drawings Mr.
Gibson had occasion to transfer to
cardboard the faces and figures of
every one of the five, she who after
wards became his wife and her four
sisters.
Third on the list comes Mrs. Waldorf
Astor, wife "f the son of the member
cf tho Astor family who out of his
love for England quit the United
States, expatriated himself and became
a subject of the British crown.
Toung Mrs. Astor has had perhaps
tiu most Interesting career of any of
the girls, and she Is cutting out a fore
most place in English society.
It was at "Mirador" in 1S97 that
Nannie Langhorne became the bride of
Robert Gould Shaw, of Boston. He
was very rich, without any special oc
cupation, and coming Into the public
prints only because of his skill at polo.
A year after the wedding a son was
born to the couple.
Not long after this the couple be
came estranged. The trouble between
them never became public, for the case
was heard in Virginia, where It is pos
sible for a woman to shield herself
from unpleasant notoriety in the mat
ter of divorce.
Mrs. Shaw based her suit on deser
tion, and was granted her divorce, on
condition that her child be allowed to
see his father and the Shaw family
from time to time.
No alimony was mentioned in the
settlement, but the wife was amply
provided for.
Anxious to forget her unhappy mari
tal experience, Mrs. Shaw plunged into
the social gaieties of England. London
was charmed with her. Mrs. John Ja
cob Astor took the beautiful young
Virginian under her protecting wing,
and Introduced her to the best and
smartest in London. Eventually she
penetrated even the set that surrounds
the King, and when Mrs. Astor was
presented at court, Mrs. Shaw was also
presented.
Mrs.- Shaw's beauty, wit and superb
riding made her a tremendous favorite.
Names of some of England's foremost
men were linked with hers, as those of
admirers who would gladly have put a
new name after the Mrs. that remained
as a souvenir of her first hymeneal
experience. Then the rumor became
persistent that young Waldorf Astor
had lost his heart to the fair divorcee.
Astor's father did not at first favor
the match. In his desire to get full
social recognition, ho had hoped that
his son, profiting by the family's great
wealth, would wed some member of
the British nobility, and thus advance
the family standing.
Astor yielded a reluctant consent,
but it is one. that he has had no cause
to regret, even from the standpoint
that first formed the basis of his oppo
sition. For thoush young Mrs. Astor has not
the advantage of being a member of
the nobility, she has earned a social
standing that Is not surpassed outside
of the royalty. '
Mr. Astor has been quick- to recognize
this success. He began his bounty by
presenting to the young couple "Clive
den." his beautiful Thames' palace.
Owing to the antiquated heating arrange
ments this palace had hardly been habit
ahle in the cold months, but resourceful
Mrs. Astor promptly succeeded In getting
an apparatus installed that made it en
tirely comfortable.
Then Mr. Astor decided that Mrs. Astor
would be an ornament to bis London res
idence in Carleton House Terrace. He
has never been overly fond of this man
sion, preferring his famous Hever Castle
in Kent.
Therefore he handed over the city home
to his son's wife, and it is here that the
youngest member of the five sisters will
become intimate with the notables of
London and have her campaign mapped
out for her by a sister who is the pet of
the royalty.
Fine Furs Are Becoming Scarce
"P1
TJRS, like everything else.
have gone up in price in the
last few years," said the
buyer for a Fifth-avenue furrier to a
New York reporter the other day.
"The cause is chiefly the recent pros
perity of our country. Sales have been
so heavy that we could hardly meet
the demand. So many animals were
killed for their skins that they have
had no chance to multiply. Conse
quently every kind of fur-bearing ani
mal has become scarcer.
"Two years ago the number of al
most every kind ot fur-bearing animal
caught was nearly twice as great as
during the last year. In 1907 the whole
Alaska seal catch was only 14,000.
Fifteen or 20 years ago there were 20,
000 a year.
"Despite the decreased demand this
Winter because of financial conditions,
sealskin coats next year will be more
expensive, for none of the seal catch
of 1907 will be ready for market by
that time.
"These skins are usually sold to the
trade December 15 of each year In
time to prepare them for the next year,
but the sale has been postponed this
year. If we do not get them now until
March these skins cannot be dyed and
dressed until the latter part of Au
gust, and that will be too late for the
following season. Seal will, therefore,
be less plentiful and the price will
go up.
"Fifteen years ago a full-length seal
skin coat could be had for J 500 or $600.
The same coat today would cost from
$900 to $1400. A three-quarter length
coat would cost .from $700 to $1200.
according to the quality of the fur
used.
"Sealskin is very popular. It wears
well and looks well, and is equally
suitable for ordinary as for dress wear.
However, it is not as fashionable as
some other furs.
"For those who can afford it. of
course. Russian sable is the fur of all
furs for coats. It is the most expensive
we have, and a short coat of 24 inches
will cost from $4000 to $30,000. It
The fourth of this wonderful bevy of
beauties is Mrs. Reginald Brooks, . of
Newport and New York.
Only one remains, the lovely Nora, and
with all her advantages it is hardly pos
isible that she will fail to do as well, if
takes 60 sable skins to make a coat
of this length. A full-length coat will
cost in proportion. The advance in
the price In Ave years has been 20 or
30 per cent.
"There is no fur or fabric so remark
able for Its beauty of color and text
ure. It is valuable as it is dark in
color. There are many grades of these
skins, and some of them bring com
paratively low prices, although they
are extremely beautiful.
"The costliest Russian sable is very
dark. The lighter .skins are colored so
skillfully that only an expert could de
tect the imposture. These skins, how
ever, fade rapidly and lose their hue.
The best Russian sable skins cost $600
apiece, and we have even paid as high
as $900 a skin. A very fine sable
coat can cost a fortune.
"The Hudson Bay sable, which is an
American product. Is much inferior in
color and quality of fur, but is ex
tremely popular. A 24-inch coat in the
best quality will cost about $5000. This
fur, although very handsome. Is much
lighter in color than the Russian.
"Mink ranks next In popularity. The
largest and finest skins come from
Labrador and Northern Canada. These
are a dark brown in hue, dense, short
and fine. Further south the fur is of
a lighter hue and not so valuable. This
animal is also becoming scarce and
the price has Increased materially in
the last five years. A mink coat of 23
inches will cost from $700 to $1100, ac
cording to the quality of fur. A long or
three-quarter coat can be had from
$1300 to $2600. The body of the animal
is very slender and about 12 to IS
inches in length.
"Chinchilla is fashionable and will
continue to be so. A coat of chinchilla
will cost from $1630 to $3000. The
finest chinchilla is a' delicate clear
gray in color. This fur is especially
popular for coat linings and collars.
"One of the most fashionable furs
of the day is moire Persian, which has
a watered silk effect. It is especially
suitable to elderly ladies. It is a spe
cies of baby lamb and is more expen
sive that broadtail Persian, but the
latter has a heavier fur. The moire
Persian or baby lamb is supposed to be
the fur of the animal prematurely born.
not better, than any other member of
the family.
The millions of William Waldorf Astor
for one thing are at her command. In
his affeetlon for Mrs. Astor, the head
of the family also Includes her sister,
and he has made clear, so it is said,
that when the time for her marriage
comes he will see to it that she does not
lack for a dot, if such be needed.
In her brief experience In London, Miss
the parent animal's life being sacri
ficed for this purpose. "A three-quarter
coat of this fur will cost from
$500 up, according to the quality, the
best about .$800. A 50-inch garment
will cost in the neighborhood of $1100.
"The Persian sheep is in color black,
brown and sometimes white, and the
fur of the lamb is very beautiful,
being closely curled. For use all these
skins are dyed a beautiful black, and
this can only be properly done in Ger
many. Broadtail is the best wearing.
It Is as durable as seal.
"The prevailing fashion In coats is
the three-quarter length or the full
length. The skirt is full and the
sleeves are large at the shoulder, the
regular coat sleeves. The loose-fitting
coat is the most fashionable, with a
slight fitting around the hips to give
shape.
"jackets or short coats are almost
unsalable. The 40-inch coat is taking
the place of all small coats, even Etons.
"The fashionable fur lining for cloth
coats is mink, chinchilla and squirrel,
or brown coney.
"Men's coats have a lining of mink,
muskrat, brown coney or French dyed
muskrat, with a collar of Russian
sable, sea otter, mink or beaver. They
range in price from $135 to $1300.
"There was a time when otter was
fashionable for coats for both men and
women, but it has been found to be
too heavy and is not used at all now
except for trimming. It is also ex
pensive. "White coney is a very fashionable
fur for collars, stoles and muffs, and
is inexpensive.
"Dyed lynx is the fashionable fur of
the year in black for stoles and muffs
and collars. This fur is also growing
very scarce and the price is rising. A
set will cost from $50 to $125, accord
ing to the length of the stole.
"Black marten and brown fox are
staple furs, but are not much worn.
Lynx, or mink,' or silver Alaska fox
take their place, but any kind of fox
wears poorly; the hair is too fine for
durability.
"Silver fox, so much worn last year
and so highly prized, is not much
sought this year because of an imita
tion now on the market which can be
had for $75 a boa. The same in silver
fox would cost $1800. For one skin
alone the price Is $400. It does not
wear well, however: the hair is very
One and dellcats and breaks off."
Nora has had enormous success. Next
only to Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson, she
is said to be the most ravishing of the
quintet of beauties, and already she has
been compelled to turn down suitors that
any other girl would have considered
most desirable.
The Prince Francis of Teck, mentioned
as the most likely of the swains, Is not
rich, and It Is rumored that he Is only
too anxious to make an alliance that
would better his fortunes. From Miss
Langhorne herself he could expect no
dot, but Mr. Astor Is ready to take care
that the alliance will not be made im
possible because of Miss Langhorne's
modest means.
Some Curious Fads and Fancies
ONE of the most remarkable freak
newspapers ever printed ' was the
Lumlnaara, published in Madrid. It was
printed with ink containing phosphorus,
so that the paper- could be read in the
dark. Another curiosity was called the
Regal, printed with non-poisonous ink on
thin sheets of dough, which could be
eaten, thus furnishing nourishment for
body as well as mind. Le Blen Etre
promised those who subscribed for 40
years a pension and free burial.
A Russian does not become of age until
he Is 26.
The first photographs were taken in
England in 1802.
In Australia there are nearly 247,000
more men than women.
London uses 50,000 tons of sugar annual
ly for jam-making.
For every ton of gold in circulation
there are 15 tons of silver.
As a rule a man's hair turns gray five
years sooner than a woman's.
The average amount of sickness In hu
man life is nine days out of one year.
Germany sends 29,000.000 feathers per
year to England for millinery purposes.
The coal consumption per head Is
greater in England than any other coun
try. It requires 50 pounds of candle to pro
duce as much light as 1000 cubic feet of
gas.
The average life of a woman is 44 years
and that of a man 41 years.
A snail student has ascertained that it
takes the little creature 14 days to travel
a mile.
Special clocks, which need winding up
only once in 400 days, are now manufac
tured m Munich.
France imports about 170 tons of hu
man hair every year, and about 100 tons
of it comes from China.
The temperature of countries with
sandy soils is higher than those with clay
or other compact soils.
For penknives the steel is tempered at
470 degrees, for tableknlves at 530 de
grees, for saws at 660 degrees.
Frequent use of the microscope Is said
to prevent near-sightedness. Watch
makers are seldom afflicted with it.
High heels. It is said, ows their origin
For one present, no matter who she
marries. Miss Nora is likely to receive a
home that would bear comparison with
the beautiful estates of England, for her
brother-in-law, Mr. Waldorf Astor, dur
ing his recent visit to the United States;
went down to Virginia and spent a time
at "Mirador."
While there he suggested to Mr. Lang
horne his desire to restore the estate to
the same magnificent condition it was
before the war curtailed the family ex
chequer. The object is that ultimately
the estate might go to Miss Nora and
whoever leads her to the altar.
It is said that only money Is required
to put "Mirador".' in a condition where
it would fairly rival the palace of the
Vanderbllts "Biltmore"
Young Mrs. Astor's conquests during
the present Winter have been the talk of
London. One after another she has
drawn to "Cliveden" the most prominent
leaders of the British nobility. Not even
the American girls who have married
directly into the families of tho earls
and dukes have succeeded In -establishing
such a vogue, and this in spite of the
fact that her father-in-law was by no
means popular prior to her introduction
Into London society.
With such a sister for a sponsor, and
the millions of immensely wealthy Astor
at hand, it is hardly possible that Miss
Nora will fail to add still further pres
tige to a remarkable quintet of girls.
to Persia, where they were Introduced to
raise the feet from the burning sands.
Organ grinders in Vienna are not al
lowed to play In the morning or evening
only between midday and sunset.
The tip of the tongue is the most sensi
tive part of the human body the tips
of the fingers come next and third the
lips.
Of a million girl babies born, 871,266 are
alive at 12 months. Of the' boys, SO.OOO
fewer live through the first year.
The Japanese lover. Instead of an en
gagement ring, may give his future bride
a piece of beautiful silk to be worn as a
sash.
The larger kind of West Indian firefly
gives a light so brilliant that by it print
ed matter may be read at a distance of
two or three inches.
Every soldier in the Russian army is to
be provided with a pocket compass with a
luminous needle, and 300,000 compasses,
costing $400,000, have already been or
dered. The teredo, or shipworm which, In the
days when vessels were made ot timber,
was responsible for more disasters than
any other cause is -now threatening the
Canadian timber trade.
What is reported to be the largest ap
ple tree in the United States Is In the
garden of Charles Waterhouse, South
ington, ' Conn. It yielded 50 bushels of
apples this season.
Red seems to be the most popular of
national colors, if flags are to be used
as criterlons. Of the 25 leading national
flags. 19 have red in them. The same
cannot be said of any other color.
Denmark's kings for centuries have all
been named Christian or Frederick. It
is the law that Christian must be suc
ceeded by Frederick and Frederick by
Christian. To attain this every Danish
prince, no matter what other names he
may rective. always Includes Christian
and Frederick among them.
In some parts of West Africa the girls
have long engagements. On the day of
their birth they are betrothed to a baby
boy a trifle older than themselves, and
at the age of 20 they are married. The
girls know no other way of getting a
husband, and so they are quite happy
and satisfied. As wives they are patterns
of obedience, and the marriages usually
turn out successes.