Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/688

 WORLD OF WOMEN 662 5 WHO L^DY ST. HELIER 1910, is almost unknown. In Sweden, how- T ADY St Helier widow of the late President ever, it is almost a household word. Miss L of the Divorce Court— best known as Sir Lagerlof is loved and admired by everybody, Francis Teune— was elected this year to one of and although she was an unknown school- the ten aldermanships on the London County +--1-- -'^-" ^-^^ fir.t nov^l r.n.i^. "Rorhnor Council. All her life she has been interested in the work and conditions of the masses, and gave up her beautiful West End residence in order to live and work among the poor. Her energy is amazing. She has long been re- garded as one of society's leading hostesses, although she sets her face against that vulgar display of jjosition and wealth which so often characterises fashion- able functions. A bright and happy social life is what Lady St. Helier has aways ad- vocated. She is a veritable good fairy at Christmastide, and is responsible, as Santa Claus's deputy, for the filling of 12,000 stock- ings. A witty con- versationalist and a clever writer, Lady St. Helier has said some strong words about the modern woman. " All Englishwomen," she says, "have too many clothes — in fact, too much of every- thing. Thirty years ago, five or si.x; hundred a year was a good allowance for a married woman who went much into society. Nowadays it would hardly pay for her petticoats, gloves, shoes, and boots." And there is a great deal of truth in what Lady St. Helier says- MRS. PEARY ^OT only does Mrs. Peary possess the distinction of being the wife of the discoverer of the North Pole, but she can also boast of being the only woman who has assisted in an attempt to find that region. She was married in 1888, wi;en her husband was superintending engineer oi the United States Naval Dry Dock, and she determined to accompany her husband when, in 1 89 1, he set out upon his expedition to North Greenland. In his book, " Northward Over the Great Ice," Commander Peary tells how, on September 12 of that year, their daughter, little Marie Annighito Peary, was born in the heart of the White North. Twenty- four hours after her birth, the Arctic day gave place to the Arctic night, and the little girl lived for the first six months of her life by lamplight. Mrs. Peary's eldest child — a son — was born two years previously. Mrs. Peary is of German origin, her maideri name being Josephine Diebitsch. She always sympathised with Ivv husband in his ambition to reach the North Pole, and on more than one occasion helped to raise the funds for his expeditions. She is a good shot and exceedingly fond of outdoor sports. MISS SELMA LAGERLOF Drobably to many people in this countrv was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in Miss Selma Lagerlof Co/<yrii;/i/, li.y.A. Mrs. Peary Haeckd, Berlin teacher when her first novel, " Gosta Berling, appeared, the story immediately placed her in the front rank of the world's leading novelists The publication came about in a curious w^ay In 1890, a Swedish magazine offered a prize foi a story. Miss Lagerlof determined to compete, and sent off her manuscript, which won the prize, and this in spite of the fact that when she had previously sent a portion of it to another magazine, it was re- t u r 11 e d with a note which said, "It's all out of key*with the times. 'e want realism, and this is romantic non- sense." But it was the " romantic nonsense " which the public wanted, and Miss Lager- lof suddenly found her- self famous. Since then she has written several other stories, all possessing that wealth of language and charm of style which has so captivated the hearts of all true lovers of literature. Miss Lagerlof i^ now fifty-one years of age, and confesses thai one of her first recollections '•v-as a longing to be an authoress. THE DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH 'T'HEonly daughter of ]Ir. William Kissam Van- derbilt, one of America's multi-millionaires. Miss Consuelo Vanderbilt married the Duke of Marlborough in 1895. The wedding took place on November 6 of that year at the fashionable church of St. Thomas in Fifth Avenue, New York, amid scenes of unparalleled magnificence. Mr. Vanderbilt's gift to his daughter was a cheque for one million sterling, and amongst the bride's jewels were the famous Vanderbilt pearls, which once belonged to the Empress Catherine of Russia. In London the young Duchess's appearance was a triumph. King Edward and Queen Alexandra showed her marked attention, and when little Lord Blandford, the Duchess's first child, was born in 1897 his late Majesty stood sponsor in person. The Duchess has one other son. Lord Ivor Charles Spencer Churchill, born in 1898. Her Grace, who is a model mother, is one of those women who combine goodness and wealth. At Woodstock, in Oxfordshire, where the famous Blenheim Palace is situated, she has proved a veritable fairy godmother, for she is always devising monster treats for the children of the neighbourhood. She is a woman who has no sympathy with those who live in the idle lap ol luxury. " I am a great believer," she once said, "in work, and I wish that everybody, rich as well as poor, were obliged to work a certain number of hours every day." The Duchess is fond of quaint pets, and at Blenheim arc to be seen such creatures as gazelles, vultures, snakes, and chimpanzees. Indeed her Grace
 * the name of Miss Selma Lagerlof, who