T
BE
THE
Edwina
Ashley
@ 1922
picture
taken just before her wedding
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1954.
FABULOUS MOUNTBATTENS
With the marriage of Lord Louis Mountbatten, his bride brings a new factor into the family, story
immense wealth left to her by her self-made grandfather, Sir Ernest Cassel. Lord and Lady Louis become leaders of the Bright Young Things of the
'Twenties and early 'Thirties, Meanwhile the young Prince Philip of Greece-now the Duke of Edinburgh is being brought up by Lord Louis' elder brother. Later he is to come more directly under the influence of Lord and Lady Louis his uncle and aunt.
EDWINA
the bright
young thing
in September 1925,
o
the vast
A loophole was found in her which had London mansion' passed to Lady gandher's will.
house outs,
practically entailed the
itu successive Decupants. and in May 1833, the site was sold to
and Co.. Messrs Coutts the bankers.
down
a
the
responsibility fell on Lord and Lady Louis Mountbatten.
} In spite of all her social and
family
tles, wanderlust
was
still the chief outlet for Lady The Louis' questing energy. now penthouse did not prevent her from embarking on a long mfari in Atrica.
Then, In 1938, on a tour of the Far East, she made up her mind to explore the Burma Road from Lashio to Yunnan- fu. This had not yet been completed, and Lady Louis was the first person not connected with the actual construction to moke the trip from end to end in a lorry.
It was in many ways a pro- phetic journey. Burma was not
only to be the scene of one at her husband's major triumphs, but in due course was to add its name to their title.
Моге Immediate and more
of the she encounter-
The two girls were the fami- pertinent at the ume was the
others impact on Lady Louis llar playmates of two much of their own age-Prin- human misery
and Princess ed in the suffering country to
the north.
cess
Elizabeth
is
Pointless
In February 1924, Lady Louls gave birth to her first daughter,
Margaret
Prince The fifteen-year-old The Patricia Edwins Victoria.
Philip Greere, 01/1 under Prince of Wales stood sponsor
the care of his elder uncle, nud provided one of the baby's The house was pulled names, had his grandfather and a block of offices and flats the second Marquess of Mil-
China was at war, and some- as f
Hoven,
another Whe ford will its stood, to her mother.
erected in
member
thing of the primitiveness and welcome
of the These
still шете
the
hardship she saw must have days two-storey penthouse at the top.
family. the activities of the upper which in the years, leading up
the new up for hor fact, there 1ert
a first opened In to the wom Wis
and stratum of society attracted at-
of interests
attitudes that tention out of all proportion to Mountbattens as their London glimpse of him at the age
home. It their importance.
their four in the Brook House days, were to govern her later life. of all was
She saw refugees and mass the most specta- when he hid himself under one
ond enterprises
the ramshackle culor
of the vast beds and had to be poverty Designed to Lord Louis' own dragged out screaming and pro- equipment of a country light- ing for ita life against aggres- plans and decorated with total testing from his private cave
Louis' sion. silli Lord Was disregard of expense the Mount-
principally batten's home in Park Lane be-
brother who was came London's most astonishing responsible for his upbringing. private dwelling.
per-
by
The young couple, and ticularly Lady Louis, who
fre Icon of her husband's
quent long periods of service allont in foreign stations more directly in the pubile eye, were a major stand-by of the scandal-mongers.
Many Parties
It is
of
tha
WUB
to
It
Gordonstoun
keep
Penthouses and the
of her existenco scurry have scerned singularly away and pointless,
This is
GORDONS
the Gin
DRY GIN
BESTILLZOM
BY APPOINTMENT OIN DISTILLERS TO
THE LATE KING GEORGE VI Tanqueray Gordon à Co, Lté.
Quality Incomparable
Gordon's
Stands Supreme
Distributors:~~
DODWELL & CO., LTD.
TAILOR CHEUNG
The Tailor of Distinction for People of Distinction
vapid
34
must
tar
When he returned to Lon- don it was as if she had como
of age; which is not a matter
With its five reception rooms Hyde Park, auto- overlooking
trom A matie lift
private
His father and mother had entrance in Upper Brook Street
to
but the at- a never-ending source and every refinement fur-
of one's majority, of
made up their minds
un-tainment of an Inner equiii- estonishment in surveying nishing and interior decoration him right away from the
of vicissitudes
the brium which can work changes carlier
Lady years of
happy It was a show place hardly Lo Mountbatten's married life,
a Holly Greek Royal Family, and after in D person beyond their own be equalled outside
attending a preparatory school equate the severe practicalities wood film set.
or the imagining
expectation with his cousin, of their friends. of her present public service Mrs Cosden, a Long Island at Cheam
Mountbattens, David, he was turning into
Britain, too, was a country friend of the
The Nazis had now who had become a professional sturdy teenager
the after
tour.
themselves in à light interior decorator
With the tragic death of the which left only one conclusion
Marquess of was Second
to be drawn. Haven from cancer in 1933,
with the relative admlessness these years.
She
deprived
herself
of
of
a lady Mountbattens she found the name of have always been who could net as chaperone.
She eventually reached Delhi assured of position.
after arriving in Bombay with They have incked inlent. But when Ed wina Ashley married Lord Louis Mountbatten she in- troduced a new factor-im- mense wealth.
never only sufficient money to pay the mining, nor was the spared the American slump, devised it,
itself is often That in considered suflicient
for
heiresses who marry into
third-clas railway though she was perfectly willing the hard sexts, the to brave Indian booking-clerk objected so strenuously that she had to ring up Lord Louls and explain her plight.
constant public
uppraisal
of
the
at Gordons-
ins shown
crisis.
Milford
facsi- on
Philip Prince directly under the care
eame
more of his
The Munich Crisis was over and the rape of Czechoslovakia
her
One of the bedrooms tricked out in the exact fore. A the envious, the malicious and
mils of on officer's cabin the curious.
board a warship.
Lord and Lady Louis lived in younger uncle. At the impres- was near. Lord Louis, with his the penthouse little more than sionable
Public three years, n it was
only school and naval college, Lord occupied in May 1930, and was and Lady Louts became his closed down, never to be used guardians and mentors. by them again, three days after the outbreak of war,
high
the 'twenties Right through and early 'thirties we are ୯-
fron with stories galed
of fringe irresponsible Lociety.
There were fabulous parties Brook Houso and at the neighbouring mansion in Upper Brock Street belonging to her Fister Mary, by then martie: Cunningham Reid, to Captain M.P. for Marylebone.
robbery There was a jewel Involving loss o! £6,000
in while staying.
September 1924, with Mrs Joshua Cosden
He arranged for her journey
in more at to be accomplished
ng style, and in one of the the British peerage, in this intervals of the heetfe round of to arrange with the passage of ceremonies he had
of Wales Ernest Cassel's for the Prince time, Sir
brought young couple became engaged,
case,
granddaughter
much more.
Her true personality was late in revealing itself, and
For
was submerged
many
the
The Honeymoon
were
Back in Britain, the wedding blue and was a symphony in
over life more com- white, and there mented on by the gossip sixteen hundred gue is to
the bowera
of
et
estate.
t
Jady's
Long Island
and
house
As a gesture, it had outlived its owner almost before it was in bullt. Her husband's career the Navy was prospering his father's before him, on his own merits.
In
ilke
Royal Friends
Το
age between
Prince Philip his rich clulllent younger uncle was an object of particular regard.
To
to
Д
professional insight, left
things were taking. in, no doubt as to the course
The Future
ag
Lady Reading suggested that Louts should bend her There was between them an Lady
and talents to the nursing services affinity of both character
needed so
50 urgently to physique, both big. handsome, which boisterous men with a very be expanded and reorganised.
It was a held with which, distinct physical resemblance.
side, the young
Prince, the from the administrative
well acquainted bic dashing, debonair Lord Louis, she was
grandfathers' his full life and all the her
directed from were destroyer cap bequests A new note became apparent panache of a Rolls-Royces and Gar Wood
the
a her own same office have appeared their years in a
lives. The gracious tain, must the speechools rear across cur pic
trusts. This was valuable, but hostess
not figure worthy of emulation of the penthouse lure of her life against a back-
and royalty the ground of drces shows, night only entertained
Lord Lould was only too glad not enough. Columnists than the social reception amid
Lady Louis Immersed her- orange blossom ranged in
club entertaining
of European and to act in loco parentis the cream
sido historians.
the American society,
the practical great rooms of Brook House.
but an in- representative of
new self in Royal parties.
well, and she took a full cousa cntire British
who had The Lord! Louis She
At one point she is recorded creasing roster of labour leaders generation,
with, the Mountballen a month of two Family
with the was there,
as uppearing at Court in n and other exponents of more modated himself so well to the of first-aid training before her grandfather's death. Prince of Wales as best man.
W.V.S. She was not alone in tabizlows Wory net, silver advanced social philosophies. demands of a modern world. only
that Sir plty
this.
The when she was invited to a ball The
weighing dresa,
Her sumptuous
spirit of service was Almost from the start of this and at another as at Claridges Hotel given by Mrs Ernest Cassel was not still alive equin
It ono pound,
ments perhaps provided an in- relationship circumstances were abroad during the pente months attend the
fashion by Cornelius Vanderbilt.
that
preceded the outbreak of congruous background to these
to sunder Prince Philip
war, but it was to raiso few The previous season he had would have gladdened his heart tuting a new
his parents, diamonds in her another to see revived in his grand- wearing a bandeau of emeralds, "deviationist activities, which enned them the increasing become engaged to
Princess Alice, his mother, women to the heights attained with rubies and
comment of their more ortho-
by Lady Louis Mountbatten in young debutante named Audrey daughter the close union
a some time at had spent had been his own hair, or a jewelled clip in her had changed
that lay be- dox friends. hut. James, but they their minds while he accom- special
Many people attributed this Swiss clinic during the thirties the stoop career
from intermitten: fore her. "leftward panied his second cousin, the
swing"
oppor- suffering Prince of Wales, on a tour to the
tunism and the calculated back heart trouble, West Indies and the Antipodes.
first
nist
Had No Money
His
with
tlons, were at Cowes for Regalla
to
was
ceremony.
yalty which royalty
pride.
lasied Ave The honeymoon months, and consisted of a grand tour of Europe and the United States. Visits to the King
only
Luxury House
to
entertain-
accom-
By 1929 sho was solemnly ing of both horses in times Wanderlust
Queen of Spain at Santander dortbed
were
of
poly
that
sym-
from
father,
RS
Yacht
Oriental Handicrafted Workmanship.
Large Selection of Choice Materials to
personal
meet taste.
· Perfect
your
Cutting
to
ensure Fitness, Com- fort and Latest Style,
FOR TOURISTS
ORDERS
EXECUTED „HOURS............
WILL IN
BE
24
Theatre Lane No. 1, Behind Queen's Theatre, Queen's Road, C., Hongkong. Telephone #5494.
Cable Address: "MYTAILOR!! Codre used ACME & BENTLEY'S
TONIGHT
& EVERY NIGHT
!DINE & DANCE
The Gold Room
from 18.30 p.m. to 1.00 a.m. Music by Tony Tubino Quintet TRY OUR MOST DELICIOUS SZECHUEN-STYLE CHINESE FOOD
PLAN YOUR
CHINESE NEW YEAR PARTIES
(Mira
at...
ANTRANCE:MIKAMAR ARCAOF, 124 NATHAN ROAD.OR.KIMBERLEY NU-.
TEL. 53011
NEXT SATURDAY: "The play- and
boy days were only a pass- as the best-dressed which threatened social change,
ing period for Lady Louis.......so were to show
they and to Louis' uncle, still bearing woman in London, and started but events
were for her husband.. the patroness of much more fundamental
his Prince Andrew, title of Grand Duke of to appear as the
pathies wero involved. ere large charitable undertakings.
large new friendship
cars and expensive There i something Hesse, at Woolfsgurten,
a At least there was no change continued to live in Paris until he lives against a background of
the Nazi breakthrough in 1940,
Ve parties Edwina Ashley ripened quickly, followed by an almost triumphal
younger
retired to Monte: money is no object...he
blackballed by the Royal They became a recognisable pair
tance at the beginning of 1931, members of the Royal Family when he
towards them. By 1926
Carlo, dying there in Decem Club Lady
(because, at hla prize- in the gay round of suelal func- journey across the United States Uk is this gregarious exis- in the affection of the
In a private train.
when she embarked on a long
a motor- Their
stay in Hollywood in
Louis had two daughters grow her 1944. For Gve years he had
POPULAR PUBLICATIONS his wife nor his winning monster of ing up.
Pamela, scen neither
bost) .but all the time he fr Week, and were both invited by the palatial home of Mary Picks Journey to the West Indies and Mexico with Lady Brecknock.
in son Mrs Vanderbilt to join her yacht ford and Douglas Fairbanks, On her retum she closed down had been born
Princess Alice was in Athens following hils naval career with
an almost Lanstioni devotion. Atlanta for a cruise to Belgium with Charlie Chaplin acting as Brook Houer to join Lord Louis 1929 while her parents were on
Enjoyable Cookery But their fabulous
working with the Swedish and Barcelona. to Ba their host in the absence of the In Malta.
reached
in North Swiss Red Cross. right through The bumpy reads
Baby Book tour cxhience had not yet was the end of a owners,
which the German occupation.
This world copyright series of The Hongkong Countryside (Herklots) 10
Africa and Spain over its peak.
Lady Louis "followed the Fing" So Prince Philip became articles is abridged from the Cassci momentarily disrupted ony film script,
Even with on income such as to London hers, thus £17,000 a your in- while her husband was serving completely On their return
absorbed into the book "Manifest Destiny" by | Hongkong Birds (Herklots). the lives of their respective son and granddaughter,
in they automatically became volved in the upkeep of Brook In the Destroyer Flotilla leader British side of his famliy. And Brian Connell, and published Coronation Glory
Stuart were probably the cause, as we have seen much of. the by Casselis. group, House, was proving a luxury. October Lord Louis left in the members of the small Renown to act
again as A.D.C. with the Prince of Wales at its to the Prince of Wales during head, which enlivened what might be called the night-club
and France.
The deaths first of Prince Louls and then of Sk Ernest which would have done credit
his tour of Indin.
and
His just message to Edwina civilisation of the period.
was that she must find some way.
The young couple found them-
of accepting an invitation of the solves almost the standard
bearers of the Gay Twenties.
Viceroy, Lord Reading, who
had been a close friend of her Edwina had an income of grandfather, to slay with him in Delhi
The heiress to nearly a million and a half pounds found herself in the extraordinary position of tho having no money to pay fare,
£50,000 a year after taxation. They were both good-looking, vital, amusing and popular.
The gossip columns of the day
1
Visit
The Poodle tells the Peke: Step down
THEC
HE pop-eyed Pekingese,
top dog with British women for 20 years, has
animal,
the
By CHAPMAN PINCHER
FORTS.
Rupert Adventures (Annual) More Adventures of Rupert (Annual) Rupert (Magazines)
$15.00
25.00
25.00
85.00
10.50
King George VI
10.50
'It's Fun Finding Out --- 2nd varies,
(Bernard Wicksteed):
5.00
4.00
5.00
1:00
$10.00
24.00
$15.00
18.00
15.00
5.00
4th Impression now ready Hongkong Escape (R. B. Goodwin)
breed has been around for 500 No Hiding Place (Behind Scotland Yard)
Common Marins Food-Fishes of Hongkong
(second enlarged edition). "What's 500 years to a Peka?" It is beaten only by the cocker knots, are also popular with mid ono disgruntled › Paka been pushed far out of spaniel and the Alsatian, which Chancellor R, A. Butler. They fancier. "Pedigred Pekingese Weights & Measurements Scandal-Mongers favour by an equally absurd have undoubtedly had their easily top the list of exported were being bred by the Chinese Chiness. Creeds & Customs (V. R. Burkharde) miniature heydays, as the steadily falling pedigree dogs, which brought in emperors when the poodle, was She was still restricted to
much of it in dollars. 1953 Brood supli alowance, and she would are full of accounts of her kak poodle, according to a dog figures of registered pedigree more than 2250,000 last year, come wh
1952 1938 Reason for the poodle's
1: Cocker paniéla The Peke, which stubbornly only come into the accumulated styles, her dresses, her parties popularity poll issued by pups thow,
Interest of her and her capital and
mistery
Alsatians of new the Kennel Club of Eng-
land..
held in near-tep position in succest The dog is of current inheritance at the age of 21 or Lashformable dancing steps. when she married.
At the beginning of 1923 Lord
*beth and fits into the smallest flat. Edwina showed a first glimpse Louis was appointed to the In a non-stop, rise to spite of the fickleness of canine hem-line height, cheap to feed place. It has been " overtaken But much rentons do not ex- conully she was to display in his wife set about reopening her years ago, the frisky poodle by the ebullient boxer and the plain why favour har deserted: of the determination and in battleship H.M.6. Revenge, and fame which started-flye fashion, has fallen to
now iles third in the poll of low tung corgly established the dacimbrund, Pake, and fox mich dull measure, in later years, Frandfather's house.. She asked Mrs Cassel, her great flymained the property of 108 breeds which will com favourite of the Royal Family supt, for the loan of £100, and her great-aunt, but she was too thin went to "k shipping commodo che fornecio pete at Crufts Show
next vind farm pood with this explains
'cut costs, and ⋅ toge
8 Miniature poodies 4. Booths
8. Peking
-Labest
Why Limited Stock Only
Giles Annual Arvos
Limited stock, now available
On Sale
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. LTD.
HONGKONG