A JOKE THAT RUINED A WEDDING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 194, 5 November 1927, Page 24 (Supplement)

A JOKE THAT RUINED A WEDDING

Boguns levitations to Marriage of Peers Daughter Camise Tromble

] teasing London by issuEsffiSy | ing bogus invitations for the most exclusive social events. One might think this is a comparatively harmless bit of foolishness, but not in London, where Lord Tredegar and Lord and Lady Kylsant, who are among the victims, have reported such cases to the police, and Scotland Yard is now busy. • Most indignant of all are a number of socially prominent persons who were quite eligible for genuine invitations, who had fully expected them, hut had been left out for one reason

or another in favour of someone even more select. These would have felt disappointed enough at being quietly omitted. But imagine their chagrin, after nodding pleasantly to some of the bona-fide guests whom they knew, to be stopped at the door by the major-domo, told that their beautifully engraved invitation was a fake, and pushed hack into the darkness. There must be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The first of these outrages was perpetrated at the reception at Chelsea House given by Lord and Lady Kylsant on the occasion of the marriage of their youngest daughter, the Hon. Honor Phillips, to Mr Gavin Henderson. The wedding was to be one of the largest affairs of the London season. England is growing more democratic all the time, and worthy persons, when they found the following invitation in their mail, accepted It at its face value: “Lord and Lady Kylsant request the pleasure of ’s company at the marriage of their daughter, Honor Chadwort.h, to Mr. Gavin Henderson, at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster, on Thursday, at 2.15 p.m., and afterwards at Chelsea House, Cadogan Place.” So carefully was the hoax prepared that quite prominent people in all sorts of positions thought it genuine. Not only was the formal wording identical with the real thing, but even rhe texture and colour of the paper. Small won-

del' that members of the stalls of various legations, notable actors and actresses, leaders of charitable work, as well as social climbers, were thrilled to receive invitations for so important a function. But the joker went too far when he included two collectors for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and a delegation from the Salvation Army. These folk knew Lord Kylsant. but doubted if they would be welcome at any festivities. Their telephoned request for verification was the first hint that anything was amiss. The trouble began early at the church. The ushers, who knew exactly how many invited witnesses to expect, and where to seat them.

had also a number of vacant pews in the rear which, at their discretion, they might fill with some of the general public. To iheir consternation, the world seemed to be full of people with invitations. When the bride and groom and their immediate families arrived there was turmoil and confusion at the doors. Worried and perspiring ushers were trying to sort the goats from the sheep. They had a list of the elect, and these they seated in their proper places, according to plan, and after that admitted as many more of these mysterious mavericks as the church would hold. Still there remained an indignant crowd outs.de, which had to be restrained by the Ejolice. The crowd now turned and rushed for Chelsea House, but some had decided that this was a “first come first served” affair, and were already there. About 20 of these early birds got in before the servants woke up. Yet each of the guests nad an invitation, and up to that time nobody had ever heard of a forged otie. More of these strays were clamouring at the gates. The butler and secre- j tary had an anxious conference, and. j with the assistance of the police, the 20 who had worked their way in were , ejected as politely as possible. Through ; this outraged mob Lord and Lady ; Kylsant, the bride, groom, and all the | wedding party had to force their way. It threw a sort of Charlie Chaplin, atmosphere over one of the most j solemn occasions in the lives of Lord ; and Lady Kylsant, and, worst of all, it got into the papers. Not only the deceived tradesmen j talked, but such persons as Miss Norah Bianey, the comedy star, who is playing in “The Vagabond King,” [ told it as a joke on themselves. Miss j Bianey managed to get into the church, but at Chelsea House a frozenfaced butler barred the way. “Yes, I am one of the victims,” said j Miss Bianey later .explaining how she j had been fooled. “I have not the plea- ! sure of knowing Lord or Lady Kvl-! sant, but it occurred to me that my husband, Philip Durham, might have known Mr. Gavin Henderson. Philip was in the Scots Guards, you know, and of course knew any amount of people.” Lord Kylsant did not attempt to hide his very natural annoyance. “Whoever perpetrated this hoax,” he told the Press, “must have been in a position to get hold of a genuine invitation.”' It is said that Scotland Yard is j working on the theory that some dis- j appointed suitor for the bride's hand i

took this novel method of venting hit jealousy, but they are also looking i into the possibility that some lad* may have thought the groom ought to have led her to the altar instead o' | the daughter of Lord Kylsant. The next victim of the hoax the Hon. Evan Morgan, the son and heir of Lord Tredegar, the first nscount of Tredegar Park. Newpon Wales, a large landowner, and a well known sportsman. Mr. Morgan's mother was Lady Katherine Carnegie, j a daughter of the Earl of Southesk before her marriage, and one of the beauties of London society. Her

good-looking son decided to celebrate his 34 th birthday by a dinner part}, and his cousin. Lady Juliet Duff, agreed to act as hostess to his guests at Boulestin’s restaurant. For this birthday party no less than four members of

The Princess Royal the Royal Family had accepted Mr. Morgan's invitation. The Princes Royal and her daughter. Lady Maud, and Prince and Priucess Arthur of Connaught, were to be present, and many others of the Royai Family and nobility. This time the forged invitations were mailed late, but some who had read of the Kylsant affair not only saved themselves embarrassment, but warned the hostess by their timely telephone Inquiries Lady Duff hastily Issued a second set of invitations. with her own personal signature on them, like certified checks, published a warning in the London papers, and thought she had put an end to the matter. But no! A score of angry and determined strangers appeared in good faith at the restaurant, and. after an argument with the majordomo, pushed that dignitary aside and crashed in. Only the presence of > squad of police prevented these unde sirables from drawing up chairs and sitting down beside members of the Royal Family. At all this England is truly aghast!