As I discussed in last week's post, there were 3 O G Penny Princesses. Jenny got her own entry, so this week Minnie and Cosuelo get their due. Then two more of the best known Penny Princesses will tell their stories.
Minnie Stevens
If Minnie Padget had written a self-help book, she would have called it "Marrying Into the Aristocracy For Dummies." Minnie brokered marriages for the Penny Princesses - including Consuelo Vanderbilt. Minnie was a hostess and a brilliant fundraiser as well. Minnie eased young ladies into English society from her house on the posh Belgrave Square. She entertained Bertie and the Marlborough House set.
Minnie Stevens was born in 1853. Her father was Paran Stevens, owner of the 5th Avenue hotel. Her mother Marietta was the daughter of a grocer. In typical New York City Society style the Stevens were ostracized for making their money themselves - shudder. Minnie made her debut, to not much success. Paran Stevens died in 1871 and left a modest fortune. Marietta took Minnie to London where Minnie, a beautiful well dressed young lady was a hit with eligible bachelors.
But that wasn't good enough for Marietta. She turned down many proposals on Minnie's behalf. Minnie finally accepted the Duc De Guiche, but her proposal was revoked when the Duc discovered Marietta exaggerated the Stevens' wealth. At the spinsterly age of 25, Minnie accepted the most persistent of her suitors, Arthur Padget, a younger son with no money or title. Padget was a close friend of Bertie's and Bertie adored Minnie. He paid a congratulatory call before the wedding and gave Minnie a gold bracelet.
Now in with Bertie's Marlborough House Set, Minnie was expected to host Bertie and buddies in London, and at her home in Cowes. Minnie also hosted young American women seeking husbands. Mothers would go to Marietta Stevens (now living back in New York) and Marietta would write them a letter of introduction. Alva Vanderbilt did the same, sending girls to Consuelo Yznaga. The girls would present their letters to Minnie and she would assess the girl as she had done with Consuelo Vanderbilt (telling her the polite, British equivalent of "dress sexier.") She would take the girl to a tea hosted by a society matron, and if the girl did well, Minnie would take her to a dinner with ... Bertie of course! Bertie The Babe Bonafier would approve her, then, Minnie would match the girl with an eligible gentleman bachelor.
Minnie and the other 2 O G-ers, Consuelo Yznaga and Jennie Jerome, entertained each other and other friends in common. To help aid in the Boer War efforts, Jenny Jerome asked Minnie's assistance. Minnie then asked Arthur Sullivan of the Gilbert and Sullivan to compose music for a theatrical. Minnie's theatrical raised 6,000 pounds for the aid of war widows and orphans. During World War I Minnie was a nurse and aided The Red Cross. Minnie Paget died during the flu epidemic in 1919.
Once upon a time, a blonde, blue-eyed pretty young lass charmed a future king with a banjo and her easy-going personality... sounds like a fairy tale right? That's the life of Consuelo Yznaga, but her life was no fairy tale. Consuelo Yznaga came from an aristocratic Cuban family, the daughter of a wealthy tobacco plantation and sugar mill owner. The Yznagas, unaccepted in New York City society, trekked to Europe, like The Jeromes and The Smiths - Alva Vanderbilt's family. Alva Vanderbilt and Consuelo Yznaga were childhood friends.
Like Jenny and Minnie, Consuelo charmed Bertie. Consuelo played the banjo and sang minstral songs, completely unlike how British young ladies entertained suitors. With Bertie's blessing Consuelo Yznaga would always have a place in British society. While vacationing in Saratoga Springs Consuelo met George Victor Drogo Montague - mercifully called Kim - the Viscount Mandeville. In fairytale fashion, they fell in love, wed, and happily ever after... well not so much.
Kim owed money, lots and lots of money in gambling debts. Leaving Consuelo alone with their son and twin daughters at their rundown estate in Ulster, he carroused openly with dancehall singer Bessie Bellwood. In need of money she followed friend Minnie Padget's example and helped young ladies find love - for cash and gifts. Kim died in 1892, and heartbreak seemed to follow Consuelo. She confessed to Alva Vanderbilt that she had had an affair with Willie K, Alva's husband. Her lifelong friendship with Alva was lost. Her daughters died young ; Mary in 1895 of pneumonia, and Nell in 1897 of consumption. When Consuelo's brother Fernando (who married Alva Vanderbilt's sister Jenny) died he left Consuelo $2 million dollars and $2 million in property. Consuelo bought large house and continued to entertain Bertie and her many friends. Consuelo died November 20, 1909.
Mary Leiter
Mary Leiter may have been the most successful Penny Princess. Daughter of Levi Leiter, co-founder of Marshall Fields department store, Mary was a social hit when the family moved to Washington D. C. Mary befriend Frances Cleveland, wife of President Grover Cleveland. The Leiters traveled to Europe several times but gained no traction within society there. But in July of 1890 Bertie saw her at a ball and asked her to be his partner in the opening quadrille. The beautiful young American new girl was suddenly invited to luncheons, balls, weddings and to attend parliament.
At the ball that evening was dashing Explorer in journalist George Curzon. Mary loved him instantly and gave him a tie pin made from one of her pearls. George held Mary at arm's length for years. George felt marrying for money was necessary, but tacky. Finally in 1895 George and Mary wed. They went to live on his estate which Mary found difficult. She did not enjoy being away from London and the friend she had made there. The pair did move to London and George embarked on a political career. Mary did not enjoy campaigning for her husband, but did so anyway much to his great success. In 1898 George was made Viceroy of India, giving Mary the title of Vicerine. Mary was the highest ranking woman in England, second only to Queen Victoria.
George and Mary were welcomed and respected in India. Mary often wore India made fabrics, and the fashion became popular all over Europe. Mary also aided in providing medical care to the women of India. The Curzon's hosted many European and American aristocrats when they traveled to the continent. Mary Curzon died in 1906. George built a Memorial Chapel in her honor, with a tomb depicting the two together in death.
Frances Work
Frances Work was the daughter of Frank Work, stockbroker of Commodore Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt died the richest man in the world, so Frank knew what he was doing. The Works were included in The 400 and were popular in New York City and Newport. In 1880 Frances met James Burke-Roche, a handsome Irish member of the British aristocracy. Love quickly blossomed and Frances and James married in September 1880 at Christ Church in New York.
Frank Work was not a fan of the Penny Princess phenomenon and dis-inherited Frances, while still awarding her a $7,000 yearly allowance. After sailing to London to make their home, Frances saw her mistake. James gambled away his money and two estates in Ireland. Frances was welcomed in London and introduced into society by the Jerome sisters. Frances and James had twin sons and a daughter. Her father, still disapproving, increased her allowance to $12,000 a year, until James's debts became too large.
Frank told Francis he would dis-dis-inherit her if she moved to the U.S. with her kids and divorce James. She agreed. She remarried in 1903 to a Hungarian horse trainer Aurel Batonyari (if ever there was a name ripe for a Harlequin romance.) The scandal caused society to shun her and Frank to again tighten his wallet. She dropped the horse trainer. Frank died in 1911. He left his grandchildren large inheritences on the condition that they never returned to England. Maurice, the older of the twins, contested on the grounds that he was to inherit his father's title, and no one objected. As I have been hinting, Francis Burke-Roche's children begat some important world names. Her daughter Cynthia was the grandmother to Oliver Platt. Maurice inherited his father's title, and Sandringham estate. If you watch The Crown, you'll recognize it as the place Lady Diana Spencer met Prince Charles. The man who hated England so much never lived to see his great great great grandsons, princes William and Harry.
SOURCES :
Mary Leiter. Wikipedia.
Frances Work. Wikipedia.
Consuelo Yznaga. Wikipedia.
FURTHER MEDIA ~
BOOKS :
The Buccaneers ~ Edith Wharton
The Husband Hunters ~ Anne de Courcy
The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau ~ Julie Ferry
To Marry an English Lord ~ Gail MacColl / Carol McD Wallace
PODCASTS :
Graham, Beckett / Vollenweider, Susan, hosts. "Gilded Age Heiresses." The History Chicks, Episode 9, Wondery, 2 June 2011.
FURTHER VIEWING :
Million Dollar American Princesses
The Buccaneers - 1995
The Buccaneers - 2023
VIDEOS :
Weird History ~ How American Social Climbers Sold Their Children For Rank
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