LEROYPENNYSAVER&NEWS - JANUARY 11, 2015
Presented To The Court Of St. James
byLynneBelluscio
If you are a Downton Abbey
fan,youwill remember thescene
whereRose is presented toKing
GeorgeVandQueenMaryat the
Court of St. James in England
in 1923.
As I looked at Rose’s gown
and veil, it reminded me of this
photograph that we have in the
Woodwardcollection. Ihaveas-
sumed that thiswasaphotograph
of Eleanor Woodward Vietor,
the oldest daughter of Orator
Woodward. She was born June
13, 1889 - the fourth of the six
Woodward children.
Not much is known about
Eleanor. In her wedding an-
nouncement, it was mentioned
that “the bride is a charming
girl of the American type that
loves the great outdoors. She is
a splendid horsewoman, drives
a motor skillfully, plays tennis
andgolf and isamost interesting
conversationalist. Shehadgiven
freely of her time and means to
an intelligent practice of charity
and in that good homely expres-
sion which the latter generation
of society editors has tabooed as
being tooplebian, sheknowshow
to keep house.”
Eleanor married Dr. John A.
Vietor, a member of one of the
oldest familiesofNewYorkCity,
on June 13, 1913. On the back
of this photograph, is written,
Eleanor Woodward
Vietor, presented to
theCourt of St. James
1924. Is thisa35year-
oldEleanor? So far, I
haven’t been able to
substantiate that, but
I believe it isEleanor.
Her daughter-in-
law, Mia Macklin
Hodge had also been
presented to theCourt
of St. James in 1938,
beforehermarriage to
Eleanor’s son, Jack.
Mia had attended
Heathfield School in
England and was a
member of the Brit-
ish Olympic skating
teamandheld theEu-
ropean water-skiing
championship.
Mia’s first husband
was Peter Hodge. It
was mentioned that
Mia’swedding toJack
Vietorwas swank and
lavishand rankedwith
any Hollywood mov-
ie marriage. It was
mentioned that Jack
Vietor was the heir to
a$7,000,000 fund left
by hismother, heiress
to the Jell-O fortune.
The bride was given away by
PrinceVladimir deRachevsky.
Until Queen Elizabeth II abol-
ished the practice of presenting
debutants to the Court in the
1950s,young ladiesofnoblebirth
werepresented to theCourtofSt.
James, but otherwomen, ofnota-
ble standingwere also presented
to the King and Queen. So this
musthavebeen thesituationwith
Eleanor andMia.
Itwas compulsory thatwomen
presented to the court had to
wear a tulleveilwith threewhite
feathers, in respect for thePrince
ofWales.The three featherswere
mounted and worn toward the
left side of the head. Colored
feathers were not allowed and
theveilscouldnot be longer than
45 inches. Formal dresses with
trains were the rule as were full
lengthwhite gloves. As I look at
thephoto, IwonderwhatEleanor
didwith her gloves.
Memories...
As crispas theday
they weremade.
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