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Witch Weekly · September 21, 2021 – 12:11 PM

The Feats and Failures of the 1891 Season

The beginning of the Hogwarts school year marked the end of another Season in Magical Britain, and some ladies (and gentlemen!) have seen their dreams come true, while others leave the bustle behind with more regrets than triumphs.

Feat: Mrs. Zelda Darrow

The youngest child in the Fisk family, few expected the new Mrs. Darrow would be destined for matrimonial life. While her older sisters Mrs. Roslyn Ross and Mrs. Katia Meadowes found husbands relatively early on in their lives, the family had just recently celebrated the marriage of thirty-year-old Xena to Mr. Bixby, and that was after several failed years of husband-hunting! Who would have thought the youngest of the bunch, a work-minded girl who committed little time to the social season, would marry relatively young?

Well, our sources say it was only a matter of time. The newlyweds had been seen in each other's company numerous times over the past few years, and considering their equally unconventional paths in life it's no wonder they found each other. We can't say our greatest dream is to marry a formerly-presumed-dead sailor, but it might just be preferable to a life of spinsterhood.

Failure: Miss Verity Greengrass

Are we that surprised? While Miss Greengrass had the all the makings of a successful young debutante—the beauty, the poise, a healthy sense of ambition—she also had the misfortune of sharing the spotlight with her younger sister, Miss Grace Greengrass. It's a terrible misfortune for parents to have girls so close in age, especially when neither are successful on the husband hunt: they take away the attention from each others while carrying the reputations of two people instead of one. We can only hope that either Miss Verity Greengrass or her younger sister will find a husband soon, as it may open up a path to marriage for the other

Feat: Mrs. Liliana Parkinson

It's commonly said that the one thing that's more important than beauty or riches is a woman's reputation. This is, we think, one truth that the new Mrs. Parkinson is an exception to.

Mrs. Parkinson on her own is not an disreputable woman; a recent Gryffindor alumna, Mrs. Parkinson has acted just as every debutante should act. Her misfortune is not in her action, but in her breeding—in short, Mrs. Parkinson is a bastard. Considering the Selwyn family's wealth, it was expected that she would eventually marry, but it was definitely a surprise to see her ensnare wealthy pureblooded bachelor that would have been better-suited to some of the ladies on this list. Still, we wish her every happiness.

Failure: Miss Helga Scamander

After years of failing to secure a husband despite her social prowess and circle of friends from powerful families, many expected Miss Helga Scamander to secure a husband before her twenty-second birthday. However, rumors began circulating about her involvement with Mr. Beckett Longbottom in June, and sources say that Miss Scamander found herself uninvited from no less than three major parties in July and August without explanation. Is she destined for a life of spinsterhood, or will someone finally take pity on the girl and make her a Mrs.?

Feat: Mrs. Hope St.John-Black

While the former Miss Crawford was always present in debutante circles, she was neither as notable nor notorious as some of the names on this list. The same cannot be said for her husband, Mr. Samuel St.John-Black, who was formerly betrothed to the now Mrs. Melody Crouch, who abandoned him to elope with the less wealthy and far more questionable Mr. Reuben Crouch. Luckily it seems Mr. St.John-Black has moved on from the scandal, finding a bride far more worthy of his name, even if it did cause a stir in some uptight pureblood circles.

Mrs. Hope St.John-Black

Failure: Mr. Charles Macmillan

Mr. Macmillan makes this list not for not being able to find a wife, but for not being able to secure the one so many expected he would have! Mr. Macmillan was said to be courting Miss Tatiana Lestrange throughout the spring, with many speculating that a proposal and wedding would take place within the year. Things changed rather abruptly, however, when the Macnair family—Miss Lestrange's guardians—announced that she was to wed their eldest son, Mr. Valerian Macnair.

The sudden split between Mr. Macmillan and the now Mrs. Macnair has led to speculation, but no details have ever emerged about the reasoning behind it. We can only hope it was Mrs. Macnair's own flightiness that led to a severed courtship, and that Mr. Macmillan will made an admirable husband for one of the up-and-coming debutantes.

Mr. Charles Macmillan

Feat: Mrs. Caroline Darrow

Months before the marriage of his younger brother, Mr. Evander Darrow managed the daughter of an American businessman, Miss Caroline Delaney. Although nearly half his age, the match between the pair seems to be one rooted in mutual affection, and they now reside in Irvingly. It has yet to be seen whether the new Mrs. Darrow will make her mark on the social scene or if she will fade into the backdrop of the mostly-quiet Irvingly social scene.

Mrs. Caroline Darrow

Failure: Miss Frida Lestrange

The 1891 Hogwarts head girl was expected to make a quick match during the Season, especially considering her family chose to have her debut rather than attend Pendergast's School for Young Roses alongside her cousin, Miss Seneca Lestrange, who graduated alongside her. She was more often seen in the company of friends instead of suitors, so not all hope is lost—it is possible Miss Lestrange chose to devote her first season to enjoying the social scene instead of the emotionally tiring hunt for a husband. We can only hope!

Miss Frida Lestrange

Feat: Miss Clarissa Cosgrove

Although not engaged to be married yet, it was recently revealed that Miss Cosgrove is being courted by Mr. Emrys Selwyn. A finished, pure-blooded debutante, it's no wonder she's caught to attention of Mr. Selwyn, who approached his fortieth birthday without a bride. We give our best wishes for the couple; perhaps we'll hear wedding bells by Christmastime!

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Issue #264 — The Feats and Failures of the 1891 Season