Now we come to the story of my grandmother, the Almighty Louisa Norris Sullivan etc., etc. Her father built Gilded Elms, where she grew up as the pampered, adored, and strong-willed daughter of a diplomat, and where she still lives. She inherited the house after her parents died and moved in as a young bride with her husband, Alphonse Sullivan, Jr., a diplomat like her father.
As a girl, Almighty's best friend was Mary Margaret Rennert, known as Mamie or Mame. Mamie's father, James Rennert, owned a newspaper. Together Mamie and Almighty Lou ruled St. Maggie's School. They had the best parties. They rode horses and swigged champagne and jumped into fountains in their fancy clothes. They were famous for crashing stag parties at the Maryland Club wearing only bathing suits under their fur coats.
Almighty had lots of beaux (that's what she still calls her boyfriends), but her favorite was Junius Overbeck. He escorted her to the Bachelors Cotillon and she expected him to propose to her later that year. But at the Cotillon Junius did something taboo—he danced the final dance with Mamie, not Almighty Lou. How could he not know that would piss off Almighty? And you don't want to piss off Almighty.
After the ball, all the young people went to the country club to dance the night away, and Junius couldn't take his eyes off Mame—even though he was supposed to be Almighty's date. Junius and Mame left the club together at dawn, and a week later Mame's parents announced her engagement to Junius Overbeck.
You might as well have dropped a nuclear bomb on Baltimore, Almighty was so mad. Almighty's best friend had stolen her beau at the Cotillon, an unforgiveable crime. She stopped speaking to Mame and vowed revenge.
From that day on, Almighty made it her life's work to thwart Mame in everything she did. She and she alone would rule Baltimore society. And Mamie Rennert Overbeck would be relegated to the sidelines.
Tune in next time to find out more. This ancient feud has repercussions that still echo through the generations!
JANE OUT
As a girl, Almighty's best friend was Mary Margaret Rennert, known as Mamie or Mame. Mamie's father, James Rennert, owned a newspaper. Together Mamie and Almighty Lou ruled St. Maggie's School. They had the best parties. They rode horses and swigged champagne and jumped into fountains in their fancy clothes. They were famous for crashing stag parties at the Maryland Club wearing only bathing suits under their fur coats.
Almighty had lots of beaux (that's what she still calls her boyfriends), but her favorite was Junius Overbeck. He escorted her to the Bachelors Cotillon and she expected him to propose to her later that year. But at the Cotillon Junius did something taboo—he danced the final dance with Mamie, not Almighty Lou. How could he not know that would piss off Almighty? And you don't want to piss off Almighty.
After the ball, all the young people went to the country club to dance the night away, and Junius couldn't take his eyes off Mame—even though he was supposed to be Almighty's date. Junius and Mame left the club together at dawn, and a week later Mame's parents announced her engagement to Junius Overbeck.
You might as well have dropped a nuclear bomb on Baltimore, Almighty was so mad. Almighty's best friend had stolen her beau at the Cotillon, an unforgiveable crime. She stopped speaking to Mame and vowed revenge.
From that day on, Almighty made it her life's work to thwart Mame in everything she did. She and she alone would rule Baltimore society. And Mamie Rennert Overbeck would be relegated to the sidelines.
Tune in next time to find out more. This ancient feud has repercussions that still echo through the generations!
JANE OUT