The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-08
1uE llEE nE AN ENeLIsA COuNTEss.
1Anv Jersey AND HER ROMANTIC
HISTORY.

fashion in England, the Irlenu OF byron, ana
the heiress of immense wealth. She was the
eldest daughter of the tenth: Earl of Westmore-
Land: was born in 1855, and before her mar
rage bore the name of Lady Sarah Fame.
independently of her beauty, she obtained
great celebrity by having become heiress to
the immense fortune OF Mr.. Child the banker,
her maternal grandfather. Byright of primo
peniture her elder brother, Lord Burghersh,
ought to have had the largest share of the in
heritance; but peculiar circumstances induced
the old banker to dislike the first grandchild.
AN BLoPEMENF.
II appears Mr. Child had many crotchets, fore
most OF which was his hatred OF the nobility.
When talking of his property he was in the
habit OF saying that no aIIsVocIaI n sno9Iu ever aver
thuuderstruck on being informed that HIS only
daughter, the presumpdye heress OF all his
wealth, had eoped with the Earl OIL Westmore-
land. a young spendthrltt over head and ears in
debt MIR. ChIld's rage knew no bounds. Guess
inc the route they had taken, he Immediately
followed them. Promising high reward to the
Positions, ne was driven az sucn furious pace
as not only TO gain on the happy pair, but
actually to overtake them. At the moment,
however when his carriage came up with Lord
Westmorelands, and when Mr.. Child was in the
act OF jumping out, the Eari's position turned
round, fired, and killed one of the BANKERS
leaders. During the confusion which followed
this unforeseen act, the EarPs carriage dashed
unmoested by on the read to Gretna Green.
1hs gallant deed was gratefully ackno wledged
by Lord Westmoreland, who Immediately took
the faithful post boy into his service, where he
was promoted from one post to another. More
than sixty years after the event lust narrated
took place, he was still in the family. His fret
patron having died. od Gillian had been in
stalled in the lodge at Middleton Park, the
Countess of Jerseys seat in 0xfordshire, where
he remained until his death.
Mr. Child, being thus suddenly stopped in his
pursuit when his daughter was almost in his
grasp was exasperated beyond measure, Re-
turning to home made desolate by her deser-
tion, he vowed to spurn all her advances
towards a reconciliation. That vow he kept for
a considerable time. Even when her eldest son
was born his anger remained undminished. 1t
was only on the birth of daughter, when Lady
Westmoreland's health began TO lail, that the
old fathers heart softened towards her, and they
became TecOnciled. To prove, however, the
strange waywardness of tie human heart. he
could never bring himself to like his daughters
frst-born, whom he in a manner disinherited
by making a will in which the whole OF his
enormous fortune was settled on her little girl,
The subject of this memoir.
THE HEIREss.
On Mr.. Chlld's death Lady Sarah Fame became
possessed OF yearly income of atty thousand
pounds, in addition to a share in her grand
fathers bank. For many long year on a GER
tain day, when the affairs of the establishment
were made up for the twelvemonth, Lady Jer-
sey's carriage might be seen vending its way
towards Temple Bar. where the pontife1 rna1i-
mus of fashion might be seen to descend and
enter the bank building. There, for once laying
aside the ways OF fine lady, she quietly dined
with the partners, afterwards devoting the whole
evening to business.
Possessing rank, beauty, aud riches, it may
easily be imagined that Lady Sarah Fame had
many admirers, and that candidates for mar
riage presented themselves in numbers. From
amongst them she chose George VIlliers, fifth
Earl of Jersey, son of the Countess Frances, the
Bishop of Raphoe's daughter. The match was
one of pure affection on either side, and re-
malned so to the end OF their singulsrly happy
welded life. He was her senior by twelve years,
was of an amiable disposition, aud as far as
personal appearance was concerned, was an adj
mlrable match for her. They are said to have
been the handsomest couple of their time, to
which their portraits, painted about sixty years
ago, bear testimony.
LADY JERSEY AS LEADER OF FAHIoN.
In the matter of dress Lady jerseys taste was
exquisite, and the tout ensemble in such perfect
harmony as never to look elaborate. 1t must
be admitted, however, that her fastidiousness
bounds. Knowing that the eyes of all female
exquisites we're turned on her, she changed
every article Of clothing from head to foot four
times day. Although this may appear ex-
cessiye, she was less luxurious than the late
Empress OF Russia, who, not content with dress
ing herself nightly in three different costumes,
also compelled the ladies OF her court to do the
same, by these, simple words, "Mesddrnes, oous
etes ohifOfees.n
Having taste and tact in perfection, Lady Jer.
sey became, by general consent, leader of
1asnlOn, ana Jne HUute O0tee acknowledged ner
as such by implicitly obeying any laws she
chose TO lay down. When, therefore, she de-
creed that, 10 be distinguished from the par
0enues, the exclusives must in future make
change in their pronunciation of certain words
not dissentient voice was heard, all being eager
to follow their leader.
Saying "to be drove in chariot" 'to have
goold ring" chopped hands," and making use
OF similar recherche phrases, was considered a
sufficient sign of eXclusiveness. In very short
time everybody with the least pretension to
fashion talked in imitation of Lady Jersey, and
most OF these expressions still survive. As
patroness of Almack's she ruled for many years
supreme and is said to have been so conscien-
tous in the distribution of her vouchers as to
dates skill before admitting them to the terpsi-
chorean temple.
Her own private parties were gayer than
other peoples, and her balls the most brilliant
of the season. Independently of her faultless
taste IN the ornamentation of the rooms, the
success OF her entertainment was chiefly due to
her own fascinating manners, and to her singu-
lar talent of adapting them TO every age. This
was the key to her great and long-continued
popularity, Tor her invitations were sought with
like eagerness by the hsping guardsman and
the hoary politician. The latter were howavar
her favorites, and remained so to their end. for
she outllved them all. 40
Two generations of politicians, all personal
friends of the Countess of Jersey, had passed
away before she herself ended her earthI1
career. During the first years of her married
life, all the great statesmen, including Fox
Pitt Canning, Castereagh, and others, used TO
meet at her house, where politics were freely
discussed she being considered by all worthy
of their confidence. Strange as it may appear,
Lord Jersey, although always present at these
discussions, never took any active part In poll
tics. 1t is said he once rose from his seat IN the