The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-11
-4PFROACHING M4RRL1GE or THE C4TH-
0LiC DCKE or NORFOLK
THE GREATEST MATRIMoEIAL PRIZE IN Eu-
ROPE CAPTURED.

THE GREATEST MATRIMoEIAL PRIZE IN Ell
ROPE CAPTURED.
Lcndon Register
Referring to the announcement that has
already gone the round of the papers to the
effect that a marriage had been arranged
between the Duke of Norfolk and Lsdy
flora Abney Hastings, the Whitehall Re.
Uielc remarks: Had the fact been made
known daring the season, what a flutter
among tho dove-cotes of the Western and
South estern districts there would have
been! How the clubs wonld have raue
with the news! For, it IS a fact which
hardly needs the statipg that ever since ha
came Of age in 1868 the Premier Duke of
England has been regarded as perhaps the
most desirable partt in all Europe. "And
now,n adds the writer, ''let us INQUIRE who
this fortunate bridegroom in posse is-this
ducat representative of the arietocracy of
Catholicism, the young man whom we have
all seen in his place in the Upper House or
walking quickly down st. James street
with as modest gait and unobtrusive a
manner as the poorest gentleman who
treads the we'll worn pavement of PAIL Mall,
and who, perchance, though he belong to
one or other OF the great clubs in that most
clnbby quarter OF the town, js without a
guinea wherewithal to regale himself on a
decent dinner.
"Henry Fitzalan Howard, who, among
bis other titles, boasts that Of Chief Butler
of England, comes of an ancient, well
known, and historical race be is a man of
irreproachable character-Celd "a sans dire
and he bss yearly increasing income of
nearly 100000 per anEum. Add to these
qualifications that he is the fifteenth Duke
OF his name, that he is Premier Duke and
Hereditary Earl Marshal of England, and
not yet thirty one years of age, and on can
not wonder that very many mar R uvernR
mothers looked upon him as the greatest
prize which one of their daughters could
possibly draw in the lottery of matTimouy
TO the world in general the Duke of Nor.
folk was in one respect a social difficulty
He is q Catholic. he has been called by
thoee who do not know him a devotee, y
bigot. He ia no such thing. His Grace is,
and ever has been, fortunately for himself,
q mAn who avoids with Lorror wild living
He is a sportsman in the best sense of the
word. He rides we'll to hounds, rides
straight, and has the pluck reQ Qured of one
who likes 20 show the way in the hunting
deld. He is fond of shooting. looks per
eonAlly after his own vast estates, and loves
q coaDtry life. As becomee one OF his rank,
he lives . certain portion of the Year in
London, ard . his priucely mansion IN st.
JBmee' 20 3afe royalty enter TAI ps bis friends
But he does Dos keep race horses; does
not bet or play; is not given to late hours.
To the poor, the needy, to any one who
asks bis aid, his parse has been always
open. To the building Of CD urches, schools
and other institutions connected with bic
Faith, the Duke of Norfolk has always mu
nifcentiy contributed. During the nine
years which have elapsed since he attained
his majority no we'll authenticated case OF
misfortune has been put before him without
finding prompt and generous succor. He is
content to be admired and respected by
those whose opinion is best worth having
'Lady Flora Hastings. to whom his
Grace is about to be married, Is, like her
future husband, one who bas the courage
of her opinions. She is now "a years oi
age, and about two years ago, very much
against the wish of her family, she was re
ceived into the Catholic Church. Oa hel
fathers side her family was, until about
fifty years ago, among the staanchest ad-
herents to what is tenderly called the old
faith. Mr.. Charles Abuey- Ha1tiugs, who,
in 1853, married Lady Edith Hastings, was
the third sou of Mr.. Clifton, of Lythem, in
Lancashire. Ga his marriage he assumed
by act of Parliament, the name and arms ci
Abney- Hastings. His father, who died in
1851, was tho frat of his race who became
a Protestant. Bot his elder brother, the
present Mr.. Clifton, of Lythem, who, in
1874, married daughter of the Hon. Henry
LoWther, and who was formerly in the lsC
Life Guarde, cOnformed to The faith of HE
fOrefathers some seven or eight years ago
and the Mass lie, as of yore, paid every
Sunday and holiday in the domestic chapel
at Lythem Hall. Lady Flora Hastings
may, therefore, like her uucle, be said to
have returned to the Church TO which, with
The exception of one generation, her family
has always belonged. Bat bs that as it
may, the opposition she met with from her
neAreee Eeiatives whom she determined to
be received into the Catholic Church would
have deferred most ladies Of her age from