Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-26
The Story OF a Romantic Life.

The Story OF q Romantic Life.
The story Of Lady Blanche Murphy, who
died at North Conway, and whose funeral
services were held Thursday at Portlsnd, is
- romantic as fiction. The Portland Press
says:
She ~as the daughter of the Earl of Gains
borough, and the story Of her life has more
than the interest which usually attaches to
runaway matches. In her case it was the
kings daughter who married the beggar boy.
The family name Of the Earls Of GainsbOr-
ough is Noel, and Lady Blanche as the eldest
daughter bore the title of the Right Honor
able blanche Elizabeth Mary Annunciata
Noel. HeI mother, Lady Augusta. eldest
daughter of the Earl Of Enroll, died before
Lady Blanche was 20 years Of age. She has
two bTothers. the Viscount Campden and
Lord Edward, one Of whom is serving in the
Brits,, army in India. Her younger sister is
the wife of Henry Bellingham. member of
Parliament. The estate of the Earl of Gains
borough is in Rutlandshire, England. where.
at Exon Hall, Lady Blanche was born. Her
girlheod was devoted to travel and study
She scent some time at school in Italy and
France, and learned to speak Italian, French,
German and Spanish. She was familiar too.
with Latin and had a fair knowledge of
Greek
The Earl Of Gainsborough, once Protes-
tant, became Rsman Catholic. and at his
seat, Exton Hall, he has private chapel
where services are held each day. 1t was
nearly fifteen years ago that a young Irish
man. Thomas T. Murphy, was engaged as
organist in this chapel. With him Lady
Blanche fell in love and runaway marriage
followed.
Within one year they left England and
came to New York. Lady Blanche was still
proud and brave, but her irresolute and east
" discouraged husband had nothing to do,
and bread was scarce. The Lady Blanche
began to write magazine articles. She and
her husband had lodgings in Henry street.
and the brave little lady toiled with the
means at hand for their support. A. this
time Father Hecker, the Catholic priest,
found her out. and was the means of help
ing Lady Blanche to a wider market for
her writings. Her education had been gen.
erous, and her gift with pen was marked
She wrote cleverly and WE'LL and had no
trouble in selling all that she had to
offer. Father Hecker also found a place as
or9anist for Mr.. Murphy in New Rochelle
Until the time of her death she did not cease
her relations with the Catholic World, and
in the April number. just published, she has a
In the May number. now in press, is an arti
Gle on THE Greek Monasteries of Mt
Athos.'
Their last change was to North Conway, n.
H., where they were both engaged to teach
in the kearsarge Academy. At the time Of
her death Lady Blanche was not much over
So years Of age. She has had nc children.
The earldom of Gainsborough belongs to
the proudest aristocracy in the kingdom of
Great Britain. Noel, the founder of the fam
ily. with Celestria. his wife, was one of the
mobiles who entered England with the Con-
Queror. who granted him immense estates for
his services and many of his descendants
were men Of great note and magnihcence.
The family were raised to the earldom in
1852; but il is within century that the title
passed to the present branch of the family.
whose living representative is there
fore known as the second Earl of Gains
borough.
It was on the night Of March s, 1870. that
the well-born woman eloped with the organ
ist. When she sent word to the Earl, q few
DAYS after. that she was married, he disowned
her. forbade her return to the ancestral halls.
and cut her of from all the heritage Of the
family. Lady Blanche had. OF course, known
that il would be impossible for her to form
such an alliance with her fathers consent, or
to mention such subject in his presence,
though her affection was true, pure and wo-
manly: but she had probably never imag-
med that such stern penalty would be Wis.,
tied upon her for marrying out Of her rank.
The Earl of Gsinsborough relented, in some
measure, towards his daughter He recently
settled upon her an income of ESQ pounds 4
year for her own use, and invited her back to
her own place in the family and to her home
at Exton Hail. on condition that she would
leave her husband.
Lady Blanche was small, slight blonde,
with elegant features and lambert eyes, timid
in her WAYS, though easy in her address.
Lady Murphy's funeral took place in Port
land at the Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception. The remains will be sent to
the Gainsborough vault. England for inter-
ment.