The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-31
0artGtr.
LADY BLANCHE.
HER DEATH UNFOLDs A LIFE OF
DEVOTION.
The Daughter of an Earl, She Becomes the
Wife Of Her Fathers Orgnnlst- DIsInher.
tied, the Couple Come to America
Where She Earns a Livelihood as
an AuthOress "A Touching
Story of Real RO-
nance.


on March 5th, Her father is the Earl of Gains
borough. The family name is Noel, and Lady
Blanche, as the eldest daughter, bore the title of
the Right Honorable Blanche Elizabeth Mary
Annunciata Noel. Her mother, Lady Augusta
eldest daughter Of the Earn of Erroll died before
Lady Blanche was twenty years of age She has
two brothers, the Viscount Campden and Lord
Edward, one OF whom is serving in the British
Army in India, Her younger sister is the wife of
Henry Bellingham, Member OF Parliament The
estate OF the Earl OF Gainsborough Is in Rutland.
shire, England, where, at Exton Hall, Lady
Blanche was born. Her girlhood was devoted to
travel and study. She spent some time at School
In Italy and france, and learned to speak Italian,
French, German and spaniFh. She was familiar,
too, with Latin and had fair knowledge of
modern Greek. The Earl of Gainsborough, once
Protestant, became Roman Catholic, and at
his seat, Exton Hall, he has a private chapel,
where services are held each day.
1t was nearly fifteen years ago a young Irish.
man, ThOs. 7. Murphy, was engaged as organist
In this chapel. he was scarcely more than boy
at the time, handsome, modest and a devoted
musician Lady Blanche, t1en about twenty
|
tremely petite figure and rather plain features.
Her voice was not musical, but her eyes were
bright and her conversation was engaging.
The young organst fell In love with her, and
friends noticed with uneaslness how the young
lady loitered Ia the chapel after sarviCes osen.
sibly engaged at her practice upon the organ un.
der the young mans tutelage. The Earl laughed
lightly at the fears that were hinted to him. Dali
ly at mathis and at vespers the young girls voice
was heard in the chapel TO Murphy's organ &C.
compartments.
Lady Blanche's mother had died before this
time. In March, 1870 solicitors friend Of the
Earl again called his attention to the relations
which seemed to exist between Lady Blanche
and Thomas Murphy. The Earl would not lis.
ten. On the following night the couple left Ex .
ton Hall together, and sent back word later
from London that they were married. This was
March 6 1870 The Earl, then 50 years old, was
overwhelmed by this message, but anger quickly
followed upon his grief He dlsowned and disin.
herted his daughter, and forbid her ever to re-
turn to the home which he said she had dishon.
ored.
Lady Bance Murphy was, perhaps, startled by
her naughty fathers anger, but she did not seek
his forgiveness, Murphy was so much of musi
clan that he was very little of business man and
the young couple found themselves all but
homeless on London, and without any means Of
support. Murphy could not hnd vacant organ
seat, and for some months he and his wife expe.
rienced the severest possible change from the
abundance and luxury from Exton Hall. With,
In one year they left England, and came to New
York. Lady Blanche was still proud and brave,
but her irresolute and easily discouraged hus.
band had nothing to do and bread was scarce,
Then Lady Blanche began to write magazine ar
tices. She and her husband had lodgings in
Henry street and the brave little lady toiled with
the means at hand for their support.
At this time Father Hecker, the Catholic priest,
1 found her out, and was the means Of helping La.
dy Blanche to wider market for her writings.
Her education had been gen erous, and her gift
with pen was marked. She wrote cleverly and
well aud had no trouble In selling all that she
had to offer. Father Hecker also found place
as Church organlst for Mr.. Murphy in New
Rochelle.
At this time Lady Blanche wrote series Of ar.
ticles for the Galaxy, on English life and Eng
lish arlstoCracy. The discontinued the articles
upon hearing that they had offended some Of the
gersons mentioned In them. Under Father
H9cker's announcement Lady Blanche became
frequent contributor to scribner's Monthly, The
Catholic Review, The Catholic World and the
Boston Pilot. Until the time Of her DEATH she
did not cease her relations with the Catholic
World, and on the April number Just published
she has paper on "The Tomb Of the Conqusta
dor" In the May number, now In press, is an
article on "The Great Monasterles Of Mt Athos''
When Lady Blanche had been In New York
about four years the Earl Of Gainsborough re-
Tented towards her, and though she would not
listen to his proposal that she leave her husband
and return to ESton Hall, he settled upon her an
annuity Of $50. She received this needed aid
with reluctance. Her husband did not long re-
tain his place In New Rochelle, and he afterward
played In other Catholic churches of this city.
Later they went to Virginia. and located near
Lynchburg, where her father bought them q
small farm upon which they remained less than
two years. The people, Lady Blanche said, were
too inquisitlve about her affairs, and she at one
time wrote an indignant letter to Baltimorean
newspaper asking why she could not be lett to
her own concerns so long as she cared properly
for them. When they left Virginia Lady Blanche
and her husband went to Newburg New York
and he played church organ there for a while.
Their last change was to North Conway, N. H.,
where they were both engaged to teach in the
Kearssrge Academy. Murphy taught music and
his wife gave instruction in the ordinary
branches,
They had small farm which had been bonght
with the proceeds OF the sale Of the Virginia
property, and in addition to their salaries in the
Academy Lady Blanche still had small income
from the Catholic magazine. for which she
! wrote regularly.
AT the time Of her death Lady Blanche was mol