The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-31
LADY BLANCHE MURPHY.
Something of Her Life at North Conway.

Mrs. Ellen Mason, of North Conway, sends
to the Boston Sunday Courier sketch of the
late Lady Blanche Murphy. From it we copy
some account of her life in the pleasant New
Hampshire village. Mrs. Mason writes
Lady Blanche Murphy as write the name
1 do not think of the eldest daughter of the
Earl of Gainsborough, the proud possessor of a
long name and fne-sounding title, but of the
graceful little figure wrapped in gray water
proof, walking with quick, elastic step, the
fresh, rosy face, fair as a flower franz ed in
thick, golden-brown hair Lady Blanche as
first saw her on the sidewalk at North Conway
one rainy day in the autumn of 1875. Mr.
Murphy had then just come to teach music in
Mr.. Fred Thompson's military school and Lady
Blanche was boarding with him there No
one knew her rank at first, but it was soon told
that the letters of the unassuming little woman
were directed to Lady Blanche Murphy. Her
story became known and people talked of the
But it is of her simple. sweet, brave life at
North Conway that l would speak. Though
her marriage had been romantic, there was
nothing of the sentimentalist about Lady
Blanche Murphy. After the time of Mr..
Murphy's teaching in the school had expired,
they kept house, she doing most of the house
work herself, while yet managing to do great
deal of writing for the Atlantic, Scribner's
Monthly, the Galaxy, the Catholic Review,
Catholic World, and other publications. And
with all this she remembered the poor, the
little children, all to whom she could give
comfort or pleasure Will the children whom
she took to Diana's Baths, and fed with din
ner cooked by her own hands. ever forget that
famous Fourth of July, or cease to ever after
reverence the day chiefly for her sake? Her
interest in the jewellers of the mountain valley
that was intense; so making petticoats for
babies who needed them, and feeding happy
children was lust as much an outcome, a man
Hesitation, an expression of her genuine self, as
were the long walks she made, the bOtanizing
expeditions the hours she spent in the open
air and in the woods. She was always mod
est, almost shy, in.the good she did. She made
many plans for FIXTURE good works in which
some other person should seem to be taking the
lead, while she, really the originator and chief
worker, would help all she could" Ii she
had lived, the benefit of her presence would
have been deeply felt in years to come. But it
was not to be, and when last Monday morning
it was known that gentle Lady Blanche was
dead, every heart was heavy, and every face
was sad. She was ill only four days; then full
words and thoughts the very last night OF her
life being words and thoughts of kindness and
loving care for others, she died.
1t will be long, very long, before she is for
gotten here. Exceedingly simple, natural as
child in her manner, the poorest person was at
once at ease in her presence, nor thought of
rank or title. Said a friend of hers, who
knew her very we'll: 81 think her conscien-
tiousness in little acts in little things which tell
what persons real character. is, was her
'She Railways seemed so sturdily content, so
practical, SO joyous in making the best of
things"
Lady Blanche had rather strikingface,
the features irregular, the countenance ex-
pressive, with the greatest beauty in the win
some, sweet smile OF her mouth. Her skin
was beautiful, the cheeks the fresh, deep pink
of the trailing arbutus, and she had hand
some head, greatly resembling her fathers as
shown in his photograph.
She had a peculiarly sincere, hearty, merry
little laugh, and I wish the Earl of Gains
borough could sometimes have heard that
laugh. 1t would have comforted his heart,
sad. no doubt very often for the want of his
child. Lady Blanche spoke often of her
father whom she seemed to love very tenderly,
and from whom she was separated as New
England people find it hard to understand.
Last summer she bought small farm on the
beautiful road leading around by Humphreys
Ledge, and built a little house just without
the shadow of the ledge, which was being
most artiStically finished,