New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-05
SIR srAF1ORD NoRTHco1E 1T HOME.
Hom The WAiehaH Rer,eu.

TrO1 The WhtlchdU HertrU.
Presently we come in view Of the stately facade Of
n rcd-brick mansion Of the Queen Anne period.
prm terraces. their low walls garriUncd here ana
there by classic statues and giant vases of carved
stone succeed each other the ground slopes to
ward the Exc which nipples noisily bel ow. ON the
still howcr-clad lawn, ~ We approach stands
broad -shouidcrcd man Of some SIXTY years, with
profusion Of whitening hair and beard. u" Is
dressed in n rough SUIT Of Nv ecd follow ed closely 10y
n white PoncIanian and q fine old dccrlonnd and
M the moment is talking in the broadcst Devon
shire dialect tO aborcr nj work Ola the place.
As he turns and addresses his visitors ~ the pur"s
Saxon, We recognize the keen, Intelligent face 80
long familiar To on both sides Of the front
benches above the cangway at -. Stephens h,
first troubled session of the now IaI lnn"nt bad
at last dragged itS weary length, and TIA" leader
Of the Opposition IN the House "i commons Was
glad to seek "A wcll-carncd rest among thr beautiful
Surroundings of hi Dc,oush.fr home
As we enter the hall there fronts Ms on the fine
oakcn staircase. with It's nelly stained windows.
cast of the Diane Ia hchc aud the walls are COW
cred with coats Of arm, and portraits of th" North
cote and STAFFORD families. Conspicuous among the
latter are two portraits of SIR Henry Northcotr. u
former harOnet, and of the Miss stafford Who
brought into the NothcOtc lHiniIN ihc IN" csiat" q"
lynrs, which takes liz name, not a. common local
gossip asserts. from the pinc-allcyS. which are "a
conspicuous feature of I'll" dcmcsuc, but from one
Sir Simon dc Pync, an ancestor of the stafford
family Surely for this lady, whose handsome fca-
lures look down upon her descendant, hcngny
from beneath towering mass OF powdered hair ~
Won enter this most delightful and ho>Itahlc of
mansions. votlvc offering should be Only made hy
the fortunate pOsSes%Ors of the cstat". IL could
hardly have fallen INTO w0rthcr hands than those
Of the kind and courteous gentleman. the very
model of an English country squire. who. with
pardOnablc pride. docs the honoTs Of his fine old
mansion shows you III the stately oak wainscnttcd
dining room the famous Nandyll Of The Earl Of
Northumberland III the Tower and another pnr-
trait hardly less celebrated, of collateral ancestor
James Northcotc, the painter and points out m rs
library the almost unique collie ton Of English
dramatic authors which cnuches II.
BY the simple DevOnshIrc folk. among whom the
few months Of the year which can be- spared from
no urOfulUeUf EHTf llugUfITX
life spent, the master Of Pyes IL held IN aicc
tOnate regard and respect ~ a landlord a. chair
man of Quarter Sessions. and ~ the prime mover IN
every work for the good OF his neIghbOrhood. For
many years he master of the harrlers. though
now like the famous old horse which carried him
long and so well across the Devonsire country. he
has abandoned the chase 10 younger spirits.
keen sportsman, he yet forms an exception among
his landed brethren in the locality. and abstains
from that bone of frequent contention. the prescrva
tiOn Of game on his estate On Sundays. like his
Great pOtical opponent ne will read the esSous in
the little church of his village Of which his thir,
son has lately been appointed rector after
full pupilage at II. Margarcts Westminster. under
Canon Farrar aud among the subscribers To whose
parting testimonial from the paTishloners appeared
the name of Mr.. Gladstone. between whom and his
father personal friendship of nearly forty years
duration has existed. undstnrbed 10y the fortune Of
war which has placed them now III opposite pOliti-
cal camps, and made them leaders respectively IN
the Lower House Of Parliament OF rival hosts
Sir stafford Northcote upon whom the recent
disappcarance beneath the political honLOn Of the
mighty genius who ~ long directed with undis-
has thrown now share Of political responsibility IL
descended from an ancient DeyOnsiire family en-
nobled by Charles /. After II distinguished career
az Ballio he took first class IN classics IN 1889,
and was shortly afterward admitted 10 the Bar
Mr. NorthcOtes first introduction To the outer circle
of official political life was rs private secretary to
Mr. Gladstone AT that time President Of the board
of Trade In 1881 he succeeded his grandfather in
the title and family estates and for the last hiccn
wears has represented North Devon in Parliament
Perhaps few statesmen Of his time have had "A wider
official experience than Sir Stafford Northcote. lie
was appointed Secretary of the Treasury in 1859,
and held excessively in Mr. Disraelis first Admins
tratOn the important cabinet Offices Of President OF
the Board Of Trade and Secretary Of State for India
and was Chancellor Of the EXchequer in tho last
Conservative Government of Lord Beaconsheld. No
politician of modern times OF equal enllnence has
displayed less Of party violence; none has more
consistently and faithfully adhered 70 his early
poIitical principles and friends. When popular ex-
element was impelng dangerously to lines Of
policy from which, once adopted. retreat might
have been difficult, and where disaster was very
easily possible, Sir Stafford Northcote was one OF
those who had the not very common foresight at the
time to perceive that the disrupt on OF the American
Union popular enough among many IN tins coun,
try-would have been. for he rest OF the civilized
world, @ mistake and q misfortune; and he sup
ported Mr.. Disrseh warmly in not committing tho
Conservative party TO anti course IN tho
American Civil War. And he Is beloved, oy those
who know him best, 10 have been one OF the mod
Grating spirits In the late Cabinet IN projects Oh Tor
eign policy.