The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-16
AN AMERICAN WIFE.
The New Factor in an English
Political Canvass.
Mutual Attraction at a Partisan Dinner
Provides Lord Randolph Churchill a
Good Wife, a Good Fortune and an
Admirable Political Helpmeet.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, July 5.-The RepubH.
can of this morning contains the follow.
ing special correspondence, which is
pertinent to the time in view of events
now transpiring in England:
A few years ago Miss Jennie Jerome,
the second daughter of Leonard Jerome,
attended swell dinner-party in Paris.
Among the distinguished guests was
Lord Randolph Churchill. His attention
was attracted 10 her by her beauty aud
the fuency and brilliancy with which she
carried On conversation in French. He
addressed her, and soon the lord con-
fined his conversation to her. Those
who sat near them stopped talking, and
listened to them with undisguised ad'
miration Miss Jerome was noted for
her conversational powers, but they had
never seemed to her friends as brilliant
as on this occasion. Lord Randolph
proved a match for her. Her satire
was met with sparkling repartee; her wit
and humor for once found fair exchange.
When the ladies had withdrawn, Lord
Randolph turned to a friend and said,
enthusiastically: "That's the brightest
woman l ever met" and added, with the
seriousness of a fatalist: al mean to
marry her." Singularly enough, while
he was saying this, Miss Jerome was
making almost the identical remark con-
corning him to her sister. Perhaps that
evening she played her favorite Chopin
nocturne more tenderlY and wooingly
than ever. At all events, Lord Randolph
was not slow in discovering that he had
made as deep an impression upon her as
she had on him. Within a fortnight
of their first meeting they were en-
gagged and very soon afterward mar
ried. By his union with Miss Jerome
Lord Randolph secured a wife whose
fiery and ambitious temperament has
spurred him on in his political career,
and whose income is sufficient to form a
welcome addition to his small annuity,
for, being younger son, he is not roll
Ing in wealth, nor is his elder brother,
the Duke of Marlborough, generously in
clined toward him. Indeed it is well
known that the two brothers hate each
other cordially, and it is to this hatred
rather than to any enthusiasm in behalf
OF the Liberal cause that the Dukes sup
port of a Liberal candidate in opposition
TO Lord Randolph is credited. That the
Dukes opposition has inspired Lady
Randolph to take part in
HER HUSBANDS CANVASS
of Woodstock for Parliament, to the eX-
tent of making speeches to its constitu'
ents at open-air meetings, has not sur
prised her host of friends here, who
know her to be as dashing and intrepid
as she is accomplished. While they re-
member that she can play Chopin divine
", they also remember that when she
follows the hounds she is in at the death.
Indeed it has long been maintained here
that large share of Lord RandOlph's
political success should be credited to
her; that his rise into prominence
dates from the time when she be-
gan to coach him, and that his brilliant
guerilla tactics are the inspiration
of her fiery and fearless temper. 1t is
possible that her friends eXaggerate, and
that Lord RandOlDh's unpopularity here
leads her American friends to underesti
mate his ability. During the visit of the
Churchills here, some winters ago, the
noble Lord was rather snobbish. He
stalked through New York society, with
his hands clasped behind his back, look
ing down upon his surroundings with 4
superciliouS air of superiority. But,
however that may be, he no doubt owes
much of his success to his wife.
For, though he is nominally a
Conservative, he is in some respects
more democratic i'll his ideas than
the average Liberal. His views on the
Irish question show strong traces OF
American influence, and his political
methods often have an element of Ameri-
can dash to them. His wife is very popu-
lar in Ireland, she having won the hearts
of the Irish people during her sojourn
there with her husband at the time his
father resided among the Irish. He is
essentially progressive-another Ameri-
can characteristic. He hates to have old
fogies around, and he literally clicked
old Sir Stafford Northcote upstairs"
into the House of Lords. In these opiu-
ions and methods the strong influence of
his wife may be felt. She is in fact his
political mentor.
SHE WILL RULE ENGLAND.
Should Lord Randolph ever become
Premier, not an unlikely event, think of
it, Britons, an American woman, with
the blood of freedom coursing in her
veins, may guide the course of affairs OF
your nationI 1t is almost certain that
she will one day be Duchess of MARI
borough, for the present Dukes only son,
the Marquis of Blandford, is q very
sickly little boy, and there is little doubt
that the Dukes titles and possessions
will fall to Lord Randolph.
Lady Randolph Churchill is the second
of Leonard Jerome's three daughters.
The eldest, Clara, is the wife of Moreton
Frewen, an Englishman who owns a
large cattle ranch, which he visits about
twice year, Mrs. Frewen coming over
with him and remaining in New York
The youngest daughter also married an
Englishman, Sir John Leslie. Lady Ran
dolph is generally considered the bright
est of the three. Her friends say she is
so full of life and magnetism that
touch of her hand thrills you and makes
you Jingle She owns the University
Club here and the fiue property on which
1t stands, having been conveyed to her
before her marriage by her father.
A Brave Boys Death.