Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1885-10-24
4 LORDS AMERICAN WIFE.
How Lady Randolph Church.
i'll Was Won.
The American Woman who May Yet
Virtually Rule England.


teresting facts about the wife Of Lord
Randolph Churchill, the young En-
glish conservative leader who has
come into prominence after the fall Of
Gladstone. says the Sun: A few years
ago Miss Jennie Jerome, the second
daughter Of Mr.. Leonard Jerome, met
Lord Randolph Churchill at a dinner
in Paris. ATTRACTED by her beauty
and the brilliancy of her conversation,
he soon confined his attention to her.
Those whosat near them stopped talk
ing and listened to them with undis-
guised admiration. Miss Jerome was
noted for her conversational powers,
but they had never seemed to her
friends as brilliant as on this occasion.
Lord Randolph, however, proved a
match for her. Her satire was met
with sparkling repartee, and her wit
and humor for once found a fair ex-
change. When the ladies had with
drawn, Lord Randolph TUNED to a
friend and said enthusiastically:
"That's, the brightest woman ] ever
met" and added, with the seriousness
Of a f~atalist, and l mean to marry
her
S%ingularly enough, while he was
saying this, Miss Jerome was making
a almost Identical remark concerning
him to one Of her sisters. Perhaps
that evening she PLAYED her favorite
Chopin nocturne more tenderly and
wooingly than ever; at all events,
Lord Randolph was not slow in dis
covering that he had made as deep an
impression on her as she had on him.
Within a fortnight of their first meet
ing they were engaged, and very soon
afterward married. By this union
Lord Randolph secured a wife whose
aspiring and ambitious temperament
has spurred him on in his political ca
reer, and whose income is sufficient to
form a welcome addition to his small
annuity. Mr.. Jerome conveyed to his
daughter before her marriage the val
liable property upon which the Uni
versity CLUB Of this city stands. Lord
Randolph is Il younger son of the late
Duke of Marlborough. Between his
elder brother, the present Duke, and
himself there has long existed a feel
ing of hatred, to which rather than to
his enthusiasm for Liberal cause, the
Dukes opposition to Lord Randolph
is credited.
That this opposition inspired Lady
Randolph Churchill to take part in her
husbands canvass, has not surprised
her host of friends here, who know
her to be as plucky as she is accom-
pliShed, and who remember that, while
she can play Chopin d~ivinely, she is
also an intrepid follower OF the hounds,
and usually in at the death. Indeed
her friends openly proclaim that a
large share of her husbands political
success should be credited to her, that
his rise into prominence dates from
the time when she began to coach him,
and that his brilliant guerilla tactics
are inspired by her. 1t is possible
'hat her friends eXaggerate the part
,he plays i'll her husbands political
affairs, and that his unpopularity here
eads her American friends to underes-
innate his ability. Though he is nom
.nally a Conservative, he is in some re-
spect more democratic in his ideas than
The average Liberal. His views on
the Irish question show strong traces
If American influence, and his politi-
al methods often have a dash of
American pluck in them. His wife
during their s%ojourn in Ireland, won
he hearts Of the people, and it is nc
doubt to her that the modification in
Lord Randolph of the traditional Con-
sentative views on the Irish question
IS due. He IS thoroughly progressive,
another American characteristic. In
these opinions and methods his wife's
influence may he traced. She is hi:
menter, and should Lord Randolph
ever become Premier, her friends say
she would virtually rule England. l
IS almost certain that she will som
lay be Duchess of Marlborough, for tn,
present Dukes son, the Marquis O
Blanford. is a sickly lad. and there i
little doubt that some day the Duke
title and possessions will go to Lore
Randolph.