The sun., 1885-11-01
Ill.

1t is when people die that Grevie. like St.
Simon. undertakes the composition OF his brief
biographies. and draws to focus tho rays Of
searching and sarcastic observation which he
had previously scattered. The following por-
trait Of Lady Holland, though not upon the
whole Ill natured. is certainly less nattering
than that drawn for us by those who.
like certain Continental Princess. have had
weighty obligations to discharge. The diarist
had previously written apropos OF the death OF
Miss Fox, What IN interesting biography
would the life OF Holland House be for half
century; but hardly anybody Is now left alivo
who could write 1t and Macaulay. whose genius
is alone capable OF illustrating the subject
came too late into the circle to have sufficient
personal knowledge Of those who shone at tho
earliest part OF the period" Five years before
Mr.. Greville had written OF Lord Holland. on
the occasion OF his sudden death. with genu-
Inc affection and sincere esteeem. but it will
be noted that the terms In which he speaks OF
Lady Holland are much less unqualified "she
evinced" he says. during her illness. q very
philosophical calmness and resolution. and
perfect good humor, aware that she was dying
and not afraid OF death. The religious people
don't know what to mako OF it. She never seems
to have given the least sign OF any religious
feeling or belief. Though she was a
woman for whom nobody felt any affection and
whose death. therefore. will have excited no
grief. she will be regretted by u great many
people. some from kindly. more from selfish
motives; and all who had been accustomed to
live at Holland House. and continued to be her
habitlss. will lament over the fall OF tho curtain
on that long drama. and the final extinction Of
the Pickering remnant OF a social light which
Illuminated and adorned England and oven
Europe for half a century. The world mover has
seen and never will again 500. anything like
Holland House. and though 1t was by no means
the same thing rs 1t was during Lord Hollands
life Lady Holland contrived to assemble round
her to the last great society com prising almost
everybody that was conspicuous. remarkable.
and agreeable. Tho closing OF her house. there
fore. will be a serious and an irreparable loss.
especially to those old friends who arc too old
to look out for new places OF resort. and to form
now social habits."
She was." continues Mr.. Greville. "a very
strange woman. whose character 1t would not
be easy to describe. and who could only be per-
foctly understood from a knowledge and con-
sideration OF her habits and peculiarities. She
was certainly clever. and she had acquired u
great deal OF information. having passed her
whole life amid people remarkable for their
abilities and knowledge. She cared very little
for her children. but she sometimes pretended
to care for them and she also pretended to
entertain strong feelings OF friendship for
many individuals: and this WAS not all insin.
oerty. for. In fact. she did entertain them as
strongly as her nature permitted. She was
often capriclous. tyrannica. and troublesome.
liking to provoke and disappont and thwart
her ac1uHintancas; and she was often obliging.
good -natured. and considerate to the same
people. To those who we're i'll and sufierlng.to
whom she could show any personal kindness
and nftnDtI0D her in fimafe frianlA ale
never failed to do so. She WAS always intensely
selfish. dreading solitude above everything.
and etsrnally working to enlarge the circle Of
her society and to retain all who ever came
within 1t. She could not live alone for single
minute; she never was alone. and even In her
moments OF greatest grief it was not in soil
tude. but In society that she sought her conso-
lation. Her love and habit OF domination werc
both unbounded. and they made her do strange
and often unwarrantable things. None ever
lived who assumed such privileges as Lady
Holland. and the docty with which tho world
submitted to her vagar!es was wonderful.
Though she was eternRlly surrounded with
clever people. there WAS no person OF any posi-
ton in the world, no mntter how frivolous and
foolish who 20 acquai n tance she WAS not eager
to cultivate and especially latterly she had n
rage for knowing new people and going to fresh
houses. Though often capricious and importi-
Hnnt. sha was sv"ront II temper. and she boro
with good huinor aud caImn"-s the indignant
and r"s-rtlu, uuturra.r which sh" sometimes
provoked IN Others. and ihoG-h sho liked TO
have people at her orders, AMI who would de- =
fer to her and obey her. she both liked and re- /
spected those who were not afraid OF her. and
who treated her with spirit and freedom"
We need not say that for n lnrgc part OF the T,
present century. Lahv Holland WAS ono OF tho |
fnn st "A and IN nOrtuut
in the social history OF England at a time. too. !
when tho game OF politics might be. and In
fact often was. lost or won in drawing rooms.
1t u natural enough that her portrait should !