Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-19

an upper floor, she has the contest eyrie
under the sun. She frequents society
to a certain extent, and is a familiar
figure during the season in Washing
ton.
In the society Of London Mr.. Bright
was a unique figure, says London let
ter from George Smalley to the New
York Tribune. Needless to say. he
never was man of fashion. There was
a long period during which the world OF
fashion held aloof from him. 1t ended
before he became cabinet minister
and privy councillor. The tribune of
the people, as some of his friends used
to call him, had ceased to be thought
dangerous by the classes. He was asked
often to all sorts of houses and To all
sorts of entertainments. While break
fasts were the fashion he went to break
fasts. Think your friend Joseph Choate,
of New York, will remember meeting
him Mt breakfast and walking homo
with him across Hyde Park. Mr..
Bright, know, remembered Mr.. Choate
and asked about him more than once
afterward. He was charmed with the
Americans manner and talk, ana quite
forgave him for being a great lawyer.
Lawyers, great or little, were not, as a
rule, favorites with him. He was not
often, think, to be seen at parties, but
dined out rather frequently. His
curiosity about the great world came
late in life, but it came. He had Gu
rious eXactitude, and when he was
asked to dinner-aS years ago was the
custom-for 7:45, used to arrive at 7:45,
while his hostess was putting the last
touches to her toilet. His habit had
this advantage, that he could hear the
names of the guests as they We're an
nounced at the door of the drawing
room. If he did not hear, or if any one
came in whom he did not know, he used
to interrogate the friend nearest him,
eagerly: "Who is that?" And if he
failed to recognize the name, "Who is
she? Tell me something about her. !"
TO mere conventionalities he paid but
scant respect. 1t was his habit to wear
a black velvet waistcoat long after other
people had ceased to wear them. ] can
not rember ever to have seen one in
London except his. 1t did not matter
what he wore. There was no truer gen
tleman In the company-a phrase which
is detestable, but has a meaning not
easy to express briefly otherwise.
There was no courtlier parsonage than
this Quaker, none whose manners were
more perfect.
He preserved his seriousness of
UnOuSH III UDc LlOSJ lFlVOlOuS Society.
Nobody had more humor or lightness
in hand, but if the subject was serious
or interested him deeply he said his say
seriously, or, as in the story am going
to tell you, bore his testimony unhinch-
ingly. In the days of Mr.. Gladstone's
early unpopularity-for society had
prejudices against him long before he
took home rule in hand-Mr. Bright
was once dining at the same table with
a certain princess. Her royal high
cess made a remark disparaging to the
liberal leader. Mr.. Bright turned to
her gravely. May ask you, ma'am,
have you any children?"
ives; why do you ask?"
LET me beg of you ma'am to take
them to the first opportunity where
they may see Mr.. Gladstone. When
they see him say to them that he is the
Englishman whom God has permitted
TO do greater service to his own coun-
try than than almost any other in his
time"
George Bancroft is very particular TO
remove his glove before shaking hands,
whether at "a simple ''call" or chance
meeting on the street. Victor Hugo
would never kiss lady's gloyed hand,
and if the hand were offered the aged
poet very coolly unfastened the glove
and found the desired place. Ladies
knowing his adherence 10 the tenet OF a