The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-27
THE LADIES OF LLANGoLLEN.

That women can dwell together in peace
hid affection without the assistance Of men
be- been demonstrated occasionally with
eat force. There is no more touching
se on record, however, than that Of the
hdiss Of Llangollen, az they were called.
(teresting "reminiscences Of them have
zen evoked by the offer for sale Of Plaa
pwydd, which was celebrated a. the home
pm 1779 to 1920 Of Lady Eleanor Butler
ID Miss Sarah Ponsonby. Says the Lon
IA Daily Telegraph: 'There is in the
incipality Of Wales no spot more senti-
entally interesting than the humble and
pretending cottage which lies about a
Earter of mile south Of the famous little
wn on the Dec to which tourists, anglers
ID visitors without number repair every
miner and autumn. The Dee is here a
Dad but shallow river, brawling turbu-
atty as it runs over it, rocky bed. and sug-
sting to the late Sir Francis Doyle,
10 married WEIGH lady, that the Wes-
PANS whom he once heard preaching and
sputing on it's banks were engaged in debat-
&, with noise and fury equal to those
oduced by its boisterous waters,
ints Of religious controversy as empty
d unsubstantial as its foam A hundred
ars ago LlanRollen was place with
,ich any recluse might we'll have fallen in
70. The long range of limestone rocks
erhanging the vale of Llangollen forms a
Id and stern contrast to the quiet, Quilt
ted meadows and wooded slopes which
by their side. Az the sun sheds its set
lg rays upon their bold, naked fronts, an
oct is produced which reminds tray
d strangers of similar scenes in Switzer-
id when illumined by the glow and
rmth of the descending luminary. Little
rprise can therefore be felt that two quiet
retiring ladies, to whom the very
ought of matrimony was hateful, should
ve selected.the vale of Llangollen as their
ce Of retreat. Lady Eleanor Butler and
ss Ponsonby were Irish by birth, and it
IRE than probable that they would have
tied down in the Emerald Isle, instead
Wales, could they have been certain of
ny unmolested by their relatives.
heir romantic attachment to each other,
eever, was resented and resisted to the
aost by the noble families to which they
orally belonged. and when Lady Eleanor
tier had refused, one after another, not
than five distinct offers of marriage,
or three Of which were very advantage
in worldly point of view, her friends
BIT SO far as to place her in close confine-
ht. with a view of breaking off her
indship and constant companionshlp
b Miss Ponsonby. All these efforts, well
sntioned as they doubtlessly were, failed
attaining the object desired. Lady
amor Butter, who was the youngest sister
John, sixteenth earl of Ormond, came
0 the world in possession of singularly
ong and independent character. It wae
IN remarked, indeed, that in dress and
learance she was masculine rather than
linine. Born in 1888, she was tall, dark
far from shy, and her habitual dress
riding habit and high Welsh hat,
that worn by all the peasant women in
neiRhborhood. She was fond of riding
oss country, and most Of her time wal
Mt in the open air and in cultiyating hel
den.
Her companion and muoh-loved friend.
iis Sarah Ponsonby. was cast in q very
erent mold. Born in 1765, she was six
I years younger than Lady Eleano,
Ter, and of q pensive, gentle, and CON-
lplative mood. In appearance she was
!. and with soft eyes-such q woman, In
1T, as stood in need of some stronger
IRE round which to Irvine az the ivy
= to the ground unless mantling q wall
slasping trunk. It was said that be-
they transferred themselves from Ire.
to Wales, IN the year 1779, the attached
AAssse OAORO0 UOS0UAoIs ALAG Ill OIO1u61y
ple OF Gretna Green runaway lovers.
~ were caught and brought back to
respective homes and kept apart, in
hope that, besieged by male suitors,
might capitulate before the normal
legitimate parallels of approach which
been employed from the beginning OF
:tion to sap the hearts and win the at
ions of women.
1t was soon found, however, that-to
modern vulgarism-the ladies OF
nRollen were not built that way Like
mss heroine, they 'swore there was moth
they hated like men, and, what is more,
meant 1t too. A second elopement
ciandestinely planned between them,
providing themselves with q small
OF money, they confided their secret TO q
TED Old lrl1h servant named Marry Car
whom they deputed to reveal what
had done, and where they might be
I'D, after they had made good their
Pe: The only petition which they left
that the small allowance made to Chem
leland would be continued in Wales. It
tisfactory to add that in this respect
Il wishes were complied with, and that
lcrease to their incomes was added be-
they had long been settled at Ilanpol-
There they were Joined by their faith
servant and friend. Mary Carroll who
occupies the same tomb IN Llanoollen
chyard where her beloved mistresses lie.
has her name inscribed with theirs on
triangular pillar raised to thei. COM
memory.
is easy to understand that in such q
ded spot, and in one of the cheapest
Of the United Kingdom, little money
have gone long way. The ladies of
goilen were never rich, but with only a
. servant, Mary Carroll, to attend upon
n, they resembled the old Corycian peas
IL Virgil in that their wealth vas equal
'at OF kings Fifty years elapsed before
separated the devoted friends, and
Lady Eleanor Butler obeyed the dread
mons in 1929, she was ninety years old,
aad scarcely known days ill-health.
ghteen months Miss Ponsonby followed
sister,' as she called her to the tomb,
utter life as peaceful and unrufied as
possible for human beings to pass on
!, the affectionate couple sleep calmly
we'll, accompanied by their trusted