The Portland daily press., 1891-11-11
ISABELLA, LADY SOMERSET.
The Gifted EneIIshwoman Who
viii Soon Visit Portland.

Isabella, Lady Henry Somerset, one OF
the notable galaxy Of stars that are in at
tendance upon the Worlds Woman's
Christian Temperance Union session in
Boston this week, viii, as has been stated
In the PRESS, visit cortland after the Bos-
ton meetings. She has q great desire to
see the home Of Neal Dow and the work
ing methods Of Sheriff Cram in a prohIbl-
tory city Of this prohlbitory state.
Lady Somerset has a beautiful face,
with regular features, crowned with soft
dark hair. She has the trained English
voice which gives the listener perpet
delight; and her stately. gracious preseD
shows her Inheritance Of culture, relic,
ment and wealth.
Isabella. Lady Somerset. was born In
1851. the eldest daughter Of the Earl and
Countess Somers Of Eastnor Castle, Led
bury. a quaint old market town In Here
fordshIre, Eng.
Lady Somersets family can trace back
an unbroken lineage for over 700 years.
Long time owners In county Kent, the
family numbers among its members many
illustrious men and women. Having no
brothers and being the eldest daughter,
Lady Isabella succeeded to her fathers
vast estates. and her tenants number over
100000 people. Her ancestral home, East
nor Castle, Is Norman baroniaI castle OF
the time Of Edward /. with turrets and
castellated battlements. with grand en-
trance into a splendid hall with decora-
tions In Romanesque, and wonderful col
lectioDs Of plate and armor.
In 1871. the Lady Isabella married Lord
Henry Richard Charles Somerset, the see
ond son Of the Duke OF Beaufort, and her
estates, added to the large possessions Of
ner husband, have made her one OF the
wealthlest women in England.
For dozen OF years or so after her
marriage. Lady Somerset lived the usual
lie OF lady IN court society, and her
house parties In Heref0rdshlre and her en-
tertainments In Londen were on a magnl-
hcent scale. But during these years Lady
somerset was never unmindful Of her
tenants; she made personal visits among
them to administer to their necessities. It
was during these visits that she became
aware OF the necessity for temperance
work, and In December. 1885, she called a
meeting OF her tenants at Eastnor Castle,
NlNS ~ thChA RAOoOuCCs 5Akuou u kuk6l AD-
followed.
A little later the terrible destltution
among the London poor attracted her at
tention. She founded fresh air" mis-
sion. an Industrial school for girls, and va
rlous other philanthropical. organizations
OF the class that teach people to help them
selves. She became one OF the chief sup
porters Of the great work undertaken In
st. James's Hall In London. She went
among the miners and colliers OF Wales,
holding meetings for weeks at time, llV-
Ing among the people to help and counsel
them.
More and more Lady Somerset became
interested In temperance work. She re-
ceived into her beautiful country home
some Of the destitute from the slums Of
Soho and gave fetes to 10000 poor people
at time.
On the death OF Mrs. Margaret Bright
Lucas, the sister of John Bright, Lady
Somerset was asked to take the presidency
OF the British Woman's Temperance AS
ISOLATION and 1t Is to represent that
organization and to study the various
methods OF temperance work In America
that she comes to Boston TO attend the
great conventions.