The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-01
's'...' ~ CONTRAST
Lady Playfair, Also an American
Peeress, Set Opposite Lady
Randolph Churchill.
The Liberal Priscilla 10 Very DIFF.
ferent From the Radiant
Tory Leader.
Fond Of Her House and Books-P Pleasure
In Old Prints, China. Folios
and Engravings.

Especial Correspondence Of The INDEpENpZNr. ]
LONDON, Feb. 14.--"The American women
in London may be divided into three
classes those who are in society, those
who would risk their chance Of heaven to
get there, and those who do not care wheth-
or they are In or QUIT"
With equal descriptive partiality, London
society may be divided into two sections-
that known as the "Princes' set," which ia
smart, rapid, and delivered over to the en-
joyment Of the hour; and that known as the
heavy political, the intensely proper, and
the abnormally dull set. To the latter of
these two factions Lady Playfair undenia-
bly, belongs. She has thrown in her lot
with the Philistines and takes extra brevct
rank amongst them.
On leaving her native shores to make
London her home she brought with her to
that homo all her prim New England
straight-lacedness. all her narrow Puritan
traditions all her limited Bostonian preju-
dices; and, as q natural consequence she
looks upon the thigh jinks'' that 20 on at
Marlborough house, and certain other we'll
known Anglo-American salons, with calm
and righteous horror not unmixed with
contempt. She is not OF them; she does
not wish to be in them. An hour at the
British museum, pouring over Egyptian
Assyrian history. or discussion on relig-
ious federation with some "dry- as DUST
old philosopher, constitutes her idea of a
good time.''
Her books, her pet hobbies, and her
house-for she is famous housewife, and
you will never find a crumb of dust or
speck of unorthodox smut at Onslow-
gardens-fll up the methodical routine of
her days; while her relaxation and amuse-
mentsare equally dignified and circumspect,
consisting chiefly in hours spent with spar
tanlike endurance behind the grille of the
"Lady's Gallery" or in walking through
an official reception at the Speakers
and in attending and giving heavy
formal dinner parties, at which all the
guests are ''gravs and reverend Seniors"
who know their roles we'll enough to
play up to their hosts partic-
ular fad Of the moment and who.
while anathematlzing the whole thing as
slow beyond endurance. are ready enough
to take their cue from the very clever. self
possessed little lady who sits at the head of
the table, and who rules them all with such
firm and judicial if narrow will!
Thirteen years ago, when Miss Edith
Russell, the eldest daughter of Samuel
Russell, ESQ.,, of Boston-known for his
eccentricities of mind, as wall as for his
long, gaunt figure. and prominently aggres-
sive teeth-decided to become the third
wife of DR.. Lyon Playfair. NJ. p, L. L. ",
+. II. s., a man quite double her age Che is
now in his 73d year,, all the ultra cultured
and ultra exclusive set of Boston society, to
which Miss Russell belonged. applauded her
decision and envied her opportunities. She
was surrounded by halo Of eculiar efful-
gence; the mantle of political greatness
seemed already to rest with becoming grace
upon her straight, we'll set-up, neat little
figure, while her face-a pretty face in a
fair Unconditional correct blonde way-as
expression as beftted daughter OF New
England about to enter upon the serious
cares and responsibilities Of an hereditary
legislator's'' wife!
Dear, dear! how strangely fitting and
providential it all was to be sure! What
better choice could the canny. red-headed.
gold. .spectacled Scotsman have made? Had
not Miss Russell the blood of statesmen In
her veins? Did she not call Edward Everett
grandfather, and the Quincy Adamses cous-
ms german? Was not Salem, that most
aristocratic and select of all New England
towns, the home Of her maternal "forbears,"
and could not she claim direct kinship with
that surly, grim, old fanatic Cotton Nather2
II pedigree was what WAS required to make
an American 'go down" in England, she
possessed enough and to spare of colonial
ancestry!
The role she plays in London society is
political one; as Lady Randolph Churchill
is recognized leader among the
the liberals. Her salon, after Easter, is
'the happy hunting ground of all sorts
and conditions of members, protesting all
sorts and conditions of radicalism from
home rule and local option, to the less ad
vanced tenets of the Chamberlain school.
Unlike Lady Randolph, however, Lady
character. that laisser allez. laisser faire
abandon that makes the tory grande dame
30 irresistibly fascinating. Against Lady
Playfair's name no smallest possible prob
able shadow of doubt has ever rested;
she is absolutely a Cesar's ideal wife,
Sove bS assv ana evsn s1Sss %ss
sweep the highways and cutters for
some lost or strayed unsavory scandal NOR
sci, have piled the besomes i'll vain. Lady
Playfair stands out pure and unsullied by
so much as whisper, very Priscilla of
puritan virtues. ana rare WIG tO tne nuA-
band her tact and wisdom have helped to
attain to the high position he fills SO we'll.
In personal appearance Lady Playfair is
slight, and of medium height, blonde
cendree. with pale complexion and light
grey blue eyes. She carries herself very
erectly. but not gracefully, and she has
always about her certain air of primness,
not without its advantage. Her manner of
speaking is vivaciOus and animated, and
her voice, though we'll toned and cultivated.
betrays her at once for Bostonian of
Bostonians. She attends the drawing
rooms at Buckingham palace with methodi-
cal regularity. and she il with equal
regularity included among the queens
house guests each senson. either at Windsor
or Osborne. II am truly fond of my house,"
she says. giving comprehensive glance
about the warm. ruby-hued room, lighted
by fires and wax candles. which is Sir
Lyons library ''by courtesy" and her bou-
doir by appropriation. 1T is a pleasure
to be at home here and to seq those friends
who are fond of coming to me. An English
home differs essentially from an American
home, but especially in the comfort and lux
ury one commands here through the perfest.
ly trained service NO easily ohtainable. In
America the houses are moro luxurious;
perhaps, certainly more extravsgant In
detail. but what one misses there, and
cannot obtain, is tho easy, well-ordered,
perfectly appointed domestic service, which,
~, Euuiuod In uradtatad and nrrs m oNd aN-