The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-27
LONG LIVE DUFFERIN!
Brilliant Grandson Of Richard
BrinSley Sheridan.
WHY THE IRISH LOVE HIM.
Hfs Success n an Author and Diplomat
His Happy MArriage-Greatnen
Yet in store for Hir.

pie. not only IS TO rank. but IS 20 genius.
His father was tae third of q distin gulshed
line Of Irish peers. or rather OF English
men holding an Irish peerage, while his
mother was the brilliant daughter Of Rich
ard Brinsley Sheridan. man OF strik-
ingly original genius and Of unriyalled
celebrity IN his time IS an orator
and litterateur. Lord Duferln is the
succeeded to the family title and estates
while still in his teens. No young
nobleman ever entered on his career
under better auspices or with more
powerful body OF friends, and ne was not.
slow 20 show that he knew how 70 make
the most OF ali his advantages. Following
the course OF education that IS considered
de regle for the first rank Of young p2trl-
clans IN England, he went TO Eson and
thence 70 Christchurch college, Oxford,
the chosen seminary of the titled aristoc-
racy. Il IS now commonly known, per-
haps that the word ''tutt-hunter," which
has now become thoroughly established as
an equivalent for sycophant or tOady, was
originally only slang word among the
undergraduates a. ChrisIchurch college.
Students 81 both Oxford and Cambridge
who are Of noble rank, are privileged to
wear tassel of gold bullion, instead OF
black silk cord, on their ''mortar-board, ."
or college cap; and tais gold tassel
is commonly called a tGft. Now
there were and are still, more tufts to
be seen at Christchurch college, Oxford.
than st all the other colleges put together;
and this fact drew 10 that college, either IS
dons or as students, 2 well-recognized class
OF men whose greatest ambition was TO De
on terms OF intimacy with the young no
bIIity. These servile liatterers Lord Duff
ferin branded with the contemptuous nick
name Of ''tuft-hunters service which,
ii be had done nothing else, would have
entitled him TO the thanks OF his univer
sity. The ruth IS, he was altogether
superior 10 the atmosphere of luxury and
privilege prevailing at ChrlstchurcA, and
was impatient TO make his mark by
his own abilities. In the winter of
lo46, the terrible year OF the Irish
famine, he went with fellow student.
whom he had prevailed on 10 join him,
straight from Oxford 10 Ireland, and
made himself personally familiar with the
actual state OF affairs in that most distress
fui country. What he saw he made public
in very remarkable little volume called
"A Journey From Oxford TO Skibbereen."
which did more, perhaps, than all the blue
books and official reports 10 give the peo-
pie in England real notion OF what an
Irish famine meant. From that time 10
this Lord Dufferin has always had soft
place in his heart for the Irish peasantry.
feeling which is warmly reciprocated,
though he has never done anything 10
arir in,
where else. Though not what could
be called distinguished scholar,
he took his degree with honors,
and almost Immediately after leaving COL
lege was made a Iorc-in-w aiting on the
queen. This gave him q commanding So
cial position, and in i3J0 ne was raised 10
the peerage OF the United Kingdom, by
which he was entitled TO enter upon
political career without any OF the trouble
some and often degrading struggles that
young and aspiring man mas to so
through 10 obtain recognition IN the house
OF commons. He had, in fact, not only a
kind, but most judIcious patron in Lord
John Russell, afterward Earl Russell,
than whom no one knew better how 10 get
young friend on. 1t was Lord John
Russell who secured for Lord Duherin his
place az court. Il was he who got him
into the house OF lords. And IL was he
who gave him mis- first opening in the dip
lomatlc service by attaching him especi-
ally 10 his own mission TO Vienna in lS55.
when Austria was sitting on u rail between
Russia and the allies about the Crimean
war. This brought Lord Duiferin into
such prominence that he was very well
able 10 take care OF his own fortunes ever
afterwards.
Nothing gives young public man in
England such a send-ofi, however, as 10 be
the lucky author Of the book Of the sea-
son." This Lord Dufferin ACCOMPLISHED
with overwhelming success in 1859 with
his wonderfully popular and still quite
readable Letters From High Latitudes. "
II was the narrative OF voyage he had
made 10 Iceland, country then almost
unknown IN England. and it was the
first and the best of host
OF books OF northern travel.
1t made him az once one OF
the most s0ught-atter lions of London So
ciety, and also brought him into notice IS
q man OF great powers of observation.
quick sympathies and broad practical
ideas. In the following year he was
chosen by Lord Palmerston for the diai-
cult post Of British commissioner at
Syria, with a view to affOrding protection
TO the SUI tan's Christian subjects; and he
discharged MS delicate task so skilIf1lIv
that be received the thanks Of the govern
ment and was made h. {. b.
Lord Dutferln was then at the height of
his social success, and no man eriOved il
more. There was not grand drawing
room IN London where he was not a con-
splcuous figure, with his big nose. his
strong face. his silver star ana his crimson
roand. Certainly he earned his norm
larlty. for wherever he went ne put life
into the entertainment by has easv. good
natured manners. MS yiyacity and his
boyish high spirits.
Lord DUffeTin took ADVANTAGE Of his
brief holiday 81 that time 70 obtain what
IS deemed an absolute necessity for q ris-
ing man IN the British public service
namely, & wife suited 20 share any r,o-i-
ton he might attain 10. They say thar
whenever q man i recommended for n
high post the first question the minister m
the head Of the department asks Is: What
sort OF VIE has he ~ and if the answer Is
satisfactory ne does not ask any mora
questions. No one understood this hattar
than Lord Dufterln; nut he made q love
match, al the same, marrying 2 beaur7f,l
Irish girl, Miss Hamilton. Of KilIeiaa
II he had searched the three Kingdoms f1-
g wife, with the sole idea Of furtberirs- bis
own WORLDLY interests, he cOuld not have
made happier choice than he made N
his own sweetheart. She was oniv The
daughter OF an Irish sgQlreen. = canta;,,
IN the army, but in every position -
which she has risen with her lord. she has
adorned It anu helped him % hjrHe-
one There - no more distinguished
woman n ENGLAND today than the Mar
cnIo1eSs OF Duue-In ana Ava. aud she has
no more ChlyalroQs or devoted adrn;re-
than the man she gave her hand 70 thirty
years ago.