New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-25
LONDON NOTES
SIR HENRY JAMES AND THE WOOLSACK-
THE NEW JUDGE


London. January ,.
The elevation Of Sir Henry james 10 the Upper
House as Life Peer and Lord Of Appeal marks
the close OF the political career Of orc of the
most popular statesmen of the day For more
than twenty years he has sat in the House Of
Commons, where lie distinguished himself by his
eloqrencc as we'll as by his invariabc courtesy
10 his opponents With the single exception Of
Sir Charles Russell. he is the lest speaker ana
the most successful cross examiner at the English
bar, and his emincnce a lawyer was recognized
by Mr. Gladstone in I-s6. when he placed at his
disposal the Lord High ChGncel' orship Tempting
as was this Offer Of the greatest Office in tie gift
of the Crown. which CARRIE with il a salary If
$1,000 a year, a peciagr and rank next I"
Royalty. Sir Henry doclired it on the ground of
his conscientious scruEles concerning he Home
Rule projects Of Mr. Gladstone. and preferred 10
forego the woolsac rather than TO give his adh"
sion TO n policy which he considered TO I've wrong.
Unmarried, handsome and possessed Of nm adc-
quatc income, he is universe favorltc in society
Although shrcwd and profound as JurlS-
consult he gives one the impression OF
being creature Of impulse, man OF
deep emotions and of much warmth of heart.
II may he only his manner. but If so, II is n sim
auarly successful counterfeit. for IL endears him
TO all and especially 10 tho great ladies "h"
rule London society Much Of his popularity
among mer is attributable 90 the fact Il AZ besides
being a frSt-rate sportsman himself, he provides
excellent sport for others He is the lessee OF
some capital grouse moors and deer forests in
Scotland, besides being the proprietor Of we'll
stocked covers within easy distance from town.
The most acceptable form OF hospitality TO an Ing
lishman and the nearest road TO his heart Is 10
invite him. not to dinner. but for few days
shooting: and when in addition 20 abundant spou
the host is able 10 give evidence OF the excellence
Of his cellar and of h, sIll Us racontclr, his
success in English society is assured
Nowhere are these claims of Sir Henry to CON
sideration more warmly appreciated than as
Marlborough House. and lcsides having the honor
of entertaining the Prince OF Wales every year,
both at his town house and country seat. he Is
a frequent and welcome guest at Sandringham
Sir Rolcrt Wright. who has just been appointed
10 the seat on the bench of the High Court oi
Justice left vacant by the death Of Baron lIuddc-
son, has the reputation Of being as much OF a
wit and as good at repartee as his predecessor.
Innumcrabc stories are told of his readiness with
an answer and of his mperturbabe apomb, due
possibly To his Irish origin. ON one occasion while
at Oxford he Summoned before the Dean OF
Balliol, the college to which he belonged, for the
purpose of being censurcd for some infraclon Of
Tho university bylaws and regulations. The
Dean. like most college dons, was exceedingly
pompous and careful OF his dignity, well as Of
his personal appearance. Wright looked the
Dean well up and down while the latter was
delivering his lecture and finally interrupted him
in the middle of one of his most telling periods
by remarking confdentially:
Il know you will excuse me. sir. hut think
,.ou cannot be aware that Your waist coat is nm
buttoncd"
Completely nonplussed the Dean was only able
TO stammer out:
"Oh, thank you, Mr.. Wright So very kind OF
Won. | am sure. Good morning good morning."
One of the most eccentric wills ever filed for
probate is that Of Mr. John Noble, the well
known manufacturer of varnsh, whose son, Mr..
Wilson Noble the Conservative Member OF Par
lament for Hastings, is married to the daughter
Two Years Before the Mast The will pro-
vidcs that Mr. Wilson Noble is to have an an
nual allowance from the estate of $4,000 This
is however to he reduced to $50, 900 Il year when
lament The worthy varnish maker there
fore. practically imposes a fine To the amount of
$4,000 year upon his son whenever the latter
fails to win his parliamentary election It is
doubtful, however, whether the Court of Probate
will admit the validity Of this queer stipulation.
inasmuch as it gives Mr. Wilson direct pecuniary
advantage in winning his seat, and is consequently
i'm the nature Of bride.
Great preparations are being made for the cclr-
bratou this summer OF the ninth Jubilee or ij0th
anniversary Of the foundation of EtOn One OF
relies connected historically or by association
with the college, and also of portraits Of celebrated
Etonans As the latter include most of the
famous statesmen and generals who have figured in
English history during the last four centuries the
projected exhibition bids fair to be of an ex-
tensive character