The record-union., 1892-09-24
GOSSIP OF THE CENTURY"
Interesting Personal Reminiscent
ces of Famous People.
George Canning's Padded Room A
Dukes Wigs Byron's Daughter
Moody George Eliot No Respect
for Dickens.

There have been so many volumes of
gossip written about the past and the
present centuries that it would seem as
though the subject must be exhausted,
but have come to the conclusion that it
is inexhaustible. Every new book on
the subject is so fresh and entertaining
that one takes it up with as much interest
as though there were not whole libraries
dealing with the same material.
The truth is that we all love a dish Of
gossip, and we like to read what different
people have to say about their illustrious
contemporaries. All this is apropos of
two big octave volumes called Gossip of
the Century," and while the author adj
mits to being the author of Flemish In
teriors" as well, he hides his identity be-
hind that bulwark. The interiors he
describes in these volumes are of another
sort, but none the less interesting
NOT ALL PERSONAL.
The book is not made up entirely of
personal experiences, though he seems to
have met most of tho famous people of
his time. His OWE knowledge he has
amplified from his fathers and from
other writer's. The line is distinctly
drawn, so it is very easy for the reader to
extract the new from the old, though it
has been necessary for the author to
weave them together for the sake of
continuous chronicle. We are not told
his age. but he can be no youngster, as he
is old enough to have seen George ".
and to remember him distinctly.
1t was rare thing to see his majesty,
even in those days 1929, for he was not
only seriously out of health for some
time before his death, but his personal
appearance was SO visibly affected by the
complicated diseases to which he had be-
come victim that he showed himself as
little as possible in public. To man
who had been such a beau" as George
~. his appearance was still a matter of
great Importance. Our author, then "a
mere lad, and his father had been pri-
vately informed Of the Kings outing and
they were there to see.
OF the Duke of Kent, the father of
Queen Victoria, less seems to be known
than any of the royal dukes.
lie was remarkably tall, Well-made
man, and the expression OF his face told
OF kindness and sympathy. The Duke
was hospitable, simple and courteous; he
could talk well on variety OF subjects.
and, while atfable in his manner and
winning the good will of all about him,
he never lost sight of his self-respect,
and those he admitted to his intimacy
would never have thought of taking lib
critics with him. He was brave soldier
and extremely beloved by his subordi-
mates. His domestic virtues were known
TO and admired by all who were admitted
into his society, and he was highly APP
proved for the upright and sensible
course he pursued in living on a scale
proportional to his means and finding
his happiness in the tranquil joys of
domestic life.
1t was through playing with the little
Princess hat ha nI,l-a IOc
his life. He had got his feet wet and was
about to have his boots changed, and was
leaving the room with that intention,
when the little Princess was brought in.
Her father, who dotted on her, could not
resist the enjoyment OF playing with the
child, and forgot all about his wet feet,
so that he only put on dry shoes and
stockings when he dressed for dinner.
In the evening his throat was very much
affected, although he had splendid con-
stltution and perhaps counted too much
upon it.
GEORGE CANNING's PADDED ROOM.
In George Canning's house our author
remembers Subterranean passage, lead
ing from his study to the beach. where. il
was said, that after the example of
another great orator, he was won't to re-
hearse his speeches, when the sea was at
its toughest, trying which voice should
outtop the other. But this was not all:
his elocutional training was the object of
much forethought and care.
He would also rehearse his speeches
before full length mirror in a padded
room. Our author has not forgotten this
room, which was of an oetagon form. 1t
was thickly padded and lined with green
baize, and the door closed as hermetically
as a door can be made 10 close. There was
one window, which looked out on the
beach, and at high water the sea came up
TO the wall. Entire privacy was thus
secured, and the occupant of the room
could exercise his lungs to any extent he
pleased in full confidence that he would
never be overheard.
Some years ago, being in Kemp Town,
he tried to obtain another sight of George
Canning's padded room, but found the
house occupied as a school for young
ladies. Alas! how eyanescent are ali
things. The fad of the subterranean pas
sage and the fad Of the spouting-r room.
which might have been called his "ora-
tory" had disappeared even from the
memory of the Oldest inhabitant.
THE DUKE OF BRUNswICI's WIGS.
AS I have often seen the Duke of
Brunswick in London, though many
years ago, was at once struck with the
very truthful picture of him L have
quoted above. 1t is to be regretted that
his wig, which was as remarkable as any
other detail of his appearance, is not
mentioned in the description. Perhaps
the period named was antecedent TO that
at which he employed this absurdity.
Though he had silk wigs of all hues.
kept on stands on the shelves of large
wardrobe with glass doors, never saw
him in any but a black one. l do not
know if he intended it to pass for human
hair, but the tight corkscrew ringlets of
which it consisted, as they hung down
all around his head from beneath his hat.
produced most unnatural effect, espe-
cially combined with the large allowance
OF red and white paint on his face.
The makeup OF his face and figure oc-
cupied himself and two Wallets rather
more than three hours daily. Often
when this elaborate process was com
pleted he would change his mind and
ask for wig of different color. when
extensive alterations had to be made
both in his toilet and in the makeup of
his face TO suit the fresh headgear.
BYRoN's DAUGHTER.
4 few doors from my fathers house in
Great Cumberland Place resided lord
Lovelace, and there died of cancer, No
yember y, 1872, his wife, Lady Lovelace,
Byron's
Ada, sole daughter Of my house and heart.
She was an invalid for some time prior
to her death, and seldom left The house.
though her three children-Lord Ock.
ham, Lord Wentworth and Lady Anne
rode out daily on their ponies. have
been told by the medical man who at
tended Lady Lovelace that he had from
her own lips the astonishing statement
that even after her marriage, and up to
comparatively late period OF her short
life. she had never read a line of her
fathers poems.
When she did discover them, however,
she made up for lost time, and read them
all with passionate admiration.
GLADSTONE AT THIRTY.