Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
A LOYAL HELPMEET.
Valuable Assistance Rendered to Canon
Kingsley by His Devoted Wife.

Valuable Assistance Rendered to Canon
Kingsley by His Devoted Wife.
From the London Daily News December IA.
Mrs. Kingsley, widow of Canon Kingsley, the
well-known novelist and poet, died at her resi-
dence at Bishops Tachbrook, near bennington.
on Saturday morning, at the age of seventy
seven years. The deceased lady was born in
1914, and was a daughter of Mr.. Pascoe Gren-
fell. Her marriage with the late Canon Kings
ley took place in the early part Of the year
1874 Mr.. Kingsley, who was curate of Eyers-
ley, was expecting at the time of his marriage
to take possession of the caracy Of Pimperne,
Dorset. but the living Of Eyersley falling va
cant, the patron, Sir John Cope. at the unani-
nous wish of the parishioners, presented it to
Mr.. Kingsley. In the good work which Charles
Kingsley accomplished az Eversley and in the
literary and social work which has made his
name famous, Mrs. Kingsley was loyal and
loving helpmeet. Mr.. and Mrs. Kingsley were
both full of youthful enthusiasm when they
entered upon their married life with the spirit
ual charge of Eversley in their keeping. They
regarded 1t as a sacred trust and the wondrous
change they worked in the condition of the
parish is the most eloquent proof of the sue
cess of their labors. They found the place in a
condition of spiritual and social restitution.
They established a shoe club. coal club mater
nal society, loan fund and lending library.
An adult school was held in the rectory three
nights a week Sunday school met there every
Sunday morning and afternoon, and weekly
cottage lectures were established In the out
lying districts. In this work, entailing no
mean mental and physical strain, Mrs. Kings
ley bore her full share. Indeed, to her life
at Eyersley and the labors which she under
took in the interest of the poor may be traced
the long illness which she has borne with SO
much fortitude. The rectory house at Eversley
was damp and unwholesome, surrounded by
ponds, which overhcwed at every heavy rain
and flooded not only the garden and stables
but all the rooms on the ground floor. Az a
result, Mrs. kingsley's health, which hitherto
had been robust, became impaired, and this
breakdown was the forerunner of several
serious and trying illnesses between the years
ls47 and 1856. 1t is worthy of noe that it was
during these years, SO full of domestic anxiety.
that Charles Kingsley produced his best literary
work.
The devotion of Mrs. Kingsley to her hus-
band is likewise eXemplifed by the fact that
she did most of her husbands writing from his
dictaton, while Alton Locke" which WAS
written during Mrs. Kingsley's illness in 1850,
was copied tor the press 10y her hand. MIR.
Kingsley noted the ill-etfects which the damp
rectory at Eversley was having upon his wife s
health, and, after a holiday at Torquay. rented
Farley Hall, in the neighborhood of Eversley
In 1859 Mr.. Kingsley Was appointed professor
of modern history at Cambridge University,
and it was while holding this place in January.
1861, that Mr.. Kingsley chosen by the
prince COusOTt u ulttCt Tue slUuitS OF the
Prince of Wales. He was subsequently APP
pointed canon of Chester Cathedral, and at a
later date canon Of Westminster In 1879 Mr..
Kingsley visited America, but in consequence
of feeble health his wife was unable TO accom-
pany him. At the time of his death-January
70, lS76-Mrs. Kingsley was lying danger
ously ill that her life despaired of. Upon
her recovery Mrs. Kingsley published her
husbands memoirs" work which bears the
impress of the affectionate devotion which had
marked their married life. The queen
graciously offered the widow of the Prince Of
Wales tutor apartments in Hampton Court
palace, but Mrs. Kingsley, while deeply
grateful for the kindness which had
prompted her majesty's offer, declined
it. The domestic life Of the Kingsleys
and the high place which Mrs. Kingsley held in
her husbands affections are admirably eX-
pressed in the following letter. written by one of
his old pupils. who had resided eighteen months
| at Eversley rectory: ITO his wife he never
| shrank from admitting. in deep and humble
thankfulness, he owed the whole tenor of his
| fe--all he had worth living for. 1t was true.
| and his every word and look and gesture of
chivalrous devotion for more than thirty
years seemed to show that the sense of bound
less gratitude had become part OF his nature,
WAS never out of the undercurrent of his
! thoughts" The kingsleys had four children
Rose, Maurice, Mary (Mrs. Harrison, better
know by her literary nom de plume of Lucas
Malet,) and Granville Arthur. The later years
of Mrs. Kingsley's life have been passed in quiet
| retirement at Bishops Tachbrook, a little vii
lage within easy distance Of bennington.