The morning call., 1893-10-22


ways had to learn their profession, and
they have lust the advantage-tnose who
have good friends-of getting a ship or a
choice of station trif1e more easily than
those who have not good fortune on their
side. When the Prince of Wales goes to
sea there is always some sprlg Of nobility
little communicable in command. A pleas
ant station counts for much in life At sea.
The Mediterranean is much better than
China or India, or the West Indies or west
coast of Africa, Whenever they can get
ashore the officers of a fleet have round
of enjoyment in sightseeing. visiting and
sport such as falls to the lot Of DO other
profession, and provided they know how
to treat their men In good spirit, the
richer and ioller they are the better for
ships company.
There being no other career open to the
nobility and gentry, the next thing is to
make statesmen of them. The rank and
power of political office are coveted, not
for the emoluments. but the fame. Un-
fortunately very few Of the great houses
in these democratic days succeed in lead
ing Parliament. They have neither hered-
irary eloouence nor the brains of genius.
Almost without exception they furnish
Parliament with group of weak, COM
monplace representatives., who are utter
failures as legislators or debaters, and who
rarely open their mouths save to ask
d
so humdrum, mOnOt0nouS and llfeless that
they talk to empty benches. They are
born to rank and social influence, but not
to lead a nation, and they drop behind as
failures and Inferior in the ranks of states
men. Those who have ability have every
thing in their favor. Lord Salisbury had,
fortunately. very hard work as young
man, and so easily yanlted into promi-
nence. But, excepting Lord R0Sebery and
the Duke of Argyle. who is, however, a
very warped individual, whom nobody
| likes as leader, there are no peers
in the Lords nor sons of peers in the Com
mons to inspire any confidence as heaven
born statesmen. 10 give them credit.
most of them are only known by their
votes on great occasions, and their habit
ual absence during weeks of routine busi-
ness. They desert the peers chamber and
| they only use the Commons room as club.
They while away the days and weeks in
dinners and routs, gallops in the park,
country life in its season, sojourns abroad
and other uneventful pursuits.
OF all countries England presents abun-
dant opportunities for enjoyment to men
of leisure. In the pre-railroad era the
fashion was to pass the winter in town
and good part of the summer in the
country. A journey to town then meant
a week or fortnight of travel. 1t is pos
sibe now TO 90 from one end to the other
| Vi Tile kluSuOM Ill d udy dnU d HAIL. DU
there is more variety. The art OF enter
tanning has reached perfection. These
huge mansions are large enough to give a
regiment ample quarters. They are vast
| hotels which can cOmforta bly, lodge scores
of visitors with their servants. There is
ChatSwo orth, for instance. in Derhyshire,
belonging TO the Devonshires. Macaulay
speaks of its building in the time of James
Ii. 1t is uncomfortably palatial, sur
rounded with fine grounds and gardens,
where fifty gardeners and workmen are
regularly employed. The fountains at
play are not in ferior TO those of Versailles.
and the gardens and grounds are much
finer and more natural. Yet the Duke of
Devonshire only occasionally stays here,
perhaps not one month in the whole year.
| He has other grand mansions. He has
] Holker Hall, in Lancashire, with noble
view on Morecambe Bay, and be has Boil
ton Abbey. On the Wharfe, Yorkshire,
where Turner painted so maenificently,
and he has Devonshire House, Piccadlly,
London. These estates could not be pur-
chased for several millions sterling. The
houses could not be built for less than a
million. The Duke is a fine host who de-
lights in entertain ining those he likes. He
is to have the Prince of Wales at Chats
worth soon. He always has a gay party
down at Bolton for grouse shooting in
August. getting health and appetites on
the heather in the daytime and merry as
gentlemen in the evenings. None of the
Cavendishes have cared much about fol.
lowing hounds.
The Duke of Westminster is another ex-
ample of the rich seigneur. He has a
fabulous income from ground rents in
London. 1t was he who sold the Clieye-
dlen TO Mr.. AstOr. who aSpires to be an
Englishman. But his Grace has much
nobler possession in EatoE Hall. Cheshire.
on which he has spent million and a
quarter sterling, as gossip hath it. 1t is a
wonderful house. superb in its decorations
and rich beyond expression in paintings.
He also has other domiciles whittier he
can betake himself, for solitude or for
company. as he chooseth. The GrosvenOrs
can always muster select circle.
There are not many dukes, but. with one
or two exceptions, they are all rich in this
worlds entatious belongings. His
Grace of Northumberland, the Smithson,
VINO inherits the traditions of the Percies.
has Alnwick Castle, in the north. a mod
ernized fortress, all comfort within and all