Evening star., 1895-07-13
WORK OF A NOBLEMAN.
He Spends His Time and Money i'm
Benevolent Work.
BEGINS MONDAY, JULY IL


Benevolent Work.
From the New York Times
One would hardly seek in droughty, burned
Kansas an Englishman noblsman, and es-
pecially nobleman who has forsaken his
ancestral home for the sake of saving the
souls of those who are here trying to save
their bodies. And yet he is here, in the per-
son of Sir Robert Norville. a jolly, little,
round-bodied man, who, having circled the
globe nine times, has deemed-i 1t his mission
to labor with this people as minister in
the Christian Church or Church of the Dis
ciples. Sir Robert Norville has undertaken
the education of some twelve hundred girls
in addition to his other self-imposed duties,
advancing the money that is necessary to
carry them through the church school in
Illinois, where he sends them. He does not
make a gift of the money. merely loaning
1t, to be paid back as the recipients Of his
generosity can find the means in later
years. He usually exacts one-fourth the
first year after the education of the girls
is completed, and one-fourth yearly there
after. This money is then used again for
the same purpose.
Incidentally, he aids in building up weak
churches, work that he finds most diff
cult at this time among a people struggling
with poverty, brought about by repeated
crop failures But a few evenings since
he lectured in Uldale, once a prosperous
little town of 400 Inhabitants. situated in
the heart Of what has been called the richest
county in Kansas Two years ago there
were in Uldale twenty general merchandise
stores, and there were all the evidences of
prosperity. Today the population of that
town numbers barely seventy-five souls,
who are the patrons of the one store and
the one bake shop remaining.
In such an unprom,sing place Sir Robert
Norville found himself booked for a lee
ture. which he delivered to the few remain
Ing people. too poor and too displrited to
move away. After his lecture he made an
appeal for funds to aid struggling church.
offering to supplement the mite he might
receive by the gift Of an equal sum. To his
surprise. he received s15.35. to which he
added a like amount, and bestowed the
purse upon the struggling church he was
aiding.
This queer character Invariably pays all
hi, own EXPENSES, never accepting a cent in
any shape for his personal use. He shuns
public notice, saying he is serving his Mas
ter. who has brought him out of severe
trials and troubles.
For two years his labors have been in
the counties comprising what is known as
the southern tier, continually passing from
one community to another, aiding a church
or sending girl to Illinois to complete her
education and prepare herself for a life of
self-support.
The longing to again circle the globe has
come upon him with full force, and he is
closing up his work preparatory to another
move. This time he will leave Kansas and
return to take up lis task after visiting
San Francisco, Australia, England and
New York. He says this will be his last
trip around the world, which will take him
about a year to complete, when he will take
up his work in this state again.
In appearance he is as poverty-stricken
as those among whom he labors, and yet
his check at the banks in this city is worth
thousands of dollars He declined to talk
of his life in the old country, simply adj
mitting that his family rank high. but in
variably adds that he has held no commu
nication with them for years. 1t Is certain
that he receives large remittances directly
from London, but little Of which Is ever ex-
pended upon himself.