Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-21
aailg Kenaehrt journal
w. C. L. U. COLUMN.
Lady Henry Somerset.

Lady Henry Somerset, the daughter of
an English carl, is to visit this city. on
Jan 81. Today Lady Henry is compare
lively Indifferent to distinctions Of rank.
but it was not always so.
The story is told that when IA pretty
child of six or seven, she was taken by
her parents TO a ball given by the Queen
for the first-born of peers. When Her
Majesty and the Prince Consort re-
turned from the banqueting ball, they
found little damsel in white dress
with wreath of daisies in her hair
calmly sitting in the chair Of state As
the Queen approached she said pleasantly.
$50 this is little Isabel" Whereat the
small aristocrat tossed her head and said
with emphasis Lady Isabel" Twelve
years later the young girl in awhite dress
and wearing u daisy wreath, stood once
more before the Queen on the day OF her
presentation at court. As she bent for
ward to kiss Her Majesty's hand the
Queens wonderful memory asserted
itself With pleasant smile and an un-
III stakable emphasis, she said: So it is
daisies still, Lady Isabel"
VT it is from this same punctilious
little aristocrat that the great-hearted
woman has grown whose only boast to-
day is, II am proud to be maid all
work for my Master.
Her first philanthropic work was done
among the poor of her own tenantry.
But her practical mind soon discovered
that the drink habit was at the bottom of
most of the misery she wished to relieve
In common with most English people she
had been accustomed to the use of wines,
but one evening in a little schoolhouse
near her castle gates, she made her maiden
speech and in the presence of her tenant
ry, signed n total abstinence pledge invit-
ing them to join her in her new attitude
toward the temperance movement.
From speaking to few villagers the
transition to large gatherings was not
difficult The fame of her wonderful
Bible readings soon went abroad, and she
began to be invited here and there. Her
gracious manner and flutc-likc voice
lend their power of persuasion to all
that she says, yet she declares that in the
early part of her public work her rcluc-
lance to stand before an audience amount
ed almost to physical pain though this
seems hardly credible to those who have
had opportunity to witness her utter alb
scnce of all sclf-consciousncss.
Gradually, as her charitable work
brought her in contact with those who
were struggling against terrible odds,
the conviction was borne in upon her that
if the woes of the world are to DE lessencd
women must brayely grapple with their
causes and must range themselves on the
side of those who are struggling for jus
tcc; that if there is to be any mending
or ending of the worst evils OF society in
our time the art and instinct and it
tcllect of woman must be felt in the coun-
ellis of state And so at last Lady Henry
has come to believe in the ballot for
woman. ''Shc who is called to be life
riycr, should be law giver also, Is
her womanly way Of putting the matter,
And now were laid the foundations OF
that beautiful and tender friendship BE-
tween this daughter of a hundred earls
and Americas uncrowned queen, Fran
els Willard. 1t came about through Miss
Wizards tribute to her sister Mary,
"Nincteen Beautiful Years a copy of
which fell into the hands of Lady Henry
one stormy Sunday afternoon. My flrst
visit to America, she says was as much
to see and know Miss W Hard as for any
thing else And no one since the days OF
La Fayette las ever received such an en- e
thusiastic welcome from Americans rs
has Lady Somerset.
Every one has heard of Lady Somerset's
great wealth; her splendid castle near
which was the early home of Elizabeth
Browning; the priceless curios aud works
OF art collected by her scholarly father.
T. ri Somcrs, from the ends OF the earth,
her beautiful grounds and her large
property in London. 1t is pleasant to
know that this vast wealth is put to the
highest uses that 1000 of the London poor
have at one time breathed the free country
air on her splendid grounds, and that she
is interested in the improvement OF the
dwellings, education and morals of those
less fortunate than herself.
Many pleasant incidents might be re
lated of this kindly woman. one nt hef
faithful domestics relates that she first
saw her future mistress as she stood light
ing u fire on the desoato hearth In Il
London slum. Every summer many con
valescents are brought out from London
to rccuperate at Eastnor and Belgatc.
Lady Henry is now for the fifth time In
the United States. Her present soIourn
here. is especially for the benefit OF her
son who attans his majority in Aprit
next. when the "priory' will bc RENTED
throughout. and special rejoicings will be
held. 1t is desired by his mother that
his education may be advanced by asso-
citation. and acquaintance with the
highest types OF American manhood.