The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-06
LADY SOM RSET.
A Noted English Woman Who VIII
Visit This City.

Lady Henry Somerset and Miss Willard
are to appear in this city together for the
first time on next Friday evening and
they will speak in Infantry Hall.
Lady Henry Somerset,of whom so much
h's been heard in this country
so, il the eldest dsug hter of
Earl and Countess somers. She in
herited, together with her title, Eastno-
Castle, Reigate Priory and a rent roll of
one hundred thousand tenants in the east
of London. She was literally educated,
talented and attractive, and with her great
wealth and social standing, her position
was most enviable.
In 1872, Lady Isabel Somers, then Fl
years of age, was married TO Lord Henry
Somerset, the second son OF the Duke of
Beaufort, and the following year her
only son was born. After this, came q
time OF domestic sorrow, and for
some years Lady Henry lived at Reigate
Priory, one OF her possessions, charming
old place In the county OF Surrey, rem
dered fascinating by its beauty and his
toric associations. During the time spent
here she was much harassed by doubt and
was weighed down by the sin and suffering
which she saw on every hand, though
she fulfilled her social engagements
entirely woman of the world,
While at the Priory, however, she became
conscious OF new impulse in her life and
she forthwith took her son and retired TO
Eastnor Castle, an estate which has been
In the family for centuries, though the
large and imposing edifice itself was
recent date. Here Lady Somerset
remained for some months, seeing
almost no one, and devoting herself
TO thought and study. After this time of
retirement In seeking her life work she
took up the work nearest her hand. She
bad always given to her son the most as
her retainers and the villagers about le-
castle. Finding that intemperance
was the cause OF so much OF the
sin and suffering among high and
low, she gathered together 40 of the
villagers in front OF her own gates, and
there, encouraged and led by herexample,
they oil signed the total abstinence
pledge. She then became an apostle of
temperance, and, having been helped and
inspired by little book OF Miss Willard's.
she came 10 America, as she herself
says, las much to see aud know
Miss Willard as for any other purpose"
Both Lady Henry and Miss Willard
believe that, while beginning with the
Gospel, the work OF social regeneration
must be as comprehensive and many sided
as are the evils which they seek TO com bat
Lady Henry's knowledge OF the working
classes is not mere theory. In passing
through the mining districts OF Wales,
when pursuing her temperance work,
she saw the neglect ana monotony OF the
lives OF the workers there. and 80
sho established missions for them,
herself hiring lodgings i'm some
working mans family, ana living as one
OF them. She is a philanthrophist who
not only endeavors 10 relieve want but at
the same time seeks TO build up character.
L1dy Henry Somerset IL president OF
the British Woman's Christian Temper
nnce Association and vice. president oftbe
Worlds Womans Christian Temperance
Union. In all her varied work we find
her inspired by lofty ideal, devoting the
wealth, culture and high social position
TO the cause OF helping others, physically,
mentally and spiritually into larger life.