The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-25
WIRE NEW WOMEN

rae new woman Is by no means SO
new as the photographic would lead us
to imagine, f9r in the early part of the
century there died In LlangoLen, Wales
two nacheior maids whose lives were full
OF romantic interest that they are here
described for the benefit OF those who
have never heard the pretty story. Wnhe
travelling through Wales last summer we
came to the charming little town OF
L.angolen, with its picturesque hills and
da.es, and its scenery 50 varied and
beautiful that one can harly tear ones
self away. Ii was here that our bache-
lur maids lived and died. Their house,
"P.as Newydd," which is The show place
OF the town, is very beautiful and may
be seen fer the modest sum OF twelve
cents. The house stands on the top OF
a nil, surrounded by court and 1ower
garden, inclosed with ~ hedge OF rose
bushes. The house is reached by o
&C !. vcnlent carriage road. Both inside
ana out 1t is decorated with rare speci-
insns OF wood carving and the rooms
are filled with costly specimens OF art
from all parts Of the world.
Lady Eleanor Butler, the daughter OF
the Earl Of Ormonde, an Irish nobleman,
was left without father or mother while
still young baby. She grew up with
peculiar views on the subject OF Tnatri-
mony; In fact, so fond was she of liberty
that the very thought of n husband was
dlstasteful to her. When she was about
30 years OF age she formed an attach
ment for young girl Of 10 who resided
In the same town of Dublin. This little
girl, Hon. Sarah Ponsonby, while Of as
high rank as her friend, was not q
wealthy helress, like Lady Eleanor She
possessed but moderate competency.
As the years went on their affection
increased, so that when Lady Eleanor
was "a and Sarah II years of age they
had come to the determination that they
would never marry. Sarah was still
under the care of guardians, but they fin
ally ran away to escape from their suit
ors, Sarah disguised as n footman and
accompanied as a faithful maid, Mary
Carryl. They came to the pretty town
OF Llangolen, where, charmed with the
quiet beauty Of the place, they deter
mined to take up their abode in little
hut, which was delightfully."- situated on
the summit OF hill, The program which
they were mapping out to their entire
upon by the proverbial cruel guardian,
who appeared on the scene and insisted
on returning Miss Sarah 10 the bosom OF
her family. Sarah had no choice but to
obey, yet expressed her determination oi
returning when she was q, which would
be In four years.
So Lady Eleanor returned with hel
friend to Dublin until the term Of pro
baton had elapsed, and sure enough, the
moment she was OF age, which was II
l77S, she and her friend shook the dus
OF Ireland off their feet and journeyet
again to Llangollen as fast as boat ant
stage coach could take them. They pur
chased the hut that had so taken theil
fancy on their first visit also some dczer
acres OF land surrounding 1t, and pulling
down the cabin built themselves a mos
commodious cottage, which, though hay
ing a rlgidly plain outside appearance
was bower OF beauty within II con
tained all the auxlliarles that great
wealth and natural taste could give
Their grounds were the wonder ard ad
miration of every one. There were beau
tiful gardens with pretty Ornamoota
bridges here and there, giving the place
a most fairyland appearance.
The remaining nine acres were usec
as a farm and they employed a numbei
OF persons to keep It in order. Flv,
women servants were hired to contrbIt'
to their wants indoors. The ladies
dress consisted of a riding habit affair
with coat made exactly like mans
This they always wore, even when the,
went out to a dinner party, or received
friends. Their closely cropped hair the,
powdered, to wear under black beaver
hats. When they were at the table !
was almost impossible to know to whicl
sex they belonged. so masculine was theil
dress.
They spent a great deal OF their tim,
IN doing embroidery, and the house Il
now filled with superbly executed ex
amples OF II. Sarah was a painter of M
mean ability, as the landscapes whic'
adorn the walls of the drawing room sil
emily testify. They spent fifty-two year.
OF life together, always devoted 20 eacf
other and beloved by everyone In th'
nelghborhood.
The old residents OF the town tel
several interesting tales about these
ladies' OF Langollen, one Of them being
that every Sunday morning on their way
to church they distributed slxpenny piecel
10 the poor people. Their two maids be
ionged 10 tho chapel and the minister
and a Mr.. Jones used TO call on then
every year 10 solicit a subscription In aid
Of the Biblo society. The maids woulC
not only give a handsome subscription
themselves. but would induce the three
ether servants 10 contribute; but
ntrange to say. kind though their mis-
tresses were. .hey could never be Induced
- give anything
The poet Wordsworth onse visited Plas
NeHydd Al the ladies urgent solicitation
Qnd they expected him to write a poem
fxpatlRting on the beauties OF tho
Grounds
Wordsworth did write n poem. Il IS
true but. 50 far from giving pleasure 10
The ladies. Il thoroughly incenscd them.
for N 4 he alluded to their homo as a
os-rooled cot. and 20 themselves as
Their love having passed beyond the
reach q u4e The poem reads:
''''1 f''e - l11rol and ttd Hon.
AIi4e fQusonby- composed on the
grounds A. Pas Ne44dd. 1891: