New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-20
STORIES ABOIT WELLINGTON.
HE HATED Personal sERVICE-HOW HE
ADMITTED A PIECE OF INJUSTICE.

TIE, HATED personal SERVICE-HOW HE
ADMITTED PIECE OF INJUSTICE.
In a paper on Assye and Wellington con-
trlbutor to THE Cornhil' tells these stories about
the Iron Duke:
During the last few weeks of the life OF the second
Duke of Wellington up TO within few days OF MS
very sudden DEATH |, happening to be living In the
neshborhood of STRAIT hfeldsaye. spent almost every
dov and many hours in long talks. chiefly In the
grounds OF the park with the Duke. lie, knowing
that tho one subject which wanted to get him
TO talk was his father most kindly INDUCED me by
devoting his conversation 10 him. think may say
that II was relief to him to do so. For the fact
VAS that he was burdened h. a sense Of RESPONSE
blitv He was full of stories and anecdotes OF the
great man whose heir he He had been con-
tnually pressed by many, by Lord Wolseley, and by
me perhaps more than by any else. TO give 10
the world all that he could tell OF his father He
/ could neither altogether make up his mind TO go TO
his grave burying all record of the past. yet
he appealed to me again and again to agree with
him. could he feel that the stories of domestic life
which he had 10 tell were altogether such son
would willingly give to the world of great father.
In fact he felt. think. that some day other they
ought to be known. but he wanted to leave to some
one else the responsibility of telling them In reality
do not think that they much alter ones impression
Of the man; but perhaps the fact that Or. Gleig
his grave knowing all such stories well,
and never gave them forth. and that It is twelve
years since | first heard them and that. though
often pressed do so. have used the free
dom which was entirely left to me in regard to them
will indicate that they have seemed to many out of
/ tune with the sort of conception Of the man which
knows to be popular. and haf-hesitates to dis
turb lest in dispensing the cloudy vision one should
blur the true grandeur OF the face. In fact. they
all stories of a strong. hard man, harder him
self than on any else. and being chiefly OF his
later life apply a time when these characteristics
had become set and rigid. Here at all events. are
a few specimens for good or evil.
During his campaigns the Duke had acquired
peculiar habit In regard TO sleep. No noise.
tho discharge of the oudest cannonade or an explc-
sion would wake him. but the most delicate touch
even on his clothes. reused him instantly When
reused. there was no moment of semi-somnolence OF
eye-rubbng. or blurred consciousness as to where
he was or what had happened Out of the deadest
sleep he instantly I'm possession OF all his facul-
ties. Now. whether 1t determination not TO
yield to advancing years. merely the habit of a
lifetime, it would be difficult to say but during all
the time when he living as a country gentle
man at Strathfeldsaye, there was nothing that he
resented 80 much az the attempt of any one in his
household or out of 1t to do him any personal
cullarity.
He had made for him specially constructed tan
petely covered In. the whole front being of glass
In this way the Duke himself drove two very fnc
horses. one day his second son. Lord Charles Wei
Duke. in later life he often on various occasions
did. fell fast asleep, still holding the relns The
spirited horses felt the loss OF control BEFORE
long Lord Charles, anxiously watching the situation
SAW that in another moment the leader would dash
up steep bank. and that his fathers life and his
own would be in imminent danger. The risk WAS
too great to though he knew his father too we'll
not 10 be aware that any Interference with him as
the driver of the horses would be bitterly resented
the rein. drew down the leader from the bank
and saved them both from catastrophe anxiouslv
cndeavorin not 10 wake his father I'm doing so
II useless, however. Light as his tourh had
been the great Duke was instantly awake and fuliN,
alive to all that had happened.
What are you doing, charles?'
II only turned OFF the leader sir from the hank
He was just running up 1t, and we should have
been upset"
Mind your own business. Charles, mind your own
busness!" was all the thanks he ever Received "
The son, Lord Charles. had been On Law.
in either Spain or Italy He had met with series
OF accidents his return journey had been i'm very
serious danger and. though he had made the utmost
effort TO do So had failed to get back In time IIis
father asked for no explanation. and would hear
none. He treated him as "a convicted culprt re-.
various ways made him feel his dlsple sure ona
day visitor to Strathneidsaye drew out from ord
Charles an account OF his journey. The Duke lis
tened. and when the story came to end he went
up to his w
Yes. father"
And you did all YOU could to be back In time?'
Yes, father"
We'll. III give you horse Charles: III give you
n horse
II WAS the only form In which he admitted the in
Justice Of which h0 claa -