The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-05-02

In this country the Duke is chiefly
known IN connection with his wearing a
secession badge at a public ball Ia New
YORK during the civil war, and this in
clGent was made much of by the late
John Russell Lowell, in his familiar es-
say, entitled ION 4 certain condescen-
sion in foreigners" 1t is only fair TO add
mat the Duke, who at that time was Lord
harrington, was entirely ignorant Of the
political meaning of the badge which
had been pinned 10 his coat by A lady
and which he had left there from mo-
tlVes OF courtesy 10 her. Abraham Lin
coin. however, evidently believed that
Lord harrington had been guilty of in
territorial discourteSy IN the matter For
when Lord Harrington was subsequent
ly presented to him at Washington by the
then British Ambassador, Lord Lyons.
the President persisted in calling him
MIR. Darlington"
The Duke of DeVonshire, whose favorite
brother, Lord Frederick Cavendish. was
murdered in Phoenix Park, Dublin, by
the so-called Invincibles of the Irish pr
y, is without children. He married
since the death of his father, a few years
ago. the widowed Duchess Louise, of Man
chester. between whom and himself a 70
mantle attachment had existed through
out the thirty-odd years of her first mar
rage TO the Duke of Manchester. She
had welded the latter In a moment of
pique. after Quarreling with Lord Hart
ington.
The attachment was smiled upon in
diligently by society. and as long as the
late Duke of Manchester was alive no
one ever dreamt of inviting his Duchess
10 any entertainment without, at the same
time asking Lord Harrington OF course
there was much malevolent gossip in con-
nection with the intimacy, gossip which
received certain amount of confirmati ton
through the peculiar clauses in the wills
of both the late Duke of Devonshire,
father of the present Duke. and of the
late Duke Of Manchester former husband
OF her grace Of DevonshiTe. But, on the
other hand. Queen Victoria. who is SO
strict and severe on the subject Of moral
ity was invariably kind and gracious 20
the Duchess and to her admrer prior TO
their marriage rarely inviting the ore
TO Windsor, or to Osborne, without ask
ing the other.
The Duke has a very warm heart be-
meath his impressive exterior. / never real
lied this until a little time after the muir
der of his brother. He had given no sign
OF grief at the funeral, or even when Sir
William Harcourt communicated the
tragedy 70 him. But two or three months
later / was present when he delivered
speech 10 his constituents at place cali
ed Bacup. II was the first time that ne
had made a speech since his brothers
death Il have lost" he remarked, "a rel
alive, loved, / believe. by all who knew
him, loved above all by those near and
dear to him" Here emotion compelled
him TO stoD for a few minutes and he
turned aside 10 conceal from the public
the tears which rolled down on either
cheek.
on the whole. the Dukes withdrawal
from political life will Be great loss 20
the nation, which he has served in and
ont OF Office solely because he considered
IL 10 be his duty as a great noble and
territorial magnate 20 do so. II viii have
the inevitable result OF driving into the
Conservative Party a number Of Liberal
Unionist peers and landowners like him
self. who do not relish the ways OF Mr..
Chamberlain, and who deserted the LIB
eral camp for the Unionlst Party owing
10 their objections TO home rule. II will
leave, however. Mr.. Chamberlain the sole
leader OF the Unionist Liberals. leader
ship which he has hitherto shared with
the Duke. II is quite possible, In fact.
that the latter's retirement may lead 10
a radical modification Of the present sys-
TEN OF political parties.
in the present Cabinet the Duke holds
the Office OF Lord President OF the Priyy
Council end al the same time 10 President
OF the Committee of National Defense.
MARQUISE DE FOSTESOY.