Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-06
Ammunition for the Democrats,
AN ENGLISH eARLpoM.
The Strange Story of an Adverse Fate
that Has Followed IT.

Ine strange Story of an Adverse Fate
that Has Followed 1t.
When the late Earl of Dysart died In
his garnet in Norfolk street, London,
September %, 1873, the present earl was
tall, handsome lad of 10 years, yet
the strange old miser made it a condi-
ton in his will thath his successor should
not become master of his vast estates
and enormous wealth till 81 years had
passed.
The term expired recently, and at
last, at the age of 40. Earl Dysart came
into his own.
In these 81 years the Earl Of Dysart
has suffered one of the direst Affections.
He was as Il youth extremely short
sighted. He comes into his vast wealth
a blind man.
Probably no family in the British
peerage has been more remarkable or
had stranger history than that of the
earldom of Dysart.
The death of, the eldest son has been
one of the regular features of the
strange story right from the time 10
generations ago when William Murray
became the first earl.
The first earls daughter. however,
saved the title by obtaining rights for
female succession.
The countess was better favored.
Her son lived to be the third holder Of
the title. But with him misfortune
came again, and lie had to be succeeded
by a grandson. The next holder died
without a son, and so did his brother,
who succeeded him.
Then again the title had to be main
tanned by Il countess, for the three other
brothers hadmet violentdeaths. George
had fallen from the masthead of the
man-Of-war Modesto and been killed;
John who was Il captain in the navy,
was killed in n duel in New York, and
his only son, an ensign In the First
Foot Guard, lost his life in the siege Of
Valenciennes. William, the last BROTH
or, was lost in the laundering of the
frigate Repulse. Even the countess
lost her first born and had to be sue
ceeded by a grandson,
For 30 years the present earl's father
| kept himself shut up in Il top room at
"a Norfolk street, London. and let his
beautiful home. Ham House. with all
its priceless treasures. go to decay.
He had estates in Leicestershire, Lin
colnshire, Surrey, and Rutlandshire
bringing in about $4,000 a year, pat
ronymic home in Scotland and land in
New Zealand, but he never left his den
in Norfolk street.
In his room there he had sort of
blue-beard cupboard, where he kept his
title deeds, and he spent most of his
time counting these over. Yet he was
keen Spectator. All his investments
he made through an aged domestic SER
want, with whom he communicated
through hole in the door. When he
died the oldearl leftnearly $4,000, 900 in
cash. He was veritable miser If he
did not visit his estates he managed
them with an iron hand. Every morn
ing he had sent to him minute list
giving the number of the stock belong
ing to him, even down to the number
of eggs laid, chickens Matched, cabbages
cut and peaches plucked day by day.
Eccentricity has also marked some OF
the branches of his family. A nephew
of the old earl had crazy notions about
naming his children. One Of his daugh,
! tiers was named Lyona Decima Veroni.
ca Esyth Undlne Cyssa Hylda Rowena
Adele Thyra Ursula Ysabel Blanche
Lelias Dysart Plantagenet Tollemache
Tollemache.
The professional liar bushes when
IL tells the truth.