The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-23

Among those who are most bitterly op-
posed to the match are Lady RandolDh's
own sons. the elder Of whom. took the
trouble Of going Toe all the newspaper
and press agenciesaas Cowcs asking them
70 leny the existence OF the engagement
At the very moment when his mother was
endeavoFsng 10 secure for the news ell
the publicity possible.
They are financially dependent upon
their mother, and II they persist in their
hostility toward the match 1t Is quite
possible that she may cut on their SLOW
ances- On that case their financial well
fare would in al probability be provided
for by their fathers favorite sister. the
enormously wealthy Lady Winborne. and
perhaps by their first cousin. the Duke OF
Marlborough. The latter. as well as his
American wife. ConsueIo vanderbuiit. and
all the members Of the Churchill family,
are very indignant about the protected
marriage, and most strenuously opposed
to 1t, openly denouncing Lady Randolph's
conduct as outrageous.
In fact. the only Churchill connection
who encourages lady Randolph, and who
approves OF the union. Is the widow Of the
late Duke Of Marlborough. now Lady Will
fam Beresford, and who was, prior to her
first marriage to Mr.. Hamnersley. Of New
York. Miss LILY Price OF Troy.
Another warm friend Of Lady Randolph
who has taken up the cudgles in her be-
half is Don Louis Soferal, the Portuguese
| Envoy in London, who is popularity known
by the name OF 'the blue monkey" and
| who enjoys a greater amount Of social in
fiuence in England than any other foreign
diplomat. He has gone with the Prince OF
Wales to Marienbad as his guest and
crony. and inasmuch as Lady Randolph
Is due there q week or so hence, it is just
possible that the Prince may be won over
to countenance the match and to wheedle
Mrs. oCrnwallis West into concent.
| Meanwhile both Lady Randolph and
young CORVALLIS West, who greatly re-
sembles his sister, the lovely Princess
Henry OF Pless have disappeared to parts
unknown and while It Is not exactly prob
able 1t Is quite possible. too, that when
they do next turn up they may do so In
company as man an dwife. They are max
ing bets on the question in London.
II may seem amazing at the first sight
that youth should become so blindly In
fatrated with a woman older than his
| mother as to be willing to quarrel with
| every one for her sake. This simple fact
OF the matter Is that Lady Randolph. like
Mrs. CORVALLIS West herself, like the
D"wager Countess OK Dudley, Lady Ger
ard and other women who are nearer fifty
than forty retains to an extraordinary de-
gree the beauty land above all. the fresh
ness and elegance that distinguished her
when she first made her debut in London
society.
She has changed but little since the day
when the species of calf love and undis-
guised infatuation Of the late Duke Of
Clarence, eldest son of the Prince Of
Wales, caused her husband. while on a
visit to the Queen. to suddenly resign his
seat in the Cabinet and his secretaryzhip
of state for India under circustanecs of
the most objectionable rudeness to his
sovereign. o., 2,
Lady Randolph and himself had dinsd
with the ouee n at Windsor. and had
sEown manifest pleasure at the marked
graciousness with which they were treat
cd by the Queen. Both were In excellent
sDirits during the repast. and there was
Ne premonitfon Of any disaster.
The Duke OF Clarence was one - the
guests. and after dinner he engaged n
conversation with Lady Randolph. The
Dung Princes admiration for the Ameri-
can was no secret to the Queen. In fact,
she rather approved 1t, thinking, like the
Prince and Princess of Wales, that inter-
course. and even a mild irritation. with a
brilliant woman OF the world, would serve
to cure the Duke of that shyness and
gaucherie which was one of his faults
from a social point, OF view Lord Ran
doiph while watching his wife talking to |
che Duke. happened to overhear some re-
mark which ne construed to the effect |
that he would not be the first statesman |
of European renown who was indebted !
for his advancement to royal admiration |
for his wife.
II there was one thing that Lord Ran |
delphi was sensitive about Il was on the |
subject Of the part played by his wife |
in promoting his political fortune. The |
newspapers were never tired Of discussing
how much he was indebted 70 her in this |
respect, until the very mention Of 1t had !
the same effect upon him as a red rag
upon a bull
He withdrew at once to the rooms which
had been assigned to him. sat down at
the writing table and dashed of on note
paper bearing the Queens cipher two very
curt notes. One was to Her Majesty her
self, the other TO Lord Salisbury, resign
his seat in the cabinet. his CHARACTERISTIC
o fthe exchequer and his leadership in the
house Of commons. Then, without leav-
Ing any message for his wife he hurried
of to the station. caught the last train
to town, drove straight off to the Times
office. and informed the editor OF his rec
ignition.
On the following morning, before either
the Queen or Lord Salisbury had received
his letters. they were informed by means
Of paragraph on tn editorial page Of the
Times that he had resigned Office and
from political life
That too was the first intimation that
his wife received.
For long time relations were very
strained between Lord and Lady RAN
5olph. She was naturally indignant at the
wrong construction which he had insist
I'd on placing upon the wholly innocent
nfatuado Of the Duke OF Clarence He
was bitterly hurt and jealous. Indeed. K
was not until he returned from South AZ
rica so mentally and PHYSICALLY wrecked
IS to stand in need OF constant and de-
voted care that they became reconciled
again.
In the case of Lady Randolph Churchill
Mrs. CORVALLIS West Is one OF those
women Thn has haa1 yba zrshsa,s - -. I