The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-24
THE LATE LADY SALISBURY.
A Woman OF Sweet Disposition, VINO
Disliked Society Formnlftfes.

London Special to Chicago Tribune.
No direr personal loss could nave oefallen
the British premier than the loss OF MS
vile. Lord and Lady Salisburys attacn-
ment for each other was idylic, and ali the
time Lord Salisbury could snatch from MS
Official duties he spent in his wifeis COM
pany, and since her fatal Illness, by her
bedside. She had been suffering IRON
dropsy for four years. a paralytic stroke IN
July being a sure symptom that the dread
disease had reached a final stage. Anxiety
about the fate of her second favorite son,
Lord Edward Cecil, in Mafeking. preyed
greatly on her mind, especially as Lord
Salisbury was unable to satisfy her longing
for news from him.
Lady Salisbury was a woman or sweet
disposition, with a considerable fund or
natural wit and humor, but she never went
into society, devoting herself entirely to
her own family and husband. in whose po-
litical ambitions she had the keenest inter-
est. The Queen, approaching Lady Sails
bury's distaste for society formalities. only
commanded her to visit Windsor on big
state occasions.
Though she never moved in general so
ciety, she was the most gracious and digni-
fed of chatelaines at the great party re-
ceptions Lord Salisbury's present position
compelled him to give. She had not been to
a theater in thirty years, sharing her hus-
bands indifference TO attractions Of the
stage. She was tall and fine-looklng, but
not aristocratic in appearance, with sympa-
thetic eyes. which all her children inherit.
resembling her much more closely than
their father.
Her children worshiped her, and palatial
Hatfield was always open house for them,
and whose hospitality, with their wives and
fn III thng onInX-nd Har
death leaves a void impossible to fill, and
its effect on Lord Salisbury himself, whose
health is none too.robust, is much feared by
his friends and political supporters.
Lord and Lady S~alisbury's marriage was
an ideal ~union-from a romantic point of
view. Robert Cecil, on returning to England
after a couple or years stay In Australia,
and having entered Parliament as a repre-
sentative from Stamford, fell in love with
the daughter Of Baron Alderson, of the
Court of ~EXchequer-a judge OF high attain
ments and considerable popularity. Miss AL
derson was Il young lady of no slight per-
sonal attractions-tall, fair and elegant-and
comely to look upon. But neither of the two
lovers had any means TO speak Of, so it was
natural that Robert Cecirs. father should
discourage a match which, from a worldly
point OF view, seemed the height of impru-
dence for a younger son. The clever ana
rising member for Stamford was expected
to make his way in life by means of a
wealthy and influential marriage, and his
splendid family connections would have JUS
lllttu fNOD6Tl III SSthlNR the lHOSI uldSulll-
cent matrimonial alliance that a commoner
could aspire to. To marry the dowerless
daughter of a judge seemed like flying in
the face of Providence. but the young man
was fixed in his resolve, and nothing could
deter him from 1T. His father refused him
an allowance, but that made no difference.
They married in 1851. Georgina Anderson
being some years older than her husband,
who was twenty-Seven at the time. The
early years of their married life were passed
in comparative poverty and obScurity. They
lived in lodgings off the Strand, and the
future prime minister and foreign secretary
Of England had to exc out a living by liter
ature. In the intervals of his parliamentary
laborS. he contributed diligently TO the
Times. the Morning Chronicle, the Saturday
nobly seconded his efforts by acting as his
amanuensis at the same time that she was
bringing up a large family. The scion of one
of the proudest historical families in Eng
land had not chosen SO badly after all. The
end of these struggles came after eight
years. when, by the death Of his elder broth
er, Lord Robert Cecil became Vicsount
Cranborne. Shortly afterward his position
was still further improved by his being
made secretary of state. In these happier
circumstances the wife. by her ready wit
and intelligence and keen sympathy, proved
herself as valuable a helpmate to her hus-
band as she had been in the older days of
difficulty and trial.
In her capacity as a political hostess 1t is
doubtful If her equal could be found. and ii
is not too much to say that on several oc-
casions through her tact straying politicians
have been brought into the paths which, ac-
cording to her husbands views, are the right
ones.