The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-10

story OF an Organ Grinders Success
sion to Title of Lord Poulett.

London Letter in Springfield Republican.
All the English and continental papers
have been full lately of the curious history
of Lord Poulette, to-day one OF the peers
Of the British realm Truly il is stranger
than fction-the history of the mendicant
fro through the streets OF London playing
hand organ, and who was pointed out al
ways as crank. And In fact he was an
attached little card on which was written:
Il am the viscount Of Hinton, son and heir
OF Lord Poulett- have adopted this meth
cd of earning my living, playing the hand
organ, because my father has refused to
support or aid me, notwithstanding that
have never been guilty of any crime in my
life For years the viscount OF Hinton
mechanically turned the handle of his or
gan, while his wife. the viscountess, col
lected the pennies and HAPPENINGS on the
streets OF London town. The wife OF the
viscount Hinton, the daughter-in-law OF
Lord Poulett, member of the House OF
Lords, begging aims Of the passers-by-can
one well fancy such thing in the aristo-
cratic caste society of England? The novel;
ty of these ambulant musicians, viscount
and viscountess, never lost its novelty for
the London crowd, because a poor peer is
strange phenomenon in England, and lords
are rather few and far between. There are
only III in the whole realm. who sit in the
House of Lords. The romantic story of
NiscOunt Hinton was well known, and he
made enough to satisfy his humble wants.
In the spring of 1850 there arrived of the
coast or England man-of-war from India,
with many army officers, among whom was
Lord Poulett. a wild young scapegrace.
When the man-of-war came In sight OF the
English coast the young officers collected
on the bridge and began gayly to salute
their country and to give further express
sion to their joy drank many bumpers Two
onicers were extremely happy at the pros
pect OF seeing again their lady loves. Lord
Poulett. who had drunk more than any of
MS comrades, began to laugh, saying that
matrimony was no jest, and that, although
NE mao a neveT Wis to % %
ried before his two friends. who were en-
gagged AT this his comrades scoffed at
MIN. Lord roulette, becoming angry, swore
that he would marry the first woman he
whether she was beautiful or ugly, rich or
poor. old or young. The bet was taken up,
and Lord roulette, landing at Portsmouth.
met on the gangplank young girl; she
was fresh and fair, but her clothing re-
vealed that she was poor and of humble
Poget are N1s s5sn b sale fSra
600 revenue and wish to marry you at
once" And the surprised daughter of
Portsmouth sailor was transformed into a
peerless of the English realm in the flash Of
an eye.
After some months the Countess of Pou-
lett gave birth to a son, but Lord Poulett
did not wish to acknowledge this son, and
separated from his wife, giving her a PEN
oiOu dHu NCCldiluS Ut WlSucu 10 near lO
more of his son and heir. But the son
spoke for himself, and, knowing the story
of his birth and descent, he took the name
of Viscount Hinton. which belonged to his
grandfather for in England the oldest son
of noble does not have the title of nobil-
ity until the death Of his father, and takes
his full title of lord at that moment) At
the death of his mother the Viscount Hin
ton found himself penniless, and as his IA
Their refused all assistance he became an
organ grinder.
Last January Lord Poulett died. After
the death OF his first wife, the sailors
daughter. he remarked and had another
son, who also took the title of viscount
Hinton. thus complicating matters by max
ing two viscounts of Hinton. Both these
viscounts of Hinton, on Lord Pouictts
death, aspired to his title and the rich
heritage that accompanied IL, which be-
longed alone, by the law of primogeniture.
to the Oldest son. From that date began
The contest between the two pretenders for
the title and estate. Each had many par
tisans. The Viscount Hutton No. 1 was
doubtless the real heir, but as his father
had never acknowledged him the lawyers
made out an interesting case. and MAIN
tanned that the second-born son was &C
knowledged by his father heir. But the
noble organ-grinder had the right of law on
his side, and he gained his suit--which
had been both tragic and comic in it's pro-
cess. AT one time the second viscount was
barricaded in the paternal castle, and the
mendicant viscount organ-grinder, with
a small army of friends, laid siege to it.
Finally, after year. the contest has ended
and things have adjusted themselves amic-
ably. The organ-grinder assumes the name
of Lord Poulett and all the estates, giving
a generous pension to his stepbrother.
The mendicant musician has taken his
place among the peers and mobiles of Eng
land, and this man, who for thirty years
earned his bread in the humblest manner,
this grandson of Portsmouth sailor, sits
to-day in the House of Lords, bearing the
honored title that six noble peers of the
realm have borne since 1706.
He who has lived the life of the London
poor has declared himself their champion
and the defender of their rights It is an
infusion of democratic principles in the hot
bed of consery alive aristocracy. One waits
the result with interest.