The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-02
FROM STABLE BOY TO PREMIER.
How Thomas Ward Became Prime
 Minister of Parma.
New York Press.

New York Press.
 One of the most extraordinary rises of fortune in the nineteenth century (outside of military heroes, who are a class apart) was that of Thomas Ward, who began life as an English stable boy and became Prime Minister of Parma. with the title of Baron Ward. recognized by the court of his native land. Ward was born in York in 1S1o, and when a youth left England in charge of some horses for the stables of Charles II, Grand Duke of Parma. At that time-1830-the downfall of Ma poleon had made English influence and fashions powerful on the continent and Duke Charles was a great admirer of both. ;, .... P.
 The Grand Duke happened to notice the intelligence of the young stable boy and made him his personal groom, to ride with him always. On these rides the Grand Duke would chat with him on horses and stable management. un- til one day. to the astonishment of the small but severely punctilious Parmese court, he made Ward his master of the horse. with supervision of 800 horses.
 Naturally Wards Influence did not decline with his advance in dignity. One day he was attending the Grand Duke at a review. and when the latter asked his opinion about the troops and their efficiency replied unfavorably. The Grand Duke demanded what he knew about military matters, to which the Yorkshireman retorted that he had been in the -Yeomanry. It ended by the Grand Duke handing the Parmesan army over to him, with the result that the ex-stable boys reforms were ad- mitted on all sidees to produce econ omy and efficiency.
 Rising rapidly in his masters confi- dence, he acquired with equal rapidity most courtly manners. He went in 1s47 on a mission to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and succeeded in arrang- ing honorably a long standing dispute between the two duchies.
 Not long after Ward carried out an- other successful diplomatic mission at the court of Vienna, and was created Baron Ward. It was under this title that he came to England and had a cordial reception from Lord Palmer ston, who, himself a "horsey" man, had bond of sympathy with the Bar on. The straightforward honesty of Ward was everywhere the secret of his success and of the honors that were showered upon him. He was created Knight of the Order of St. Louis of Lucca, Knight Grand Cross of the Or der of St. George Constantinano of Parma.
 With all this fiattering success Ward had the tact to preserve his balance. and so avoided arrogance that, in spite of the vested interests which he cut away in his military and financial re- forms. he was popular among the Dukes subjects generally. He became Prime Minister, and on the Grand Dukes abdication in the Italian troubles. Ward placed on the throne his masters son, Duke Charles III. who had married Louisa Maria-The- resa de Bourbon, sister of the Count de Chambord. Duke Charles II, mean while retired into private life with the title of Duke of Vallombrosa.'
 In March. 1854. the Duke Charles III, was assassinated in the gardens of his palace in Parma, and that was the end of Baron Wards rule in Parma. The widowed Duchess, Bourbon, was not likely to forgive the Yorkshire stable boy either his brains or his birth. She pretended that he intended to seize the sovereignty. and as soon as the Duke 6ied Wards house was surrounded at her orders with Austrian troops in the pay of the Duchy. and Ward was or dered to quit the territory.
 Baron Ward retired to Vienna, where he was received with great cor