New-York tribune., 1902-04-27

CoUTtenay Boyle h G Is. Svo- PIP g. L +.
DUcton & Co
One Of the most delightful, most lovable and
most popular women in English society IN the
nineteenth century the Mary Boyle whose
"reminiscences are set down in this volume Her
Intelligence was vivid, her culture wide; her
nature was sweet, joyous and sane; her wit was
keen her heart warm That wit. however
sparkling owed nothing to malice She loathed
scandal and gossip, and there was no room for
small jealOUsies in her clean and brilliant mind.
TIE semi-autobfograph chapters of this book
are remarkable for the spirit Of gracious and
generous Homanliness that speaks through
them She knew all that was best in the Eu-
rope Of her time, and held to the last the
friends she Won. She was famous talker,
whose conversation is remembered as having "a
charm that was indescribable ard perhaps
unique" She remained young in the most
precious sense of the word. and to the end of
her days was the chosen chun of all the healthy
minded schOolboys among her relatives. How
ever long she may live" wrote James Russell
Lowell concerning her in her seventy-eighth
year, hers can never be that most dismal Of
fates, to 0utlive her friends while cheerfulness,
kindness, cIeverness, and all the other good
nesses have anything to do with the making
Of them"
Miss Boyle was the granddaughter Of the sew
enth Earl Of Cork and Orrery. the daughter Of
that brave sailor Admiral Sir Courtenay Boyle,
who came very near being executed by the
French in Egypt on a baseless charge Of COM
plcity in the assassination OF Kleber. part OF
her childhood was passed at Hampton Court
and many delightful pages are given in this vol
ume 20 her recoIlections Of the quaint old pal
ace. One Of the characters Of the place was a
certain M Beer, one Of the last Of the piGtails
and an official who had high opinion Of ais
hA
panied sightseers about the palace, was accus-
toned TO pause before the cartoons Of Raphael,
and pointing to the Death Of Ananias and Sap
phira' he would exclaim loudly, observe
horror renorsei fear! drapery!' "as an incen-
tive to admiration of what he considered the
salient points" II is to be feared that the ad-
nliraI's little daughter led poor Mr. Beer sad
life, for she knew more about the pictures than
he did and was prone to ask inconvenlent Ques-
tons Another home Of Mary's childhood was
Marston the property Of Lord Cork, in whose
park grew q Glastonbury Thorn, a descendant
Of the 5lossoming staff which tradition asserts
thai joseph Of Armath planted IN Glastonbury
soil Certain il is" says Miss Boyle, that when
every other tree IN the surrounding WOODS Is Dare
al Christmas the hawthorn at the entrance OF
Marstou Park is oftentime in flower! nave
seen Il with my own eyes, and always looked
upon il as z real miracle" Still another klhS-
mans house where she was accustomed 10 Hl94t
was that Of her uncle, Lord John TOwnshend, at
Brighton Old Lord John was very peculiar
person He had been the friend Of Fox, ana
was a Wing Of the Whiggest a man OF talent
and education a poet and a scholar He was
what Of yore was called a testy old gentleman,
but The children entertained a great anecuou
for him, combined with a certain degree oL
dread. He approved of my love OF Shakespeare
and liked TO hear me read or recIte passages
which he would enlarge, criticising and cor
recting my pronunciation Of classical terms
Lord John was a gourmet, and very paruculdi
IN the matter Of cuisine. He would often can
10 the footnan in the middle Of dinner and say
In a oueruIous tone Tell the cook to come to
me this moment which occasoned quite an
awkward pause Then, the entrance Oh tle
poor artistic, with very red face from the coII
bined effects of the kitchen fire and mental CON-
fusion he would address her in a voice OF thuIi
der: Pray have the goodness to taste that dlsh
and tell NE if you do not agree with me thaI Il
is beastly'
One Of the delights OF Brighton Tor Attie MAJ
was the dancing for there were many JuVeiiie
balls-especialy at DR.. Everard's establishments
Tor young gentlemen, the school celebrated III
Donbey and Son" Her cousin. willy Chi1oro'
afterward Admiral Sir William Clifford, caused
great laughter among his school fellows py un-
thinAngly asking the little girl: Mary, VIII
you have the honor Of dancing with me? MISS
Boyle adds:
Many men, I doubt motif they spoke thelp l