Smyrna times., 1902-11-05
SKETCH OF LADY HENRY
SOMERSET OF ENGLAND
AN ATTRACTIVE VISITOR AT THE NATIONAL
W. T. u. CONVENTION AT PORTLAND.
Some Interesting Traits of Character and Her
Love for Temperance as Told By Miss
Annie Sutton, Press Superintendent.

Love for Temperance as Told By Miss
Annie Sutton, Press Superintendent.
That Portland as host, or hostess,
of the recent National Convention Of
the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, is to be heartily congratulated,
will hardly be questioned, that it is to
he further felicitated upon the very
distinguished foreigners, which this
same Convention brought to its city
will meet with as little dispute no
doubt. And chief among these guests
from across the Sea, was Lady Henry
Somerset, unquestionably.
From the "Shining hills of NAL
vern," in the heart of which is the
country of Herefordshire, one hun
dred miles from London, is the East
nor Castle, Lady Henry's favorite
place of residence, from the hills OF
old England to the glowing hills of
Maine in our own beautiful New
England, this truly noble visitor lent
to the National Convention her IN
spring presence and actively partici-
pated in its very rich, very compre-
hensive program. Answering to the
puzzled query of our hOnOred Mary
Livermore, as to whether Lady Henry
Somerset should be called an English
lady or an American gentlewoman;
some one has very happily said: ''She
is both; she belongs to the old aris-
tocrscy of England, and to the new
aristocracy of America. She is at
home at Eastnor Castle; she is at home
here.
Questioned on the occasion of form
er visit to our country, as to why she
took up the temperance question, Lady
Henry replied: 81 simply could do
nothing without it. When succeeded
on the death of my father to his es-
tate, 1 found that if 1 wished to in
fuence my work people 1 must begin
with temperance. Until 1 was about
able to check the effects of strong
drink, / could make no headway with
anything; no higher life was possible
to them"
Paying tribute to that noble band
which under the name of 'Sisters of
the People" !" and under the manage
ment of Rev. Hugh Price Hughes,
was doing a magnificent work (is doing
it to-day no doubt among the poor
of London, Lady Henry told the in
cident on one occasion when we were
privileged literature. 1 remember
that during the great coal strike, |
came from the north aud went down
to attend one of the Sisters meetings.
I was endeavoring to explain to the
women of London that they ought
not to grumble because the coal " as
then at such an exorbitant price; that
they ought to stand by their brothers
and sisters in the north, who were
holding out for righteous cause.
was working with the Hughes Sisters
at the time, and was one of them Al
that particular moment.
A poor woman after the meeting
shook hands with me and said: cain
You glad Sister that we are none of III
tempted by having anything of thi
world; that we are able to just go oul
way and we haven't got all of tina
burden laid on us?" And this con
tinued Lady Henry made me realize
how completely those women live will
the people, understanding their need
and are 2 very part of their lives"
May these few little stray anecdotes
zoo, help us to better realize and ap
preciate the true nobility of this CUES
from distant shores, daughter of a
hundred Earls, It's true, and noble
still, daughter of the King.
As President OF the Worlds Woman
Christian Temperance Union 9th
Sixth Biennial Convention of whic
will be held at Geneva, Switzerland
in June, 1909 Lady Henry Somerset
present visit to America may be sal
to be semi