New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-05
A S15O,OOO BUTLER.
Fortunes Realised by DomesticS in
Houses of old English Nobility.

service they have grown gray furnish a favorite
theme in those Of the popular novels of the last
hundred years that deal with the English nobility.
The species of halo thus acquired in the eyes OF
the general public by these usually rather impress
sve leaders Of high life below stairs is likely
to be rendered still more effulgent by the
nouncement that the late Thomas Couchman who
died at the age OF nearly seventy as butler or the
Earl Of RavensWorth has left a fortune which,
according 10 the records of the Probate Court,
ceeds $4,000. His entire life or rather. should
say, the whole term of his domestic service ex-
tending over period of nearly half a century has
been spent in the employ OF the family OF Lord
Ravensworth. and the estate which he has left
represents not merely his savings, but also the
result Of several very fortunate investments, and
likewise three substantial legacies
His will furnishes instructive reading, for it COM
prises Iegacies 10 the Duke OF Devonshire's cook,
10 the head OF the children Of the late Lord
Londesborough 10 the present Lord Londesbor-
ough's head gardener. 10 his head keeper, TO his
clerk Of works. TO a number of the testators fell
low domestics at Ravensworth Castle, and likewise
very handsome requests to his master. well
10 the latters grandchildren, the little daugh-
ters of CAPTAIN and Lady Mary Forester Walker
It may be recalled that few years before the
death Of the late Lord warwick his old butler,
who had conducted many a party OF American
tourists over Warwick Castle during the course Of
his career died leaving fortune amounting to
some $4,000 or more, by which it was reported at
the time his master TO whom he devoted. ben
Gifted very extensively under the terms OF his
Will
How fortunes Of this kind can be accumulated
by servants who remain for long numbers of years
in the employ Of the great houses OF the Eng
lish nobility was shown time ago in the
course Of certain legal proceedings, during which
a footn1an in the service Of Lord Northcote test-
fed under animation that, although his
wages did not exceed $500 a year, yet his
place was worth 5000 year. thanks TO the tips
which he received from his masters guests. and
likewise 10 occasional gifts and perquisites from
members Of the earl's family.
It viii be from this that, after all, there
are some compensations in the life Of a domestic
servant. especially when rises to the emfhence
OF butler in Of the old houses Of the English
nobility, with free to cellars that are often
Of national celebrity and the satisfaction derived
from the knowledge that is. after all, part and
parcel Of that time honored institution known as
the English aristrocracy.
There has been good deal Of confusion about
Prince Arsene Karageorgevitch, the only brother
Of King Peter Of Servia for the interviews with
him at Paris, published at the time Of the acces-
sion Of King Peter to the throne, showed that he
was living the life OF exceptionally gay bach
elor at Paris. whereas the impression had previ-
ously prevailed that he married to one of the
Russian Demidofs. and that he was an officer
OF the Cars army An explanation of this is to
be found in the fact that his marriage has been
dissolved, and that at the time he lost his wife he
also lost his commission in the Cars army, since
which time ne has made his home at Paris living
the life Of a boulavardier. He has one son by his
marriage who is being brought up by his mother
in Russia.
King Edwards recent visit to ireland has served
TO call the attention of the eminent Irish and
English genealogists to the fact that he is the
present representative Of the old Celtic dynasties
Of the Emerald Isle and the lneal descendent of
the kings of Leinster. well of Roderick
OConnor, the last King Of Ireland. Edward VII
may therefore regard himself the legitimate
sovereign of Ireland by right Of descent from the
ancient irish kings
Eva. daughter of the King Of Leinster, married
strongbow, and while of her daughters was
the grandmother Of Robert Bruce. from the other
Eva by name, descended King Edward " of Eng
land. and through the latter's granddaughter,
garet Queen OF Scotland. daughter of King
Henry VII the reignirg dynasty claims fits
right TO the British throne Roderick O'Connor
the last King Of Ireland left a daughter. whose
son was Earl Of Ulster the latter's granddaugh-
ter Ellen marrying King Robert Bruce Of Scot
land. So that King Edward may be regarded as
the Inea1 descendent Of both the King Of Leinster
and Of Roderick O'Connor, King of Ireland.
The Committee Of Privileges of the House of
Lords, while rejecting the pretensons of the in
dividual long known as the organ grinder
Nscount' to the earldom Of Poulett. which of
course serves TO vest the peerage in question in
the son Of the late lords third marriage who
comes OF age next year and who already owns the
extensive estates producing rental of some
10000 a year, has voted IN favor of the claim of
the Countess Of Marlborough to the ancient barony
Of Fauconberg. And inasmuch as the sovereign
invariably acts the recommendation of the
Committee Of Privileges Of the House of Lords
although he is not compelled TO do so. since the
Committee Of Privileges merely acts in an ad-
r visory capacity and not as a tribunal it may
safely be taken for granted that King Edward will
can the oarony of Fauconberg out Of allegiance in
favor OF Lady Marlborough
Just what the countess can have wished IN gain
b. these proceedings TO establish her claims to
the barony in question it is difficult to say Fer
the barony Of Fauconberg. although one Of the
Oldest In existence having been created in 1888 is
by no means the premier barony, the latter being
held by Lord De Ros whose baronv was created
by King Henry III nearly twenty years earlier
namely, on December "A, 1854 LADY Marlborough
be!ng already countess, as the wife Of the Earl
Of Marlborough, whose honors will be in due course
Inherited by his son, does by securing the Fan
conberg barony obtain any increase of rarl, or oF
precedence, either for herself her son or for her
husband.
The only advantage, indeed, which it gives her
IS that it enables her to quarter the old Faucon-
berg arms "itR her own as Countess Of Var
borough and lnasmuch she already brought
hundred and fifty quErterines into her
husbands family on her marriage. it would seem
that she might have been satisfied therevvith
The countess has four children, all bows Fut
should the earldom of Marlborough become extinct
through the failure of male issue of these sons
their daughters would inherit the baronv Of Fan
conberg and become peeresses iE their own right
this particular peerage being barcny by writ and
descending in the female well as in the male
lire
The barony Of Fauconberg has been in abeyanca
since 1891, that it has been dormant for
more than four centuries. In the event Of ono Of
the granddaughter Of Lady Marlborough becornine,
Baroness Fauconberg in her own right IN the
manner above described. the son OF any marriage
u--Ep Eha F0fp1