The San Francisco call., 1904-02-28
POLITICS
PLEASES
ONE LADY
Wife of Donoughmore
Aids Husband in
His Work.
Lordship's Spouse Is
Good Accountant
and Clerk.

LONDON, Feb. 27.-Now that Lord
Donoughmore-son- of Michael
Grace. erstwhiIe of New York-has at
tanned TO a responsible position under
the Government as Under Secretary for
War. Battle Abbey. the historic house
purchased by Mr. Grace from the heir
of the late Duchess Of Cleveland. viii
be the scene during the next Parlia-
mentary session of many interesting
weekend parties, when politics will be
a dominating feature. Lady Donough-
more's ambitions in the interests OF
her husbands political future are only
equaled by those of the Duchess Of
Marlborough for her husband. In So
ciety circles it is we'll known that there
is some little competition between the
ladies on both sides.
Lady DonOughmcre is her husbands
most devoted assistant. Away frOrl
his Office in the seclUsiOn of his home
she renders him material assistance
with his private correspondence. She
works on the typewriter with a great
deal more expertness than many a city
clerk, and in this way she relieves the
Under Secretary of much of the anx-
iety of trusting Government secrets %
hired clerks. Outside Pail Mall she is
practically his private secretary, and
has become such a keen political stu
dent that her husband considers her
advice we'll worth having. Consider
er,o CHI
has been in England, it is asserted
that she knows more about English
politics than many English women who
have been political propagandists for
years. If her husband does not rise
to high position in the service Of the
country it will not be her fault.
STORY OF A BURGLARY.
Battle Abbey presented all the fea-
lures of a fully equipped family man
sion when Michael Grace acquired it
some time ago for his English resi-
dence. All the necessary legal dOcu-
ments were signed, when he heard that
the mansion was the scene during the
latter days of the last century of one
of the most daring burglaries on rec
ord. Although he claims TO be by no
means of a superstitiOus nature, he
proceeded at once to the lawyers who
had charge of the sale and protested
that the whole history of the place
had not been disclosed to him. He re-
ferred TO the story of the burglary
when $4,000 worth of jewelry was
extracted from one of the rooms one
evening while the Duchess of Cleve-
land was entertaining distinguished
party at dinner. The fact that one OF
the articles stolen on the occasion was
a famous necklace of diamonds and
rubies and emeralds which Queen Vic
toria had presented to the Duchess Of
Cleveland was in itself sufficient to
prejudice Mr.. Grace against the Occu-
patton of so insecure an establishment.
Before the new occupant could be
relieved of his anxiety for the safety
of his valuables the parties interested
in the sale had to undertake that
strong room would be constructed
which would defy the attacks of the
most determined burglars The new
addition to the famous residence is
now nearing completion and in a few
weeks Mr.. Grace Will be able to dis
pense with the services of the London
safe deposit, which holds large guam
titles of his most valuable possessions
in plate and jewelry.
PORTERS HOUSE-HUNTING.
Robert P. Porter, who has been for
some time living in Oxford with his
wife and daughter, is in negotiation for
a house in London. One in Berkeley
square close to the Earl of ROsebery's
beautiful London residence first took
Mr. POrter's fancy, but so modern an
edifice was soon forgotten when he dis
covered a quaint little house which
some 200 years ago figured as one of
the pretty cottages in the little village
of MAYFAIR. This house is just OFF Park
lane and was part of the dOwry to the
Grosvenor of that day when he mar
ried Miss Davies, a farmers daughter.
Though at the time this marriage was
looked uDOn almost as a mesalliance,
the property thus added to the GrOsve-
nor estates is now among the most
valuable in the whole of London
Though this cottage of Olden times has
probably received an additional story.
it still preserves the pretty wooden pan
eIling which is so decorative and which
is kept white. in the drawing-rOOm at
least. Mr.. Porter has another object
in negotiating for this house beside that
of making it his London residence. He
needs more room now for the beautiful
ANTIQUE furniture he is so assiduOusly
collecting. His house at oxford is al
ready crowded with the collection he
has made since his arrival in England.
and he hopes TO find a good deal more
within a short limit of time. so that
having lived with it for certain period
it will be duty free when he returns to
the United States with the whole Of MS
anlendid collection