The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-07
Special Foreign Service.

Special Foreign Service.
LONDON, Feb. Snow that Lord
Donoughmore- son-in-law of Michael
Grace, erstwhile of New York-has
attained to a responsible position I'M
der the government as under secretary
for war, Battle Abbey, the historic
house purchased by Mr.. Grace from
the heir of the late Duchess of C1eve-
land, viii be the scene, during the next
parliamentary session, of many inter
esting weekend parties, when politics
viii be a dominating feature. Lady
Donoughmore's ambitions in the inter-
ests of her husbands political future
are only equaled by those of the Ouch
ess of Marlborough for her husband.
In society circles it is well known that
there is some little competition between
the ladies on both sides.
Lady Donoughmore is her husbands
most devoted assistant. Away from
his office, in the seclusion of his home,
she renders him material assistance
with 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 ankle
~ of trusting government secrets to
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 well worth having. Consider
ing the comparatively short time she
has been in England it is asserted that
she knows more about English politics
than many English women who have
been political propa gandists for years.
If her husband does not r15e to high
position in the service of the country
It will not be her fault.
Battle Abbey presented all the fea-
lures Ola fully equipped family man
sion when Michael Grace acquired it
some time ago for his English resi-
dence. All the necessary legal docu-
ments We're signed, when he heard that
the manaion was the scene, during the
latter days of the last century of one
of the NEST 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 refer
red to %he story of the burglary, when
$4,000. North of jewelry was extracted
from one of the rooms one evening
while the Duchess of Cleveland was
entertaining a 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 Victoria had
presented to the Duchess of Cleveland |
was In Itself sufficient to prejudice Mr.. |
Grace against the occupation of SO in
secure an establishment
Before the new occupier 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 few
weeks Mr.. Grace will be able to dis
pense with the services Of the London
safe deposit, which holds large quanti-
ties of his most valuable possessions in |
plate and jewelry.
Mr.. Robert p. Porter, who has been
for somes time living in Oxford with |
his wife and daughter, is in negotia-
ton for 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 discovered a quaint little |
house which some 200 years ago fig |
ured 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 married Miss Davies, |