The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-01
A PEERESS IN
 HER OWN RIGHT
THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN
 TO BE so HoNoRED.
Mrs. Jos. Chamberlain to Be Made a viscountess--Her Husband De- clines to be Raised
 Himself.

Chicago Tribune.
 Mrs: Joseph Chamberlain will be the nrst American woman to become a peer ess in her own right King Edward Is expected to create her viscountess High bury. Mir. Chamberlain, whose services to the. British empire have been so rlo- wife. = " .'' ms
 Amerisa has scores of ''princesses. |"
 d,ncnesses; ,u s. countesses, and mar borough, of Roxburghe. of Manchester. the Princess Colonna. the Countess de Castellane, and many others; but these American girls wear their title only by them because they were the rich daugf- ters of rich fathers who had amassed fortunes in railroads, pork and what not
 None of them is peeress in her own right. But Marry Endicott, the daughter Of former Secretary of War Endicoft of Massachusetts. did not marry for title or for wealth. She married Joseph Chamberlain because she loved him. She was was wealth, wealthy, but so was he, Their so, was equal. She could have moved in English society circles as high and high. CT than he. even without her wealth to pave the way for social preeminence abroad. And as for family, she traced her ancestors back through the centu- ries to John Endicott. the first Governor of Massachusetts.
 Well Fitted to Adorn the Peerage.
 As Viscountess of Highbury Mary En- dicott Chamberlain will he no social up- start. She is we'll ftted to adorn the peerage which her husband, whose love and respect for her is a household word Tn the British Empire. has refused for
 Mrs. Chamberlain for years has moved in London's most exclusive social cir cles, but not as part of 1t. She Is not given to vulgar social display. She has k~ IL London's modern aristocracy by lavisi, entertainments. She was Queen Victo. ria's friend. She has been the guest of the Lord Mayor of London and of, the chief cities of England. a
 Mary Endicott met Joseph Chamber lain for the first time at Washington while he was paying brief visit to the united states The meeting took place Matthew's s to snsoeon soe of sSsp Ssp by Mrs r friends, It was a most i.irornal and un- pretentious affair. to which MT Cham- oeriain had been invited as a joke, and at which he was the only man present.
 Case of Love at First Sight.
 Before luncheon was over Miss Endi- cott was the only woman present, so far as MT. Chamberlain was concerned It was case of love at first sight, and the acistinguished Englisnman followed up the affair with an impetuosity more cnaracteristic of a knight errant in me- dleVai days than a world famous states man In dlgnified diplomatic circles at the cspitaI. Before the end of the month the engagement was announced cad the wedding followed fortnight later.
 No attempt at display was made at the wedding or at the simple breakfast. at %nich only water was drank. After a snort wedding tour in Maryland, MT. and Mrs. Chamberlain went to England where their home has been ever since.
 Once an English woman by marriage MS. ,s: Chamberlain devoted herself to the political nf studied English politics until she knew It thoroughly. She was almost a daily visitor to the House of Commons she learned is. to know English statesmen. first py sight, then by formal introduction. she studied them as a scientist would sLudy a specimen. She attended the ''no- !itical receptions" and the famous inouse or Commons teas" And so in est political adviser
 Tn all this she did not forget her social duties She knew London society as well as as sne did English politics; In 1898. upon was the task to entertain the wives and daushters of the colonial premiers of the empire She did it with such charm- ln ng grace race and with so much social suc- With the gold commemoration medal. on- iy conferred upon members of royal fam flies of Europe.
 Triumphal Journey to the Colonies.
 htS: OnamOeFiain last year accof1pa- nied her husband to South Africa, and her Journey was long series of social Lrlumpns. She was the guest of the Gov ernor of Gibraltar that famous rock from which England guards the entrance to the Mediterranean and the hiahwav to India. At Malta she was the guest of honor of the Governor. In Egypt with her husband. she dined with the khedive She had a public reception at Khartunn in the heart of the Soudan She was An. tertalned at a state dinner given her by the Sultan of Zanzibar She shared in her husbands welcome at Cape Town. Johannesburg and Pretoria, and 20Oo Zulu tribesmen gave a war dance for her delight. -'SN
 English newspapers gave almost as much attention to Mrs. Chamberlain'a part in the now famous journey as they did to her husbands. They returned to | London only to find new honors awaiting them.
 At Southampton Mrs. Chamberlain with | her husband received an address of wei | come. Their arrival in London was like the coming of a prince and princess. | Royal guards in scarlet and gold were drawn up behind London's lord mayor and England's premier. Their progress through the streets was like a triumph. | They were banqueted at Guildhall by inc Lord Mayor, and presented with an ad- dress and the freedom of the city In a | golden casket.
 It was at this banquet that MT Cham berlain, in replying to the Lord Mayors welcome home, paid the tribute to his wife that has since become famous. He
 ''The Lord Mayor justly associates my