The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11
Some Ucmen ave Known 'z zssss.!; ssssss: s:'. All


 when all churches were closed against
 her, and 1t was with some trouble we
 secured for her a little dingy hall. in
 which to speak
 But full compensation was granted
 on the last visit she made us, when
 more were turned away from the door
 for want of room. than were already seated in the church, crowded from
 turret to foundation stone.
 4 Her body was cremated in Chicago. and the tears of the women of Ameri- ac over her ,untimely, death are wit
 nesses to the faithfulness of the say ing that she was "the best loved wo-
 man in America
 Hundreds of most noble women of
 today are fearlessly furnishing blocks , built of their devotion to the highest ideals, and their maintenance of beau tiful lives enriched by magnificent deeds. Of the most exalted of these count many as personal acquaintan' ces. but since the fullS sum of what shall be accomplished, has not yet been delivered up, that splendit
 report is for "a future day England's Noblest PhilanthrOpist. A telegram came to me in London appointing visit to Ryegate. one Of
 the palatial residences of the Lady Henry Sommerset. The invitation had come through the influence of Frances
 Willard. who awited my arrival be- fore going over on the continent. l was to take train from the Charing Cross station and arrive in time for the o'clock tea. that indispensable indulgence of English ladies'" Ryegate village with all that it con- tains belongs to the Lady Henry. where fifteen thousand tenants recognize her as landlord. The priory is the name of this palace, once occupied by Monks, | and a gift of William III to Lady Sommerset's ancestor. the gifted John | Somers, at one time Lord Chancellor of England and a steadfast friend of King William TIL
 occasion in America when she was the guest of Francis Willard in Chicago, | and this meeting was not an intro | duction. but renewal of past ac- quaintance. It was a pleasant occasion of my life when'I strolled through the vast park at Ryegate, with Lady Sommerset and Frances Willard on either side of me | and looked down on both for I was taller than either, and the princeiy domains worthy of a king stretching as far as the eyes can see. Nothing | could exceed the gentleness and grace of Lady Henry's manner. as we slowly walked tfor Frances was sadly an in- valid) and rapidly talked of England its present and its past. of Ryegate and l its quaint history. of Lord John 1 Somers. of her princely father. whose taste had gathered the classic display of culture and learning by which she
 was surrounded and when finally we | had returned to the salon. my mind had been exalted and my pride refreshed that such magnificent women as | Frances Willard and Lady Sommerset were at work in the world. Lady Henry stood beside me at a l cabinet in the crimson saloon. and | brought forth for my consideration | many priceless relics. A letter from Marie Antoinette written to the Prin- | cess Lambelle was touched by me with veneration.
 asked How does 1t happen that you possess this?"
 She answered. Marie Antoinette was my mothers cousin"
 The statuary, books, paintings. mag. 1 nificent salons. chambers of State, ele. gances every where. awakened my ad.
 miration, But the feeling that came
 nearest to suggesting envy, was when I 1 seen Lord Somers statue in Vest | minister Hall, immortalzing his states | manship and intellectual grandeur and l l know Lady Sommerset could call him | kinsman. To make yourself out oi
 nothing is a pretty good thing, but
 to have worthy line of high hearted
 ancestors leaves a job for your finish
 ing upon which they have been severely l at work for three or four hundred years, and to perform your task as l becomes a descendant of such ances-
 tors, which Lady Sommerset has done
 is the fulfillment of the highest des- | tinies of the race.
 l l know my own poor words can not | in so small a space as I allow my | self, portray in fitting manner the
 exalted character of the lovely mis-
 tress of Ryegate. but the many qual-
 ites that have made her the leader of | English women and have won, the all | legiance of those of America, are of easy interpretation. Abiding convic- | tions, courage and enthusiasm linked ] to a cultured intellect and a heart in sympathy with sorrow, give her a | place in her generation that Lord John Somers held without dispute In his | day.
 A Gifted Writer of Alabama. One summer afternoon, a long timo l ago. stood beside my mothers knee.