Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-17
Death of Harcourt Recalls
Some English Politics.
CHIEF TITLE TO FAME
REUNION OF THE ATLANTIC
UNION OF BEsANT MEMORY.
Successful Effort to Establish a Wo-
mems Club in London-Cult OF
Knee Brooches Shaping.

Sir William Harcourt's death has come
as a shock to personal friend and pontt-
cal foe alike. After the announcement OF
his political retirement he has not Jagged
long superfiuous on the stage. POLITICAL
intrigues and natures heavy hand had for
some years deposed him from his old COM
handing place in the house of commons
There was pathos in the picture of the
old man standing at the side of the treas
ury table bent in figure and husky in
voice, his words no longer ringing out IN
sonorous volume, but flowing along in an
incoherent stream.
1t was at such time that one admired
the spirit of the house of commons. AL
though not word did many OF the mem
berS hear, yet out OF respect TO the ola
statesman they stuck to their seats and
cheeIed him. else If they did escape, IL
was surreptitiously, unobtrusively, not III
the brazen- faced way in which the house
empties when an ordinary man of naudi-
biity is on his feet.
Why Sir William Harcourt did not sue
coed Mr.. Gladstone prime minister is
Some say that MIR. Gladstone recommended
Lord Rosebery. Mr. Morly says that
Queen Victoria herself sent for Lord Rose
berry, and that it was Mr.. Gladstone's in
tention to recommend Earl Spencer. In
any case the old gladiator was passed over,
and 1t hurt him much. But it in no way
interfered with his personal friendship. and
/ can well remember the great tears roll
ing down his rugged cheeks and the gulp-
ing voice he spoke in the house of com
mons of Gladstone's death.
Sir William Harcourts chief title to fame
is connected with the reorganization of the
death duties, whereby the estate duty,
which substitutes the former probate and
account duties, applies to all property,
real or personal, settled or unsettled, pass
ing at death. 1t is said that Lord Randolph
Churchill had some such scheme in his
head when he resigned. Mr.. Fletcher
Moulton now mentioned the probable
chancellor in the next liberal ministry, had
also advocated reorganization before Sir
William actually tackled it.
Nuneham, where Sir William died, is the
ancestral home of the Harcourts. Only a
fortnight ago at harvest home he said:
Il love Nuneham, and have always wished
to live and die here" 1t came into his
possession on the death of his nephew Mr.
Aubrey Barcourt at the beginning of this
year. 1t was at Nuneham that the Ears of
HaIcOurt lived, and it is no secret that Sir
William could have revived the extinct earl
dom had he given way to sovereign wishes.
1t may Re that, once Mr.. Lulu Harcourt
has tired of the lower house. the son will
YET carry an honor which the father re-
fused. OF Nuneham, Horace Walpole wrote:
1t is not superb, but so calm and comforta-
bic, so livo-at-able, one wakes i'll the morn
ms on such a whole picture of beauty
The king expression of regret at the loss
Ol an ora ana valued 1rlenu by the death
OF Sir William HarcOurt may be Interpreted
without tie least reference to convention,
ana as meaning exactly what il says. For
Sir William Harcourt for many years had a
friend AID an admirer in his majesty. to
whom tl3 genial temper, the robust COM
mon sense the vein of wit, the fund of anec
cote and the courtliness of man who was
no Courtier always appealed.
ST. William was often numbered among
the guests that his majesty used to assem-
BILE. when Prince of Wales. for week-ends
at Sandrlngham. On such visit the con-
VeTsation at dinner turned upon the length
of human memory. and Sir William said
that one of his earliest recollections of
being nursed on Mr.. Gladstone's knee The
recollection carried him back sixty-five
years, to the days of his infancy, when Mr..
Gladstone was young man in the twentes
Sir Frank Lockwood was among the
guests. and he seized upon the picture con-
jured up by Sir William to draw one of his
lightning caricatures on the back of
menu. But Sir Frank poSt-dated the Incl
dent-braught it. indeed. down to date-and
showed the q. o. NJ, then nearing the egh-
ties, and wearing a huge Furniss collar,
dangling the robuster form of Sir William
on his aged knee. The Princess of Wales
begged the sketch. and it is now included
among the treasured scraps and mementoes
which her majesty has collected
The Atlantic Union.
The Atlantic Union. which was formed
by the late Sir Walter Besant as a social
organization for the purpose of enabling
colonials and Americans visiting England
to acquire intimate knowledge of the
English people and their customs fore
gathered last evening at supper at Eye Old
Cheshire Cheese" in Fleet street Sir
Frederick Pollock, the chairman of the oc-
casion. occupied the historic chair with
which Dr. Johnson's name will ever be as
ISOLATED.
Among the numerous company present
were Lady Pollock. Sir G. Champion de
Crcspigny, Sir a. Conan Doyle, Mr.. j. X.
Jerome, Sir Henry and Lady Lawrence Sir
Il. l.. and Lady Samuel. the Rev. B. Pol
lock of Wellington College, Mr.. L. d.
Hawker, the honorable secretary of the
union, and many visitors to those shores
from the United States and the "dominions
over the sea-
Without any set speeches, except a brief
and happy address from the chair, the
evening was spent in friendly discourse
The principal item on the menu was of
course the famous Cheshire cheese pud-
ding, composed of larks oysters and other
toothsome elements, cunningly compounded
Into delicdcy that has appealed to palates
from all quarters of the globe. The
Cheshire cheese, indeed, has for long been
Il center of attraction to visitors to Lon
don, particularly of those hailing from the
states. The old historic house once the
resort of the literary coterie headed by Dr.
Johnson, with his Boswell always In at
tendance, is famous the world over A few
days ago the Duke of Newcastle entertained
party of friends there, and among famous
parliamentarians who have inscribed their
names in the visitors book are to mention
only four, the late Sir William Harcourt
Mr.. Balfour, Mr.. Chamberlain and Mr. As
quith.
The visitors book, indeed comprises a
series of a dozen Eat Volumes and seat
tered throughout their pages may be found
the signatures of men and women who
in one walk or other in life have become
famous, while interspersed with the auto
graphs may be seen sketches by some of
the most celebrated artists and caricaturists
present and past.
Club for Women
Probably the most ambitious effort to es-
tablish a club for women in London is that
in connection with the Ladies' Athenaeum
whose headquarters are to be in Dover
street, Piccadilly. This club which opens
on Tuesday with many influential names
on its list of members, is intended for
those women Cd who have published any
original work in literature, journalism sci
ence, art or music; 90 who have university
qualifications or CD who are wives or
daughters of men distinguished in litera-
ture, journalism, science, art or music
The chairman of the executive committee
is Lady Frances Balfour and the vice
chairman Mrs. Moberly Bell. Among other
members are the Duchess of Leeds the
Countess of Lytton, Lady Archibald Camp
bell. Mrs. Craigie, the Countess de Grey
and Mrs. George CORVALLIS West