New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-08
LONDON NOTES.
Lord CURSOR at Wolmer-4 Won
derfuL Do1gGger Duchess.
london. March 80.

ou.st 81 has carried with it since the reign Of
F5enry VIII TIE splendid residence OF WaIner
Castle. between Dover and Deal where Pitt
took counsel with Nelson; where :he Duke OF
Wellington in old age lived in simple state and
watched the steel gray cre5ts CT the Straits,
are where Lord DalhcUsie. Niscount Palners-
ton. Lord Granville and the Marquis Of Sails
hurry rested after protracted labors for the state
LORD Curzon OF Kedleston, after five years OF
sr5uous service "a India. has accepted the
nonors and cignues CT this ancient Office and
historic house and the ruFnor mongers are con-
vinced at once that he wiu not return 10 India,
hut VIII re-enter Parliament. They nay be
right. FOR these are times when the Ministry IN
mower has ceased TO represent public opinion in
the country and when 4 general election may
cone as the result OF chance division any
night and it is not likely that he viii remain
viceroy under & Liberal administration. The
occupation Of the castle, when he has no coun-
try seat OF his own. is not a convincing proof
hat he IS bent upon retiring from India per
manently. The distinction Of succeeding so
many distinguished statesmen who have been
Lord wardeus can hardly have failed TO infiu-
ence him. and he has imagination, for without
Il he would never have felt the potent fascina-
lion OF the East and the Office itself. in the
tenure Of which there has been no break since
The Norman period is one that appeals strongly
10 his Oriental fancy.
The chief object or lord Curzon's visit 20
England Is the restoration Of his health. Never
robust, but with a wiry kind Of 1exibllity which
IL an excellent substitute for strength. he has
suffered from the continuous strain Of Official
responsih ilities and needs to lie falloE for a
long holiday. He is IN sympathy with the ORR
entail mind, and understands az few Anglo
saxors 90 the natural afinities and Rntipathies
OF races and the necessity for f1rmness and also
Tor accommodation in dealing with the mixed
population OF India-a world by itself. and
while his intuitions are true and his judgment
IS never az fault he is a strenuous statesman.
who cannot take public responsibilities easily.
but exhausts himself in unremitting zeal and
ihoroughness. He has earned the honorable
retirement az Walmer Castle. whore the
medieval Lord Warden was alternately a mill
tary naval or judicial functionary but where
there is now only traditional right 10 render
some special service at the coronation Of SOW
ereign. 1t is not likely that he has lost his
interest IN English politics or that he is con-
sumed with zeal FOR taking up anew his work
IN India. Close observers. who believe that he
has a great future in the politics Of thu United
kingdom are impressed with the fact that he /
has not been identified with the fiscal question
and consequently IS q force IN reserve. Mr.. Bal /
fdlsrs uncertain health seems likely to involve
his retirement from the leadership Of the Con- .
servative party I'm the course Of a few years; 4
and there are few candidates for the succession.
Mr.. Austen Chamberlain may become one, If he .
makes memorable budget speech after Easter;
or Mr.. Wyndham. who IS now Mr.. Balfour's
cleverest understudy fer the part Of trimming
statesman may be the leader II il be true that
everything in politics can be accomplished by /
dexterity Lord Curzon Of Kedleston VIII be 1
a dangerous competitor Tor the leadership. IL /
he remains a. home instead Of returning TO /
India.
One o. the links with the past is the aged 4
Dowager Duchess OF Abercorn, who is now in |
extremely feeble health. She was Lady Louisa /
Russell at birth the daughter of the sixth Duke
OF Bedford and Lady Georgisna Gordon; and
she was half sister OF Prime Minister. Lord
John Russell She was the wife OF the Duke"
in lord Beaconsfeld's 'Lothair" and the
Duchess Of Abercorn was wife Of the Viceroy OF
Ireland. At one time she had five sons I'm Par
lament, and OF her seven daughters one married
a duke. two became marchionesses and four
countesses. one Of her daughters has been
Mistress OF the Robes IN two reigns: another is
the wife Of the Foreign Secretary, and all her
children have had force OF character and intel
lectual ability. she has lived to see four gem
erstioas OF descendants, her grandchildren born
before she was fifty themselves having grand
children now that she IS over ninety. As her
memory for names and faces IS remarkable, she
is credited with having the ability TO recall
with distinctness over two hundred direct de-
scendants and with taking an interest in them
that is quite pstriarchal.
NTr Sargent. who Is known among painters
rs the Van Dyck OF the period. is continuing
his Isbors. and e be lives long enough may
hand down to posterity all the most famous
ladies' ~ quality in King Edwards reign. He
has been painting the Duchess Of Sutherland.
one OF the handsomest Of the bearers OF Queen
Alexandra's canopy at The coronation. and he
has also IN hand the portrait Of another tail
duchess: end one ot these. II not both. VIII
probably be finished for this years Academy
His portrait Of Lady LathOm is virtually COM
plsted and will be ready for the spring exhibit
Zion. Lady Warwick is TO sit for her portrait
after the Academy opens. and viii probably ap-
pear ot Burlington House another year. The
great ladies' describe him as painting with the
point OK q disseCtng knife and laugh over the
stock story Of the witty woman who refused 10
81 for him because she preferred TO wait for
the Gay OF judgment. but they make appoint
inents IT his studio in Ttte-st. because he COM
Ensnds the patronage % the world OF fashion. as
Van Dyck cid an his time. Mr.. Abbey has also
been painting court portraits by the score, but
these are miniature faces for the coronation
picture. which is now nearly completed. APP
po-ntments have been made for all the royal
ties. ecclesiastics fRnctionaries and great la
oles who took part in the tableau when the
crown was placed or the Kings head and all
the cor0nets were raised This picture belongs
10 the kinc-there has been preposterous re-
port IN America that IL was painted for the
Agnevs-and VIII eventually be hung in Buck
inghan Palace L viii not be exhibited at the
Academy. but probably. at the Agnew Galleries