Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-18


was defeated for parliament by Mr.. White
more. Sir Charles was addressing crowd
ed meeting one evening when the support
ers of his adversary, who had packed the
town hall. interrupted him and would not
allow him to proceed. Nor were the police
strong enough to put them out. Percevai,
however was equal to the situation, and at
taching the fire hose to a plug he turned a
stream of cold water upon the disturbers OF
the meeting and drove them from the hall.
The enemies of Sir Charles Dixie attempted
to have Percfval discharged from ms posi-
tion but they failed and he became the hero
of the campaign.
few months later, however, his pen
chant for mischief caused his discharge and
disgrace. The town hall had been engaged
for a dance, and in the midst OF the fest1v-
tiles he cut OFF the gas to punish the man
ayers for not admitting himself and few
of his cronies who were anxious to join the
party. After that escapade he went to the
Cape of God Hope, where he remained until
the death of his cousin. the late Earl OF
Edgemont without heirs. The family solic-
itors hunted him up proved his identity,
brought him and his wife back to England
and placed them In Cowdrey Park. one OF
the most beautiful country mansions in the
kingdom. while the ex-fireman took his seat
in the house of lords.
Peers Engaged in Business.
large number of peers are now engaged
in business, although a few years ago II
was not considered consistent with their
dignity to earn money. Now that sentiment
seems to have become obsolete. 1t Is con-
sidered honorable for an earl to engage In
any occupation that becomes gentleman
Lord Montague for example, Is editor of the
Car, the organ of the automobile fraternity.
One of the magazines is edited by an earl
and several peers are doing literary work
like Bulwer-Lytton, who, believe, was the
first member of the nobility to write for
pay. The son of duke is in the coal bust
ness: fruit and vegetable shop near Char-
Ing Cross Is owned by an earl; several Drew
ers, bankers and merchants have been ele-
waited to the peerage, and others who nave
long pedigrees and strings of titles have
gone into business. 1t must not be forgot
ten that Queen Victoria sold milk and put
ter from her estate at Osborne In the city
Of Cowes on the Isle of Wight, and 1t Is now
quite the proper thing for noble lords who
have more dollhouse vegetables and fruits
than they can consume to send the surplus
to the fruit and vegetable mongers:
The Countess of Warwick has taken the
lecture platform The daily papers con-
tain a long list of appointments in different
cities Of the kingdom where She, one OF
the most beautiful and accomplished women
in the peerage, will speak on socialism
her enormous wealth ana
aristrocratic relationships, Lady Warwick IS
a radical socialist and one OF the most ag-
gressive leaders of that element In England
She supported the socialist labor candidates
election and "stumped'' the county like an
ordinary politician. She was delegate to
the recent trades union congress In Edln,
burgh and sat with two or three hunoreo
representatives OF the me-
chanical trades and the laboring element
She does not do this to pose nor to create
a sensation. She is apparently In earnest
and has convinced herself that an accumu-
lation of money in the hands of one person
is an injustice to those who have not been
SO fortunate as to acquire wealth. l do
not know what she proposes to do with
Warwick castle, one of the most peautl1ui
and one of the most famous old buildings
in the world, nor with the thousands Of
acres and other property that Is attached to
the estate. She has bunch of bright boys
who undoubtedly will inherit the great
will be interesting to watch their develop
ment under her influence.
Exploit of Lady Grisel.
She is not the first titled woman to show
an active spirit. however. Lady Aberdeen.
who is well known in the United States
and Is herself a woman of much public
activity, had an ancestress about 200 years
ago, in the reign of James II. who knew
how to do things and was not afraid of the
frown of the law or the prejudice of public
opinion. Her name was Lady Grisel Coch-
rane, and her father, Lord Dundonald, was
one of those fine old Scotchmen who didn't
give in to the king. His lordship was
by the government and imprisoned
in Edinburgh Castle. Lady Grisel came
down to see him, and while she was there.
and unnoticed, discovered that
he had been condemned to death, and that
a warrant for his execution was on it's
way to Edinburgh. She put on boys
suit of clothes, got a shooting iron and
started for Berwick, where she hoped to
the kings messenger. Arriving
at an humble inn, she asked for something
to eat. The landlady cautioned her not to
make a noise, because the kings messen-
ger, who had ridden all night and must
soon again take the saddle, was sleeping
in the next room. Watching her chance,
she slipped into his chamber, withdrew the
charges from his pistols. and then, calling
for her horse, started ahead of him on the
road. When he overlook her she held him
up. The messenger, who was veteran
soldier, tried to fire, but both his pistols
failed him, and he handed over his mail
bag to the boyish-looking highwayman.
The latter rode into the woods with it
while the kings messenger galloped on in
search of achievements. Opening the
bag she found the death warrant of her
father and burned it. Then she dropped
the bag, with the rest of it's contents I'M
disturbed, in the middle of the road Re-
Stunning the garments of her sex as speedily
as possible she made her way unsupported
to Edinburgh and excited the interest Of
influential friends, who secured a reprieve
for her father l think Lady Aberdeen ap-
proves of this brave and bold feat of her