The San Francisco call., 1906-03-25
Good Support for
Bill of Charles
Dixie.
/ Twice Married He Owes
Big Debt to His
Wives.
Second Spouse the Original
Of Dorothea CaSaubon in
Middlemarch.
Special Gable to The Call


best yet the most seductive influence
the influence Of woman, is being used
10 compel the adoption OF Sir Charles
Wentworth Dilke's bill enfranchising
women. The measure provides too,
that no person shall be disqualified by
sex or marriage from sitting in either
house Of Parliament
There is romantic justice in Sir
Charles sincere efforts TO place
where he can borrow of their counsel
and wisdom. No man owes more to
the affection, sympathy and helpfulness
Of true women than he, whom Britain
hOnors at last as her greatest authority
on international affairs. 1t can be said
almost literally that both of the re-
markable women whom marriage sue
cessively bound TO him laid down their
lives for him.
Sir Charles first wife was Miss Kate
Shell, a beautiful Irish woman. The
first Lady Dnke's death, at the birth
OF her son, was attributed TO personal
violence she suffered at the hands of
q mob when she appeared on the plat
form with her husband in the days Of
his red Republicanism."
APPRECIATES THIS COUNTRY.
There is no doubt that he imbibed his
radical principles in the United States
and again nine years later He is per-
haps the first thoroughly competent
Englishman who has ever seen and
described men, manners and institu-
tions OF the United States as they are
and not as they exist in the jaundiced
eye Of national jealousy and autocratic
aversion.
Sir Charles deeply grieved for his
first wife. After her cremation he pre-
served her ashes in an amphora Of
great antiquity and enormous value,
which accompanied him on all his
travels and did not lose its place in his
household when he took another wife.
She. Emelia Frances Strong. daugh-
ter OF Colonel Strong Of the Madras
army, married him in October, 1885,
when his name was besmirched by the
confession of Virginia Crawford. his
sister-in-law's young sister. She gave
the best strength Of her life to his
cause, champiOning him when Lady
Henry Somerset and almost every other
honest woman in the kingdom de-
manded for him the punishment sever
est to every ambitious Englishman-
permanent absence from the councils Of
his country.
MIDDLEMARCH HEROINE.
She wrecked her health IN the long,
cruel fight which won his rehabilitation,
her heart became affected, q weakened
blood vessel burst and in October, 1904,
he lost her, his shield and his prop. Few
persons know. perhaps, that the second
Lady Dixie was the original of Dorothea
Casaubon IN "Aliddlemarch."
Her life was a varied one and crowded
with interesting experiences. She was
Intimately vcrsed IN French art and
literature. When wife OF Rev. Mark Pat
tison. rector OF Lincoln College, oxford,
she met Ruskin and became one of his
ardent followers. Dying, Mark Pattison
begged her 70 marry any good man she
could love. She chose Dixie, well know
ing that the whip OF public rebuke would
bruise her fair shoulders far more than
his.
George Eliot and William Morris were
her friends and by Norris advice she
undertook important work for the wom-
ans Trade Union League. whose ben
ehcent results are felt even in America
today.
BURNS AS SOCIETY HERO.
II John Burns were so minded he might
be the Ion OF the London season. Invi-
tstions are poured upon him The most
exclusive West End drawing rooms have
not only opened TO him but aristocratic
hostesses not wont to sue beg for his
presence 81 dinners, lUncheons and teas
by every mail.
And the right honorable" reads them
Ail, smiles. perhaps trihe grimly. and
stays away. No member OF the Govern
ment Is so sought after, none so indiffer-
ent as he. Up to date he has accented
only two OF these lures into the social
world.
In each case they came from a woman
who had extended him a similar courtesy
IN his on-ministerisl days One was from
Lady Dorothy Nevill, who delights in
gathering distinguished men Of all classes
and parties at her table The other was
from the Duchess OF Sutherland. As is
well known. the Duchess. like her sister,
the Countess Of Warwick, has strong So
cialistic lesnings.
Burns genial personality and the viril-
fly and dash Of his conversation have
been the women eager to secure him for
their parties.