The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-01-04
LIFE WELL SPENT
Death at Last Summons Baroness
Burdett-Coutts
HUSBAND WAS AMERICAN
Queen to Humblest Citizen Will
Mourn Loss of One OF Eng
lands Foremost Women, Who
Gained Fame as PhilanthrOpist

London, Dec. 31.-Baroness Burdett-
Coutts, who had been i'll at her resi-
died yesterday. She was conscious to
the very last moment and able to recog-
nize all the older members of her
household, to each of whom she gave
handshake as they came to bid her
last farewell. She died peacefully.
The death of the baroness, occurring
at the age of 90 years, besides depriving
the country Of one of it's greatest and
most famous philanthropists, removes
from London unique personality and
an interesting social figure. AS link
with the almost forgotten past, her life
beginning during the reign of Emperor
Napoleon, she Lived during the reigns
of five British sovereigns. Inheriting
an immense fortune, she SO used it as to
die beloved by the whole nation, from
the queen to the humblest citizen.
The baroness illness had it's origin in
cold, which developed into acute
bronchitis. In recent years she had
led rather a secluded life, passing her
time either at her town residence or
at her country place on the outskirts
of London near Highgate, where she
formerly entertained largely. She was
a great patroneSs of art, science and
literature, interfering little in politics.
Until quite recently she was well
known OIIra IN .ondOnapc DRIVING hnr
donkey chaise in the vicinity Of her
home.
Baroness Burdett-Coutts was the
first peeress created in her own right
and the first woman presented with
honorary citizenship in London. She
was an intimate and lifelong friend of
the late Queen Victoria and one of the
richest women in England. Her wealth
was used principally to carry on her
work to improve the condition of the
poor, and as philanthropist her name
was world wide. She was particularly
beloved by the people of the White
chapel district, London, whose condi-
ton she had done much to improve.
Twenty-Five years ago the baroness
became the wife Of William A. Bartlett,
then young man in the diplomatic SER
vice. and at present member of parlia-
ment for Westminster. He was born
at Plymouth, Mass, and upon becoming
the husband of the baroness, assumed
the surname of Burdett-C outts.
To have known William ", to have
been presented at Queen Victoria's
to have intimately associ-
ated with Charles Dickens, and to have
spent over FL 100000 in charity form a
unique chapter of experiences in the |
baroness life.
King Edward once said that, after |
his own mother, the baroness was the |
most remarkable woman in England |
and unquestionably "the second lady in |
the land" BY repute the baroness |
was more than a millionaire in English |
sovereigns and the principal partner in
the famous old banking house of Coutts |
g. Co., which for many years has acted |
as the private bank of most of the royal |
houses of Europe.
As rule the baroness lived in large |
on the edge of Hampstead |
heath, stones throw from the cele- |
brated old World inn known as the |
Spaniards place, where, it is said, high
wayman Dick Turpin, after his memoir
able ride from York to London, took |
refuge.
The baroness was great lover of
and had almost a menagerie |
at her fvorite home, Holly Lodge. The
pets included horses, dogs, goats, pigs,
fowls, cockatoos, llamas and other AMI
mails. The lodge is surrounded by gar
dens, where every kind of flower that
grows in England is to be found.