The Washington times., 1907-01-27

lacteristic figures Of the Victorian era.
f-.The Baroness can never be replaced.
BIT Is not because she was a millionaire
'only that multiJudes mourn her. but
rather because she was one Of The FIRST
who understood the great responsibility
hof wealth.
She considered herself a trustee of the
vast fortune that fell into her hands
when she Was bat girl, and that her
Ihrst duty was 10 ma out how she ought
TO spend her money. When first she In
fherited her many millions she was stili
ty0ung. ana every nducement was ofrer-
q 70 her 70 spend her money on folly
iag.d HivOlity, but Angela Burdett COutts
Uas a woman OF strong character. and
ishe fully realized with her shTeWd COM
tmon sense that had she not been en-
lowed with an enormous fortune. she
tNas not one whom men would readily
seek. or who was likely Do enJhral their
affections.
Two ways lay before her at the open
ing OF her lift, and she had 10 make the
lchoice which had 10 be decided by each
lone. should she I've for herself or COR
others1 And she had no hesitation az
10 the answer 20 bee given.
Inspired by Dickens.
Charles Dickens had first interested
her In the terrible poverty Of the East
End OF London, a region then unknown
10 those born in fortuitous circum-
istances. In the company OF the author
she visited many OF the slums. with the
result that she spent huge sums on
model tenement houses, the first that
swere ever erected. Ia 1871 in Tecogui-
ton or her pubic service. Queen Vic
H0ria gave her the title of baroness ia
her own right she subsequently en-
Moved the Bishoprics OF Adelaide and
Cape Town and founded the See OF Brit
ash Columbia.
She built and opened the great Co
lumbia Market. in order 10 provide the
poorest IN London with cheap food. The
market proved a failure; il was ono or
shOse schemes which was urged and un-
tleFtakeu by those who We're not person
aliv and practically acquainted with
the life OF the poor. but in building the
market the Baroness BurdeJt Coutts
cleared away some OF the worst rock
cries In Bethnal Green, and that spot OF
vice and squaIor became "a cIeanly and
orderly neighborhood.
/ 1 can remember well the thrill with
(which English society learned that at
fthe age OF siXty-seven this great lady
mad decided 10 marry Mr.. Ashmead-
bartlett / often heard il said at the
itime that no man probably was more
unpopular. The world had settled that
che would not marry. and the fact that
"a man hitherto but little known in
london society. and many years her
lJunior should have succeeded in win
hing her affection elected much angry
icomment.
BY the viii under which she inherited
lher vast fortune. she was bound 10 lose
"a very considerable sum II she married
IAN allen. II is said that this prOVis0
fhad been put into the viii III order 10
iprcvent the possibility of an alliance be
fms formed with Napoleon III. as there
twas a moment before that monarch sue
,Ceeded 10 the French throne. when ne
'aapired 10 rehabiiitate his fortune by a
uaion with the heiress OF Coutts.
Buried in Westminster.
Under her will her husband succeeds
10 q vast fortune. but as most OF IL had
lbeen made over 10 him during the bar
ioness' life time, il would bee practically
impossible 10 ascertain The sum that has
been left 90 him by his wife,
10 was well done that this great wo-
man should be buried in the Abbey az
l1VestminsteT. and srandly appropriate
was the anthem composed 5y Handel
lfor tho funeral OF Queen Caroline. "she
delivered the poor that cried. and the
iatheriess- and him that had none 10
thelp him, II there bee any virtue. II
kthere h any praise she thought on
those Things"
No Iaara F-rYaa-..Frrs,- .-...r...-.-.. "a -...
Fever gathered under the vauIted arches
where lie England greatest The cos
ktermonger was there, the laboring man.
PHI duke, ana the prince. and the
wFeaths of flowers that were sent. with
their various Inscriptions. bore witness
TO the love OF many unknown To the
world, hut whose burden had been light
ened 10y the tender hand Of this great
woman. some of the Inscriptions on the
anonymous tributes are characteristic.
/ With love 90 dear great lady from
"a little girl 10 whom she was very
kind From school boy Who kissed
her hand once and has uo, FORGOTTEN
bier"
Perahps NO words SUM NIP Ler life So
we'll as those written By her husband
Work he said, sis one OF the great
blossoms of the baroness life: because
! that clear brain and deep heart ana
slender hand never rested from work !
chose the hymn. Now the Iaborer-.
flask Is Ger Because that vyorI, sas
done for the people, they will Dee eiao
that she has been laid to rest I'm IA.
Abbey al tho west end. close 10 the
great door 60 the neople.'
Another Famous Woman.
Another famous woman who has
passed away has borne a name which
is almost as widely known as that Of
The baroness. Mrs. Josephine Butler. the
isNeli-knowu writer and reformer Of that
period which has been called ''the
strenuous seventies"
The life work Of this great woman was
me outcome Of "A personal grief. Her
little daughter 20 whom she was de-
voted, came running u her one day
aud uipped on the top of the steep
Right or steps and feu dead at her
mothers feet From that day forward
she eonsecrated LSrself 90 the work 81
helping the 0utcast and the oppressed,
and no woman has ever received more
bitter opposition in the crusade she