New-York tribune., 1907-06-26
THE ECCENTRIC ToLLEMACHEs.

LORD Tollemache. whose financial difficulties have
been engaging the attention Of the courts in Lon
don in connection with heavy liabilities incurred
- the restoration of Peckforton Castle, IS Tole
nache only the dstaff side of the house. his
grandfather the first Lord Tollemache. being
q son of Admiral Halliday. who assumed the
name of his mother, Lady Jane Toemache.
daughter Of the Earl Of Dysart. on succeeding TO
her estates The Tollemache family is a very an
cient one and figures conspicuously IN the history
of the reign OF King Stephen. It owes its earldom
OF Dysart. held by the head of the house. to
the marriage OF Liope Tollemache to the daugh-
ter and helress of VIII Murray. first Earl of
Dysart and whipping boy of Charles J. Young
Murray q nephew Of the provost Of Eton Col
lege, the tutor Of Charles !, and was selected by
his uncle 10 act a playmate for Charles and as
an associate OF his studies but. above all TO re-
ceive castigation for the shortcomings of the
prince. In those DAYS. when royalty regard
ed sacred, IL high treason in the eyes Of the
law for any subject 10 raise his hand against a
member OF the reigning family. But. inasmuch
the children of the sovereign stood quite as much
in need Of correction and discipline as the offspring
OF ordinary citizens, they provided with
whipping boys, who were aogged in their stead for
their msdeeds. Charles became very much
tached TO his whipping boy and when he grew up
and ascended the throne loaded him with favors,
comforting upon him the earldom OF Dysart and
the barony Of Huntingtower.
The Tollemaches have always been noted for their
eccentTiclty, and fl the manifestations char
acteristic lack Of common sense that led to such
frequent use Of the word stupidity in connection
with Lord Tollemache by both Judge and counsel
during the recent legal proceedings in connection
with his financial affairs. II Is difficult indeed,
understand why ne should have involved himself
80 heavily in debt in unnecessary improvements
at Peckforton Castle, g. Cheshire, when he has
such beautiful home IN Suffolk. Indeed. his place
in thet county, Helmingham Hall, about eight
mites from Ipswich. is perhaps the finest speci-
men I'm existence OF the noated manors and
castles of olden times. 1t remains very much Il
was when Queen Elizabeth paid a weeks visit
there 10 Sir Lionel Tollemache in 1861. the spnet
on which she played still figuring in the principal
drawing room The TolIemaches already
great personases in Suffolk the time the Nor
man Conquest as Is proved by the old distich,
when William the Conqueror reigned with fame
Helmingham was my seat and Tollemache my
name and in this twentieth century, during
hundreds and hundreds of years back, the draw
bridge spanning the broad moat is raised every
night and lowered every morning
One of the oldest members of the Tolemache
family undoubtedly the Rev. Ralph Toe-
who toward the close ot his life deprived
of his rectorship In Ieicestershire account Of
his extravagant behavior Among other things he
was wont TO take with him into the pulpit a large
and shriil whistle. which he blew vigorously any
time when he wished 10 emphasize "A statement.
when he read the Lessons during divine service
he would invariably walk twice round the lectern
before commencing. and during the of his
Eernnons would give the congregation informa-
iion about his little mare which he said was quite
like a daughter" 10 him. He had immense
number OF children. who were endowed by him with
extravagant number Of the strangest names,
such Tobmag. Odin Sextus. Qulntus. Ydwalo
and Fredegunda. Indeed. volumes could be written
about the oddities and also about the romances OF
the ancient house Of To.lemache
Its chief, Lord Dysart IS well known in Amer
lea, and when over here some years ago intima ed
70 newspaper interviewers that he did not care
care tGppence whether Canada goes 10 the United
s,ates or remains with Great Britain" lie has
c-sflSuted thousands of copies Of his works such
- cue for Anarchy ana Reforms Needed In