Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-17
DEATH OF DEVONSH|RE
Absence Leaves a Gap in Pub
lie Life.
SOME TRAITS OF THE MAN
Early Services to the Empire Almost
Forgotten.
NEW DUKE IS A CAVEND1SH
Probable Removal of Crosby Hall
to the Site of Sir Thomas
Moore's Old Garden.
SOME TRAITS OF THE MAN
NEW DUKE Is A CAVENDISH
-rcspondcncc of The Star.

Correspondence
LONDON, April >, 1908.
The death OF the Duke of Devonsh1re
makes distinct gap in English life. Ot
la:e years, under the influence Of .'is wife,
he took a large part in the social and
sporting world. and thus filled the void
in his life which came from his compare
tive neglect of politics. His occasional
appearances on the political platform
were. however marked by all his old
breadth of treatment and statesmanline
insight into causes and motives which
distinguished him as a young man.
The political world indeed loses a great
figure by his death. He was perhaps the
last of the real wings. as he was wing
bS family education and tradition. His
serious bent was no doubt. given him by
the rigor of his early training. His father
was a stern martinez of the old school, of
& studious turn of mind. and his character
had q great influence over that OF his son.
AS Lord Harrington, in the house or
commons he was looked upon as the most
brilliant of the younger wigs. and II Is
one Of the puzzles of modern politics why
he never showed d larger CURE in pubic
life.
To the Younger generation. who did not
know of the important part he played In
his earlier days, the great respect paid
10 his attitude on the fiscal question must
have appeared rather remarkable. IT was
this attitude that revealed the sturdy IN
dependence of his character and the firm
ness of his mind in adhering to what he
thought right. He was OF a type that Is
fast disappearing from English public
life, and one looks round in vain for any
one who will quite fill the void his death
makes.
Not Quite a Genius.
The duke was not great genius, but
rIy oil he n. hor a
go to make a statesman. lie had no en-
thusiasm and his liberalism never got
much beyond the hereditary wing prin-
ciples of his house. His judgment was
sound and clear, and his sincerity was be-
yond all question At a free trade union
list meeting a little while before he left
London for reasons of health young
member Of the house OF commons came
up to ask his advice some point. 1t
was a simple question. The duke made
him repeat it, putting hand behind his
ear In order not to lose word. Then the
duke delivered his answer. Il cannot I'M
derstand it, he said. Il will think it
over and let you know tomorrow" And
when tomorrow arrived the dukes reply
10 the question was such an epiton1e OF
common sense that the most hair-splitting
logician could not have picked hole
in it.
This was the secret of the Duke of
Devonshire's political infallibiity. and at
TO think and slower to act; but when he
spoke his thought was matured; an
when he acted, the step was final and ir-
revocable. AS he grew older this habit
of :snai-Hke elaboration in action and
thought became intensified. He was far
more prompt to disassociate himself from
Mr.. Gladstone and his home rule policy in
1886 than to sever his connection with
Mr.. Balfour's government on account Of
the fiscal question in 1906. The two cpl
sodes-the most important and epoch
ma king events in the dukes career-form
an interesting contrast; but Doth show
conclusiYely the conscientiousness with
which he put the interests of his country
before the closest ties of political and per-
sonal friendship
Victor Cavendish.
The new Duke of Devonshire is the first
nephew to succeed an uncle in that title
From the first duke to the sixth it de-
yolved from father to son. son Of the
late Lord Edward Cavendish, the new
duke has been in parliament since his
early twentes. and his marriage sixteen
years ago TO the elder daughter of Lord
and Lady Iansdowne was the event Of
the season. Lady Evelyn is very pretty
and accomplished and clever and sue
cessful hostess. AS Duchess Of Devon
shire she may be relied upon to main
tain the traditions of her husbands FAM
lily and her own.
Mr.. Victor Cavendish bears an extraor-
binary facial resemblance to the late
duke. He has the same look about the
strong jaw. His relationship Is revealed
in every line of his personal appearance.
which is "Cavendishy' in the extreme.
He was born in Devonshire House, Pic
cadlly. i'm 1858 and was educated at Eton
and Cambridge. The new duke Is on the
boards of several commercial undertake
ings. \ really slardworking director, he
ID thoroughly acquainted with the tech
nique OF the steel and iron trades. and
also With railway management. 4 keen
aSriculturist he has exhibited success
fully at the leading shows. In the aux
Hilary forces he is particularly interested.
having graduated to tho rank of ma jor I'm
the Imperial Yeomanry. His beautiful
place. Hooker Hall. will pass TO his
brother Mr.. Richard Cavendish. on his
succession 10 the dukedom. IT Is curl
Gus fact that the new duke, with all his
territorial possessions will not own an
acre of land in the county which gives
him his title.
Trail of the Syndicate.
One Of the results of the dukes death
will probably be the throwing into the
market OF Devonshire House as a building
estate. Many offers were made to the
duke from time to time for the purchase
OF the house and grounds. but they were
refused. for though there are no very
attached TO the place, yet the duke felt
mat he was bound to maintain it as he
inherited it.
The new duke is known to dislike the
house, and as there is probably no legal
hiadrance, the superstition that it will
change hands seems justifabie. There
are at least two syndicates in existence
who are fully prepared TO buy, with the
ultimate intention of building flats on the
site which is unique in its way. for il
overlooks the Green Park away to Buck
ingham Palace in front. and 1t backs
onto the gardens of Lansdowne House.
There is certainly no other such site in
London and il should command a record
price. Lansdowne House. by the way Is
the residence of the new dukes father
in-Iaw.
One interesting result of the succession
is the revival of the title of Marquis OF
harrington. which has lain dormant since
1891. The holder of that title is Mr.. Ed
ward William Spencer Cavendish the son
of the new duke. and the grandson OF
Lord and Lady Lansdowne. who will be
thirteen In the course of few weeks
The youngest marquis is still the Marquis
of Donegal. who is five this year. the
next in seniority being the Marquis OF
Blandford, the. Duke of Marlborough
eldest son. who was born in 1897.
= Crosby Hall.
Although Crosby Hall is down and It's
stone and timbers removed from the city,