New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-15
LORD oUEENsBERRr-s CONVERSION


The Marquis Of Queensberry's conversion 10 the
Roman Catholic Church serves 10 call attention
once more 10 the diversity Of the religious be-
liefs Of The family Of which he is the chief His
sister Lady Edith Fox-Ptt, IS. like her husband.
George Lane FoX-Pitt, a processing Buddhist;
Lord Shclto Douglas and his American wife, a
California vaudeville actress are Baptists. Their
father, the late and eighth Marquis Of Queens
berrr. was a self-proclaimed atheist, and this
account was. in spite OF his talents, barred by
his fellow peers Of Scotland from representing
them in the House Of Lords. The present Lord
Queensberrys elder brother, who died az Lord
Drurnlsnrig. Presbyterian. and Lord Archi-
bald Douglas brother of the late marquis, is
Roman Catholic priest and a member Of the
Redemptorist order. The seventh narquis-that
is 10 say, the grandfather Of the present Lord
Gueensberry-was q Presbyterian Of the strictest
type. and his wife. whom he had welded at
Grerna Green. after a typical oldfashioned, post
ohaise-and-four eIopernent, died as a Sister Of
Mercy. She was q most eccentric old lady, and
is record having been devoted to the
Fenian cause that she subsidized Fenian news
paper for many years. laVisn1ng large sums OF
money On the Land League. and when Talbot, the
effective and informer, was assassinated she
made handsome pecuniary donation to the fam
liz Of the murderer in token Of her approval.
Her equally eccentric daughter, Lady Florence
Dixie. rabid Cnionist, presented sum twice
as large 10 the widow and family Of his victim
Old Lady Queens berry was, far am
srare, the only peeress Of the realm who was an
aFoTed and enthusiastic Fenian-
Ire strain Of eccentricity has always been ex-
csetingly pronounced in this family and has led
10 some strange ronances, to some extremely
dramatic episodes and L large number Of TRACE
oies Perhaps the most appalling Of the latter
@as one which took place in the early part OF
the eighteenth century at Edinburgh. The Lord
Gueeasberry Of the day ~as High Commissioner Of
Scotland, and as such had to preside at the cere-
inon1 q proclsining the law a. the Cross Of Ed
inourgb by which the fiscal union between Eng
-and and Scotland established. His entire
household. rctainers and servants. with the ex-
ceIfloa q the heir the title, an idiot boy. and
he one-year-old child one Of the servants. de
serted tie family mansion near Holyrood Palace
y. 1lrness the ceremony. When the inmates OF
te es's Enlistment returned at the close 81 the
function they found 10 their horror that the luna
IL hHlr n the Hieh Commissioner and of the
narcuiss-e ~ Cueensherry had managed TO escape
IRON the room in which he confined and had
roasted in front the kitchen fire and almost
c9mTlere'y 6oyoured the unhap py infant This
cam hslis'ic lord dis not I've 70 succeed 10 his
fathefs hono-s but died few gears after the
ragedg so dlouse.
The present Lord Q8eensberry. who has just be
'9ne convert "a Catholicism. Is well known IN
1.ls country. where he llas many friends and ac-
e'siu'arces and wrere he IS frequent visitor
he has been singulsrly unfortunate In his business
ventures. having been mixed up, like the late
l(fu Duferin in those mining enterprises by
means Of which the late Whitaker Wright in
vowed many ia In fact, he has maze
several appearances the bankruptcy court, ana
'a Tie last occasion the fact was brought TO hght
mat his income did not exceed $4,000 year, and
anal when he succeeded TO his fathers marqulsate
.s owed in the neighborhood Of sLtc0.eyO 10 money
lenders snd insurance companies. He served at
'ht time IN the navy and afterwaTd IN the army
"iich latter he quilted 10 go gold mining ana
HHeep farming In Australia, and married for love
rt Pen1iless daughter Of clergyman Of the
NAafch 81 England. He almost last his lie IN 4
railroad accident on the New York Central Rail
Sa some years ago, when the last tram I"ll
n1nalo 10 New York topped into the Hudson
owning several Of its passengers. lie has n"th-
As IN common with his younger brotner' L"fd
Aalfed Douglas. now connected with that LONDON
"tthiy literary newspaper The Academy, III
'Hch De Is accustomed II give from lime Il. Time
oppression 10 his hatred for everything American,
" hstre3 due fact that when last over here
--okt u the clubs shut their doors IN his face
lie those 70 which re had obtained admission
'S'"esiad ham to withdraw as soon as ever they