New-York tribune., 1908-04-10
NoBLEMAN WEEDS AT E1GHTy-Two

NOBLEMAN WEBS AT FIGHTY-TwO
Lord Wernyss is still n very striking looking
man. who formerly bore a most extraordinary re-
semblance 10 Ihe famous painter Sir John Mais
and VINO about eight years ago-that is to say
when in his eighty-second concentrated a sec
Ond marriage, with Miss Grace Blackburn. niece
Of the late Lord Blackburn, although at the time
he had not only a number of grandchildren but
even Of great grandchildren. His bride attracted
much connendation at the time for her disinter-
estedness in declining TO accept the settlement of
$500 year which he was anxious to make in
her favor on the occasion OF their wedding. He
entered Parliament nearly seventy years ago as
The representative OF East Gloucestershire in the
House OF Commons, and is, so far I aware
tie Oldest legislator in point of service West
minister In the House of Commons he was famous
as a clever and most aggressive debater. whose
arguments were always pointed and usually pop
u-ar and II is difficult 10 realize that this peer
who IS now attracting much attention in the
House Of Lords in 1908, in the House of Com
mons conspicuous supporter Of the great Sir
Robert Peel and a Lord of the Treasury in the
Aberdeen administration, which was in Office at
the time Of the Crimean War. AS Lord Elcho he
may be said 20 have been the father both of the
rife competition movement and likewise Of the
volunteer force, which, in spite of the excellent
account which II was able TO give or itself during
the Boer war, has now been legislated out of ex-
tstence by the present government. In fact, the
name Of Lord Echo, by which he then known,
VIII always be identified with the history of the
volunteer army Of Great Britain.
When transferred by the death OF his father
The House OF Lords he brought to the gilded cham
Der atmosphere of breeziness 10 which il was
uuaccustoued, and introduced there an element of
pugnacity and general aggressiveness, and may
be said TO have capped the climax when on a
notable occasion II perorating the volunteer
question, he IN Of his finest periods brought
down his right and hand in a denuncatory
sweep full the hat of the then Prince OF Wales
(Eow King Edward who, usual with the mem
bers Of both houses Of Parliament. was sitting
with his high silk hat his head the cross
benches just In front of him. The hat, badly dam
aged and hettened, was knocked down upon the
heir apparent's nose 10 his intense astonishment,
Il being probably the first time in his life that he
had been thus bonneted. OF course, there
what the French would describe emotion
throughout the august assembly, the Duke OF York
growing purple in the face IN his efforts to pre-
vent himself from exploding into loud laughter,
the coucality of the situation being increased by
the utter unconsciousness of the old earl the
fact that he had been guilty OF something very
much akin 10 leze majesty The prince,
he had Erasped the situation, smiled good natured-
y, moved out OF the reach Of the waving arms of
Lord Wemyss and endeayored for the next few
moments repair his damaged headgear. The
is rather unfortunate in the matter of hats.
and has on more than other occasion dis
turbed the gravity Of the House Of Lords by sit
ting down upon his high hat, causing it TO col
lapse with much noise at the close Of speeches in
which he had given vent to considerable ire.