New-York tribune., 1908-01-19

undertake the management Of one of his own
farms, and fascinating as romance is the story
of what he accomplished. not only in transform
ing the whole of his Norfolk estate into a prof.
table paradise but in introducing a practical and
scientific system of farming throughout the
country The spirit in which he took up his
agricultural Iabors is illustrated by this story
aprOpos of a dishonorabIe agent who managed
the Holkham lands during Coke's early Parlia-
mentary service:
Coke was one to the effect that certain forester
known "Owd Tom had better be dismissed He
was Gardiner stated. a lazy. useless old man.
who did not work honestly at his grub stubbing'
casuaiiy that he would decide the matter another
day. a few days later there arrived among thet
foresters new hand. who seemed a hard working.
kindly fellow. and who, upon being asked by one
of his mates to lend bis help with a peculiarly
which him golden opinions He was, accord
MADE free Of their e socety he WORKED stealing snd
uncomplainingly with them: and drank his half pint
of beer or ate his crust of bread and cheese afaby
@ %n the he s ara ne friends with d %
! from being what Gardiner had represented him,
dustry. At the end Of two days the mate dis
a aPpeaared red and the following pay day lat at Hokbam
| by the Squire with a handsome rise in wages.
| pension Coke like Haroun-aI-Raschid had gone
| amongst his laborers disguised rather than DO a
| following February he dismissed Gardiner with
gratuity of fo. just six months after the date Of
| his appointment
| The instance was typical of the personal in
terest he ever afterward took in all his Iaborers
| and tenants. He encouraged every effort at i'm
| provements meeting his farmers more than half
way in such improvements. yet manfully cher
| ishing their sense of independence. Live and
| let live" it is said was the maxim on which ne
| moulded his life. He had the StubbOrnest OF
| rural populations TO deal with, but his mex
haustible patience, his justice, his careful con-
sideration of objections and prejudices. and
| that profound honesty which constituted his
power in the political world" conquered his Nor
| folk farmers. They learned to idOlize him and
| as he drew on to old age to revere and look up
| to him as a father. Every year he gathered the
farmers together to discuss agricultural matters
and as time went on agricUIturists, scientific
men and celebrities from far and near sought
| permission to attend until HOlkham became in
| some sort great agricultural and useful school
Among these guests were some of the most
| distinguished Americans of his day, men who
! were drawn to him by interest in his expert
| ments as well as by gratitude for his political
| services and his kindness at a time when Amer
leans had little welcome in England It is pleas
ant to note that throughout COke's long life
| Americans continued to show this interest and
| this gratitude. May the perusaI of these de-
HghtfuI books inspire something of the same
sentiment in their descendants!
Fox, who loved Coke. and relied implicitly
upon his friendship. called him zone Of the
brightest ornaments of England and the Duke
of Sussex son Of his old antagonist, George I'LL
loved him. too. as ''the best Of Men and the
first Gentleman in England" OF Coke's ac-
QUaintance with the dukes brother. afterward
George " a quaint story is told COke's hero
Fox was enraged by the duplicity with which
the Prince treated him in regard to the Fitz-
herbert affair and Coke shared his wrath.
short time afterward, are told, the Prince
wrote compIacently to propose his annual visit
to Holkham and COke's reply was brief and
characteristic: 'HOIkham is open to StTGHgfrS
on Tuesdays" Jealous of his independence
Coke had refused peerage offered by George
III he was again TO refuse 1t when offered
a barefaced brihe by the Duke of Portland. the
minister of George ". CCke posted to London
on receipt of PortIand's letter and with his
friend. Sir John Miller, went 20 Burlington
House:
Coke and Sir John Miller found the Duke Of
Portland surrounded By about half dozen friends.
who were evidently paying great court to him ui-
reCtly, however, the duke who his fresh
itOrs were. he rose and hUrryIns eagerly fOrw ri.
held out both his hands. and welcomed Coke
Iy Burlington House. Coke drew back. and
amidst the sudden silence Of those present addressed
the duke in the following words My lord duke