The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-10-11
LADY CARDIGAN, IN HER MEM
OIRS, TELLS COURT SCAN
DALS AND GOSSIP OF ROYAL
HOUSES.
by Charles T.. Stewart

| LONDON, Oct. ia BOOK
which has caused establishment
among the nobility, and has
shocked even royalty, has just
been written by the countess of
Cardigan. my Recollections. 4"
she calls 1t.
The countess. 6S years old, is
one of the Oldest of the dowagers
whose sharp tongues, excellent
memories of the past and defiance
of Victorian customs have made
them the betes noir of the mod
ern best families of Europe.
Her recollections discuss the
paternity of George w. The mat
rimonial relations, also. of the
greatest couples in the land are
mentioned with the greatest
lfrankness.
The maiden name of the coun-
tess was de Horsey. She was a
great friend as a child of the duke
of Wellington.
Just after she was presented
formally at court she went to a
gypsy to have her fortune told.
The gypsy prophesied for her a
widower for a husband, a second
marriage and a long life. She
says.
THE prediction came true, for
Lord Cardigan was widower,
and nearly all the men who pro-
posed to me were widowers!
was asked in marriage by Lord
Sherbourne, a widower with 10
lchildren; by the duke of Leeds, a
widower with II children; Prince
Soltykoff, the duke of st. Adams,
and Disraeli."
This incident of her girlhood is
worth recording: She tells how one
day she very much wanted to go
to the old Princess theater to see
play that was causing a great
sensation. She asked her father to
accompany her. He refused, say
ing: you could not possibly go
to a play like that. 1t is one of
the most wicked and wanton spec
tacles ever put on the stage"
Still she was fully determined to
Igo. and at last found someone to
take her. But in the middle of the
performance her friend said to
her: You must leave this theater
at once"
"Why?" she asked.
Because" was the reply, "your
father and his mistress and Lord
-- and his mistress are sitting
in the box opposite to u.s." pretty
commentary on mid-Victorian NOR
alsi
Here is grim story about the
death of Lady Ward:
ION the evening of the day be-
fore her burial Lord Colville came
to see Lord Ward. They talked
for some time, and then the wild
over suddenly turned to his
friend:
'Colville. you admired my
wife?'
Yes was the reply, I did, j.
Well, come and look your last
on her." said Lord Ward, lighting
a candle and leading the way up
stairs.
j 1.-THE room was full of shadows
and the Pickering light fell on the
lovely face of the dead woman.
lSilently Lord Colville stood by
her. Ward was watching him at
Itentively.
Still admiring my wife? Well.
she was pretty woman--but
You'd never imagine that she had
such bad teeth He put down the
candle on a table as he spoke and
raised his wife's head from the pill
low.
with cold deliberation he
Iwrenched the jaws apart. Look
here, man. But Lord Colyille had
.Ihurriedly left the room"
4 Another anecdote refers to her
JUNGLE, Admiral Rous.
MRS. Rous was very dictatorial.
land ] remember calling one day
latter her death to inquire after my
uncle. Indeed, my lady," said the
lservant, L may say the admiral Ia
livery much better since Mrs. Rous'
death"
This next anecdote is Of the acid
variety.
THE Ailesburys took a house al
Cowes every summer. Although
Lady A. was considered beauty
lshe was excessively thin.
"She was devoted to Lord Will
ton. but one day she went aboard
lord Cardigan's yacht. which was
lying off Calshot, and stayed the
might before returning to cowes
lord Wilton was furious about it.
. and made quite an unnecessary
scene about 1t with Cardigan. Some
kind friend said afterwards that