The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-30
THE AMERICAN WIFE IN BRITISH
POLITICS.

American women have played OF
late years an increasingly prominent
part in British politics, and they have
shown themselves at least as tacttul
and ndroit in the difficult game OF dip
lomacy as their English sisters, whose
chief intellectual diversion II has been
for generations The first name In
the growing list which comes TO mind
Is that of Mrs. CORVALLIS West, for
mcrly Lady Randolph Churchill. The
wife of one cabinet minister and the
mother of another, Mrs CORVALLIS
West has passed most of her life In
the thick of political struggles. and
is celebrated no less for the shrewd-
ness of her judgment than for her
Social charm
There are many who believe,
though there are few. perhaps, who
would assert, that il 1t had not been
for his wifes gifts the late Lord
Randolph Churchill would never have
achieved cabinet rank The success
of the Rt Hon. Winston Churchill,
president of the board OF trade, may
Justly be ascribed, in part at least to
the excellent training for public
career which his brilliant mother
helped TO give him.
And then there was the late Lady
Curzon. who. as vice queen OF India
found herself at the head OF a house
hold as splendid and profuse MS any
in the world She acquitted herself
in truly regal manner, and even her
critics, who carped a bit now and
then. could never deny the court she
kept was so opulent that, judged even
by the standards Of surrounding Or
ientnl potentates, II did honor to Eng
lands greatness.
The latest recruits 10 the ranks OF
these American women of distinguish
ed position and great social power is
Mrs. Lewis Hairourt. wife of the
Right Honorable Lewis Harcourt'
newly appointed secretary of state TO
the colonies. Mrs. Harcourt is the
daughter Of tho late Walter Fl, Burns
OF New York. brother-in-law and
partner Of Pierpont Morgan. He
has also an American stepmother In
the daughter OF the historian and dip
lomatlst, ]. Lothrop Motley.
In the public career OF Mr. Harcourt
his wife has had for years a shaping
hand Temperamcntally the colonial
secretary is said to be man far from
ambitious. He is modest to degree.
and. Notwithstanding the honors
which have come TO him. he has never
been able to overcome a native TIM
idlty which predisposee him 10 private
rather than to public life. Mrs. Har-
court has striven yaliantly and with
a measure OF success to lntuse into
her husband a more daring spirit. and
has spurred him on TO accept those
posts of increasing difficulty to which
his undoubted talents recommend
him. In her own way she has sought
by the exercise of tnct and social
charm. to increase the circle OF influ'
entail friends which surround her
husband and thus forward his career.
Her money. too. has been useful TO
Lewis Harcourt In enabling him TO re
store the one-tlme splendor OF Nune-
ham park and Stanton Harcourt on
tho bank of the Thames. Both OF
these handsome properties had fallen
into sad dIsrepalr when Lewis Har'
court succeeded 10 their proprietor
ship The joint fortunes of himself
and his wife enabled MI Harcourt TO
expend vast sums OF money upon the
estates, and 10 restore to them the
glory which they had known during
the occupancy OF former distinguished
members of the Harcourt family.
In restoring the old mansion par
ticular care was exercised not 10 OBJ
lIterate the charm OF the past. Elec-
trio lights and other modern conven-
iences were Installed. the deserted
stables were filled. the magnificent
grounds were set i'm order. the house
itself was redecorated and refurnish-
ed. with the result that the Hnrcourts
now possess one Of the most impos'
ing country places in England.
King Edward was fond Of Mr- Har'
court. and during the lattcr's occu-
pancy Of the important post OF min
ister OF public works. the late king |
often passed a weekend at NuDeham.
In accordance with established c'i- !
ouette on such occasions the king Sc
lected the guests whom he was 70
meet. and he was invariably tactful !
enough 10 include in his list the name I
OF his hostess uncle, j. PierponCM Nor
gan.
Mrs. Harcourt was OF Immense as
sIstance 10 her husband. toO. while he |
was dlschargiDg the oncrouS and OF. |