New-York tribune., 1910-12-11
Anglo-American Memories
XCvII.
e LEWIS EARLY AND LATER LIFETHE HARcouRT
FAMILY
eoopyr,sht. 1910. by George W. snaan.ya

seems to be that he is regarded as a de-
serter. By family. by position, by his
sonship to his father, perhaps by the
APlantagenet blood in his veins, certainly
by his marriage and associations, he be-
longs with the Conserva tive half Of the
world. He has quilted it and gone with
the Radicals, and it is resented.
Whereas. If you are a Radical from the
beginning, society, which always has a
brilliant Radical wing TO il. accents YOU
for what you are. You have disap-
pointed no expectations. It is not a
question of popularity. Personally, Mr.
Harcourt has always been popular, and
when he married, in 1890. the daughter
OF the late Walter Burns. head of the
London branch of J. P. Morgan & Co,
his popularity was redoubled Politics
apart, their position would be the same
to-day; or better, since Nuneham Park
is now his. But because of politics you
viii hear it said, You never meet the
Harcourts now" That is not literally
true, but there is truth enough in it to
make it current gossip. What would be-
come of conversation if you should in
sist at all times on the literal truth? Do
not let us put too great a tax on the con-
versational resources Of the world of
fashion It is not the world of science.
and the laws which govern the one are
not the laws which govern the other.
1 have seen several of these social
ostracisms. more or less complete. They
always seem to be spontaneous. They
spring not from reason, but from i'm
pulse. They are feminine-what else
should they be when social forces are al
most always feminine forces? These de-
crees are not what the judges on the
bench call considered judgments; they
are caprices; as they would be in more
important affairs if the women had, and
used, the votes for which a few Of them
clanor. There is not much use in try
ing 70 explain them. You just accent
them.
It need not be supposed than these
exclusions are permanent The crisis
over, the boycott is over, as a rule. Sir
Williams experience is instructive-and
nerbaps prophetic. Everybody remem-
in his earlier days. The story of the
dinner to which each Of the company
promised TO ask the most unpopular man
he knew is too hackneyed to be repeat
ed. But il serves as a low water tide
mark or register
So does another anecdote: perhaps not
known at all When Harcourt, long be-
=
he hated-forced on him because he was
made Solicitor General and no precedent
could be found for not knighting a Law
officer Of the Crown-was on the thresh-
hold Of his splendid career he proposed
marriage TO Mr.. Motley's daughter Mr..
Motley objected. You may guess many
times before you guess why. Mr.. Mot
ley cid not wish for son-in-law who
had no political career before him, The
American diplomatist clearly believed
that the causes which at that time stood
in the way Of Mr.. Vernon Harcourt' s
social success would bar his road to
political success. So far We're they from
permanently nindering either that in
, both worlds he became "a respIendent
4iSUiG- e1AAo pS I1"0 fS1<>9eo All Ndd@ AaiI
are as easily repealed as passed.
One other anecdote, though Of a diff
ferent kind. There arose between Mr.
Motley and Mr.. Earcourt differences
about the marriage settlements; thing
far from being infrequent in this coun-
try. There was long. long discus
sion When Harcourt thought it had
lasted long enough, and saw no HkeH-
hood that he and Mr.. Motley would
gree. he rose from his chair
Mr.. Motley, have no mere to say. /
beg of you to have the settlements drawn
as If I did not exist"
And ne left the room. 9. ". s.