The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-01-14
LADY HESTER STANH0PE.
Pitts Eccentric Niece, Who Lived
STRANGE Life In Syria.


Among the eccentric personages
of history Lady Stanhope, who was
born in London in 1866, is remark
able She was the daughter of the
Earl of Stanhope and niece Of the
great William Pitt.
The death Of her mother when
she was an infant deprived her Of
the care young girl should have,
and even her education was sadly
neglected. When she was about
twenty she went to act as 4 sort Of
secretary for her uncle. who was
then prime minister She remained
with him till his death in 1906.
In the next few years she dis
playcd such singular qualities Of
bal temper, sclfshncss and lack of
feeling that all her friends were
cStrangcd, and the English govern
mont withdrew pension she had
bcca drawing. In 1910 she shook
IT," dust of England from her feet
and started for the east
She arrived in Syria in 1912 and
settled on Mount Lebanon, where
she remained the rest Of her life,
entirely cut of from the compan-
ionahip of friends or countrymen.
Surrounded by native servants,
whom she ruled with capricious i'm
pulse. and with Indifferent means at
her disposal, she had a strange ez-
pcricnce
Occasionally some traveller who
hrcv her would make a stop and
call upon her. These persons told
curious tales of her household.
When tea was served one day the
servant brought the teapot to the
table holding it by the spout, as the
handle was gone. The ceiling Of
her salon was upheld by beams Of
wood, and her bed was a mattress
hid on planks that were placed on
trcetles.
l.ady StanhOpe was hard mis-
ire>s and demanded unheard of
hours Of service. At one time all
ihc free women in her employ left
in a body, and her slaves were con-
Stantly running away A strict dali
Il account was kept by a secretary
Of how every hour Of the day Of
each servant and slave was employ
ed. and Lady Hester kept it for
jildy and reference.
Her time was fully occupied, d.
y idcd rs it was into curious detail.
she remained in bed until about 3
o'clock in the afternoon and retired
{, about the same hour the next
morning. She began her daily du-
les at about 6 p. m.
Her first work was to assign to
I'll in the household the routine of
hcir labors for the next day. for
20 such eccentric hours were allow
! servants. This accomplished. she
.rcnt the rest of her time till she
.2tired in looking for trouble in the
'0nsehold, scolding and sometimes
earring, writing letters and talk
* for hours on any subject upon
}hlch she got started.
For a long time after she had
':oAe to bed she kept most of the
lcasehold awake and busy, her bell
.nling them for various services.
t might be for a lemonade or a
Oowl Of broth or Il cup of camomile
cea, for which the gardener was
called to gather the herb. or she
l0d forgotten some detail of an or
der for the next day, and whoever
7as to execute it had to be awaken
ed to hear what she had to say.
She kept in good accord with the
oasha, to whom she made presents
and rendered services of various
sorts, and she often sent gifts to
his harem. In this way she had a
certain protection.
She died a. she lived in Syria,
gith no friend or companion to
her last hours. Boston
Globe.