The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-15

ground landlords of The British me-
Lord roriman may be said 70 owc
much of the fortunes OF his house 10
donkeys; Many years ago, somewhere.
IN IN me eighteenth century. the doctors,
finding that the Mrs lsor,tnan of III,
Gay. the great grandmother OF the
present viscouat was very delicate. IN.
sisted that she should be FED on asses
large farm. in MiddieseX, whcrn
bryanstono square now stands, aud
St@Gked !, win big drove OF don
Az s'nu his farms and becoming thn
ohl.f purveyor of asses milk IN Lon
. g. a. ne ne original farm cost him about
lures added thereto are occupied by
For,man Square, Bryans,onc square
ana Manchestcr Square. tina, IS 10 say,
Dental quarters OF tho metropolis ana
yield 10 Lord Portmnn AN Income rs
umatcd al over si.oO0,oo0 Year. which
In fact. there are years when. owing
10 the railing In of leases. his income
las hecn five or six times that amount
Thus In 1855. when a large number
OF ninaty mine year leases fell in, not
only were the rents raised 10 eight
times what they were before, but cnor.
the tenants desiring 10 retain their old
premises. Indeed, in all that year he
received upwards. of .s7oo0,ooo in this
fashion from Ills London properly
capacity of landlord NTH.
u i I, Is 1erhnaps OWNS TO the role play
congestion with tho fortunes OF tho
family. that Lord Portnnn continues
10 this day to supply the British me-
course. he does not continue TO herd
the donkcya in Bryanstonc Square.
They arc driven into London every
farm In the outskirts. and arc milked
at The front doors of the customers.
who arc usually rich people and able
TO pay we'll for the luxury The milk
ing of the donkcys at the house door
Of the customers, instead of bringing
the milk into town In cans is to avoid
and dare say tina, some OF my read
ers who, spending the season in Lon
don, and returning home shortly ar
ter daybreak from some entertainment.
have met drove OF asses assembled
at the door OF some splendid mansion.
and have wondered therent. viii DO in.
terested 10 read this explanation.
The Portmans arc an old West OF
England family. and fiourished in Som
crsetshire In the reign of Edward u.
while under Queen Elizabeth q Sir VIII
liam Portman was Lord Chief Justice
OF England They were one of the
irst families to receive baronetcy.
theirs dating from 16ll. But the dig
nifty became extinct through the death
without issue of tho sixth baronct who
bequeathed. his property TO cousin,
Henry Seymour on condition that ha
assume the name and arms of Port
man. He in turn left the property.
with identically the Same stipulation
TO kinsman of the name of VIII
liam Berkeley. since which time tho
descent has been without interrupt
ton i'll tho male line direct.
The father OF the present Lord Port.
man, after representing Dorsetshire
for over thirty years in the House
of Commons. was raised to tho House
OF Lords by William W, a few weeks
before the Iatter's death. being ~,ihse n
quenuy promoted TO n viscounty by
Queen Victoria lie died at the age
Of ninety, and thereNis every pros
pect that his son. the present peer,
Will live as long. for he Is woDder-
fully well preserved, 1.-THE, spare. vig-a
orous, in fine condition, and is the ac-
tive master of ono OF the most famous
hunts in Dorsctshire, where he came
n cropper last year, willis negotiating
ditch, breaking collarbone.
W Moreover, In 1908. Lord Portmnn,
shortly after he celebrated his .cigh-
tieth birthday. married again, leading
to the altar widow of the name OF
Mrs. Livingstone -Learinonth of Han
ford, near Blandford. all his numerous
children. grandchildren and great
grandchildren being present at tho
wedding Of this fine old sportsman, who
lives up to his family motto. "a clean,
heart and a cheerful spirit" NJ
Copyright. F1ol1,3 by the Brentwood
aI5 COmDany.1ii. li4l.- la'