The Washington herald., 1911-10-27
British Nobility Graded
Behind City Counters

city counters" While there may be some
exaggeration in the statement, a study
OF the genealogical trees of the English
aristocracy reveals many a romantic
story of humble folk who have founded
families which to-day figure largely in
the peerage. There can be no doubt
that in the veins of scores of the proud
est OF English peers runs the blood Of
ancestors who served customers in city
shops.
Among the fOrefathers of the Duke Of
Northumberland, for instance, we find
such names as William lie Smytnsonne, OF
Thorton Watlous, husbandrnan; William
Smithson, husbandman; Ralph Smithscn,
tenant farmer, and Anthony Smithson,
yeoman. And 1t was this same Anthony,
whose son Hugh left the paternal farm
to serve behind the counter of Ralph and
William Robinson, London haberdashers,
and thus to take the first step to that
successful career that made him a bar
onet and a man of wealth. From Hugh,
the London prentice sprang in the
fourth generation that other Hugh,
who won the hand of Lady Elisabeth Sey-
mour, and with II the vast estates and
historic name of Percy.
The Duke OF Leeds numbers among
his ancestors Edward Osborne, a Lon
life OF the daughter OF his employer
William Hewitt a merchant of Philpot
lane, when the fair maid fell into the
Thames and was in danger OF being
swept away. Wedding bells followed
this brave exploit. and in due course
Osborne became lord mayor of London.
The son of this romantic alliance was
knighted for prowess in battle. Edward
Oshorne's grandson was made a baronet,
and his great-grandson. Sir Thomas,
added to the family dignity by becom-
ing, in turn. baron. visCOunt, earl, mar
quis, and finally Duke OF Leeds. Thus
only two generations separated the
scendant Of tho strawberry leaves"
the first of a long and UnbrOken line ~
dukes. whose blood has mingled with
that of many noble families.
The noble house OF Ripon has had its
origin in Yorkshire tradesmcn who car
ried on business at York. some Of
whom were lord mayors OF that city
two or three centuries ago. These
early Robinsons added to their for
tunes and enriched their blood by alli-
ancNs with some Of the oldest families
in the north Of England. and slowly,
but none the less surely laid the foun-
dalton Of ono Of the wealthiest and
mos distinguished OF Great British
houses
The Marquessos Of Bath derive descent
from one John O tn lime, who was
most likely a worthy publican CsalOon-
keeper. We would say hcrcl. or Church
Stret'On. and who was descended in the
seventh generation, from W'lInm de
Bottefeld. an undor-forestcr Of Shrop-
shire In the thirteenth century.
The late MarGuess Of Salisbury
through his mother derived n strain Of
fr,v-g,
GTscOignN. the first lord mayor Of Lon
don. TO live in tho Mansion House
Then. again, the Ears Of DenhiGh
have for their ancestor Godfrey Field
ing. who served his apprenticeship in
London. made "A fortune as a MIX street
mercer. and was lord mayor when Hen
~ VI was King
one Of tho founders NJ the family for
tunes Of tho Earl Of Warwick was Will
lam Frcvfle, "citizen and woolstaplor,"
who died five centurics ago. after
amassing considerable wealth.
The father Of the noble house Of Dud-
ley was William Ward. the son OF POOR
Staffordshire parents. who was aDpren-
ticcd 10 a goldsmith. and finally made a
fortune as a London jcwolor.
The present Earl OF Darlington belongs
t0 the great family Of Smiths and owes
his wealth and rank to a respectable Not
tinEham draper. named John Smith.
whose descendants blossomed into hank
crs and members Of Parliament. one Of
whom was raised to the peerage by
George III and created Baron Caring
ton.
Lord HARDWOOD springs from a stock
ot merchants, who accumulated great
wealth in the eniEteenth century.
Lord jersey owes mucn ~ his riches TO
=
tiCe. who in Stuart days married the
daughter Of his master. William Wheel
or, the goldsmith. who lived one door
west Of Temple Rar.
An interesting list of ''Coroneted men
uS commerce" is thls-Lords Hindlip,
Burton. IveaEh, and Ardilaun owe their
wealth to successful brewing Of ale;
Baron Overtoun was proprietor Of a large
chemical works; Lord Allertons riches
have been drawn from his tan pits; Lord
ArmstrOnE's millions come from the
far-famcd Elswick engine works at
Newcastle, and Lord Masham's from his
mills a Manningham. The visCOunty OF
Hamblcdon has sprung rrom modest
new shop in the Strand; the harony OF
Durham was Graded in newspaper or
fec, and Lords Mount Stephen and
StrathCona were shepherd boys seventy
years ago. before they found their way
through commerce and political leader |
ship in Canada to the roll Of peers.
Among the most intimate Of the Chi
nese friends Of the late Sir Robert Hart
was WI Ting-fang, twice Chinese Min
lister to the United States, who, as al
most all in Washington know, hoasted
openly that he intended to live 200 years
and that, after the expiration of the
first fifty years, he would come there on
visit Just to ascertain how many OF
his friends and acTuainances he would
find alive in the American Capital. Mr..
WI once explained at the National Press /,
Club how he intended to accomplish this /,
end:
The first thing. naturally, is diet"
said he. 1.-The man who would cheat (
time should live on nuts like the squir-
rels Under no condition should he
touch salt, and he should begin and end .
each meal with a teaspoonful of olive
oil have hung scrolls in my bed !
ROOM" WI Ting went on to explain, /
with these sentences written upon them
in English and Chinese: I am young.
I am healthy, I am cheerful Immedi- !
ateIy enter the room my eye falls
upon these precepts. I say to myself. |
Why, OF course, 1 am and therefore I
am"
The life story Of the late Sir Robert
Hart seems to belong rather to the
realm of fiction than to the domain OF
sober fact. The marvellous influence
which this notable man exercised upon
the affairs of the Chinese empire. the
organizing powers he displayed in build
ing I'm tho maritime customs admiuiStra-