New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-11
Neil Owns Descendant Here

Nell ewyn's Descendant Here
ro-l Osborne de We're Besuclerk. VINO
has Just arrived in New York on BOARD 'Ile
Carlria. IS the half brother and next hel'
80 +ba Duke OF St Adams, who Is forty
wears old. an invalid and childlesS' ne
dvLado-, dates from the days of Charles
u u.ho conferred the title upon charles
psauclerl one Of his two illegitimate sons
NV Nell Gwyn. the Grange girl, the actress
ire friend Of the poet Dryden Cwho wrote
parts adapted TO her peculiar capaolllues'
and the admired one OF the quaint OLD COS
sip Samuel Pepys. who said OF one OF he'
impersonati3ns: Pretty. witty Nell! -
great performance of a comical part was
never. I believe, in the world before! Even
EVELYN. who hated women OF her Glass;
smoke OF her with respect.
Nell Gwyn may be said TO have been the
originator OF the merry widow" hat. II
seems that an actor at the playhouse
known as The Dukes Theatre wore very
large hat. which became the talk CT the
town. Not 10 be outdone, Nell Gwyn aD-
reared on the stage in a hat the circum-
terence Of a timber coach wheel. in sucn a
merry fashion as to throw the theatre into
commissions of laughter. In which the actors
themselves could not help joining
About the first thing heard OF her was
when she was ar orange girl in Drury Lane
Theatre. The orange girls stood in the pit,
with their backs 10 the stage, on the watch
for customers for their wares. exchanging
vttticisrns with the audience, during the
waits between the acts. Nell was great
favorite with the people who even after
they knew her 10 be the mistress OF Charles
IL admired her fer her frank recllessness'
her generosity, her invariable good temper
her ready wit and her infectious high splr-
US, all Of which were irresistible to those
who recognized in her the negation and
absolute contradiction OF the Puritanism
that had so recently weighed upon the spir-
ito Of the pleasure-loving element Of the
populacs Low in stature, well formed,
handsome red haired and rather plump,
airy, fantastic and sprightly. she sang,
danced and was exactly made for acting
light. snowy characters Moreover. she
was, in her way. patriotic, never intrigued
IN politics. and is known 10 have sometimes
given excellent and disinterested advice TO
her royal. selfish and frivolous lover.
why don't you get rid Of all us women y"
she said on one occasion. and devore
Yourself 70 serious affairs, and the good Of
yoUr kingdom
Unlike the other favOrites OF the Merrie
Monarch. she was faithful 10 him from the
beginning Of their intimacy, until the end
Of his life. and after he died to his men,
ory She did not long survive him.
funeral sermon was preached in her praise
by Thomas Tension, who was afterward
Archbishop Of Canterbury. Among the good
actions placed 10 her credit is that OF
having persuaded her royal lover to found
Chelsea Hospital an estimable charity, for
the support and retirement in their declin-
ing years Of old soldiers, of whom II ac-
commodities upward of Ave hundred, be-
sides having a large number OF outdoor
pensioners.
An amusing story Is told Of the origin OF
the dukedom OF st. Adams. Nell Gwyn re-
sented the fact that Charles ii shoWered
hOnOrs and titles upon the offspring OF his
other favori,es. Barbara Villers, Louise de
Querouailes and others, whereas her chill
dren we're Disseminated against. He re-
fused 10 respond 20 her appeals 20 confer
nobility and rank upon her two boys. She
waited her opportunity, and one afternoon
when Charles was riding through the
street on which she lived, on his way back
tcm Newmarket, with a brilliant com
pany OF courtiers, she suddenly held her
baby out Of the window by its chemise
and, hailing the King, threatened TO let the
child drop on TO the stones below unless
he then and there bestowed a dukedom
upon his and her offspring. Charles laugh
ingly yielded. and pledged himself TO com
ply with her demand. On reaching White
xii ok,FT - nU1f M
s.. Adams. but likewise Hereditary Grand
Falconer to the Crown.
Thanks 10 this royal descent, the dukes
Of ST. Adams are entitled 70 the use of the
royal arms Of England, brised. though
with a bar sinister
On his deathbed Charles IL entreated his
brother, the Duke OF York. 10 lcok after
Nell Gwyn and not to let her starve, re-
quest which that otherwise ungracious
monarch faithfully carried out by paying
her debts from the secret service fund, CIV
ing her a substantial sum in cash. to-
gether with life interest in valuable
estate, with revcrsion 10 the Duke OF ST.
Adams The other child OF Nell Gwyn
oied in his boyhood
IL may be added that no question has ever
been raised rs TO the royal descent OF the
Dukes OF ST. Adams. illegtimate though
II be.
The same can hardly be said of some OF
me other noble families dating from the
reign Of Charles II. For delivers into the
secret history and private correspondence
:" MS reign have discovered that the fair
ana Trail favo1tes Of the Merrie Monarch
were not hampered by the same scrupulous
~onetancy that characterized Nell Gwyn.
but 10 return 10 Lord Osborne de We're
oeeuclerk. His love OF adventure was q
RVfee OF great anxiety 10 his friends anu