New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-25
A Famous Beauty at Washington.

Few will recognize in Gertrude Lady
sayile. whose death was announced last
week in a two-line cable dispatch from
England, the fascinating Mrs. Horace Hell
var, who a quarter Of century ago was
the most feted beauty Of Washington,
where her husband was attached as sec
ond secretary to the British Embassy.
she was the toast Of the town not only in
the national capital, but also in New
York, and II is doubtful whether there
has ever been since any woman of the
foreign diplomatic corps accredited to this
country who has enjoyed on this side Of
the Atlantic so widespread celebrity Tor
loyeliness and charm. She retained her
beauty TO an altogether exceptional de-
gree until quite recently, and from an
aesthetic point of view it is perhaps best
she should have died before it had been
entirely wrecked by old age. Some wom-
en- improve with time and acquire new
graces and charm with advancing years.
But Lady Savils's style Of beauty was
hardly Of this nature, and one cannot
quite picture her to ones self as an old
woman.
Her husband, Horace Helyar, died not
long after they left Washington, leaving
her in the enjoyment Of handsome
fortune and a beautiful country place in
Somersetshire, known as Croker Court,
Of which she was 10 have the enjoyment
for life, after which it was to go TO their
little girl, the only issue Of their marriage.
Some time afterward Mrs. Helyar mar
ried one Of her husbands colleagues in
the diplomatic service, John Lumley Sa-
vile, who, in course Of time, succeeded his
childless uncle as second Lord Savile and
in the possession Of the Villa Edelweiss at
Cannes, a fine house IN Charles street,
Berkeley Square, London, and about half
dozen country seats, mostly In York
shire the best known of the lot being
Ruford Abbey, where from that time forth
she was wont TO entertain King Edward,
prior and subsequent to his accession
10 the throne, each autumn, for the Don
easter week races. Lord Saviie likewise
Inherited from his uncle a very large
income, and when Lady Savile's daughter
by her first marriage grew up and mar
RED she at once turned over to her the
possession Of the Helyar country place,
Croker Court as well as her own life In
terest in Horace Helyar's fortune.
King Edward was very fond Of Lord
end Lady Savile, saw much Of them In
gown during the season and used 70 thor
oughly enjoy his annual stays at Rufford
Abbey. It is a beautiful old place, en-
vironed in a superb park that once formed
part Of Sherwood Forest, where Robin
Hood and his merry men plundered the
~. 81
The name Of Savile is one familiar
to the students OF American history. For
u was Sir George savile one time own
Or Of Rufford abbey, who took so promi-
nent part in the House Of Commons
IN champ!oning the rights Of the Ameri-
can Colonies prior to the outbreak OF the
war Of Independence. which II he had
had his way would have been averted
by means Of wise concessions. He also
ehamp!oned the cause Of Catholic eman-
cpation, for which his town house was
wrecked by the Gordon rioters. On the
death OF this Sir George Savile, at the
end Of the eighteenth century, Rufford
Abbey passed 70 his sister, married 10
Inc Earl Of Scarborough, who in accord
ance with Sir Georges viii assumed the
name and the arms Of Savile.
" was this Lord Scarborough's grand
son. the eighth earl, who having fam
ny OF natural children for whom he
wished to provide, left TO them entailed
the succession TO the Rufford Abbey es-
'a'es. while the Earldom Of Scarbor-
Oogh and the other Scarborough prop
srty including Lumley Castle, went to
MS cousin. In making this disposition OF
ms fortune he stipulated that each OF
MS Legitimate descendants should take
the name and TIE arms Of savile. The
present Lord savile is his grandson, who
succeeded an uncle, his fathers elder
brother having been created peer on
retiring from the diplomatic service as
ambassador.
Lord sayile's union 10 the former Mrs.
horace Helyar. daughter Of Captain
Wedderburn, OF the old SD Regiment
was without issue, and at his death. as
uere are no other descendants, legiu-
mate or otherwise, of the eighth Earl
Oh scarborough. the Rufford Abbey es-
rates Will revert 10 the present Lord
icArborou1h