The Washington herald., 1912-08-24

was over the Queen of Beauty "comys
forth, and by the avise Of all the ladyes
and gentilwomen sevis'' the prize-an
Elizabethan gold cup of exquisite work
manship. presented by Mrs. George Corn
wallis West-"unto the beste juster."
Tourney! Tourney! Knights and Es-
quires. Aux honneurs! AUX honneurs"
! Thus the herald announced what used
to be once upon a time right bloody
battle between challengers and defend
ers, and which did not cease till the
knight martial threw down his warder
and the Judges raised their slaves.
1t Is doubtful whether the English turf
| ever has known more eccentric and at
the same time more liberal patron than
the late Lord Glasgow, whose tightly but
toned blue coat and brass buttons and
white trousers, which formed his costume
| up to the last, made him so conspicuous
personality at Newmarket and at the
other big race meets in the SOS and early
eos Of the last century.
Possessed of enormous wealth, he could
AFFORD to indulge in any whim or fancy
that occurred or pleased him at the mo-
| ment without fear of the consequences.
Here Is an example: In a fit of temper
he once threw a waiter. who had been
so unfortunate as to incur his wrath.
bodily out Of the window from the hotel
where he was stopping at Doncaster dur
ing the 'leger' week. On being informed
by the landlord that the man was badly
hurt. IL was like the grand seignour"
he was, to reply, as though It had been
an everyday occurrence, such as ordering
brandy and soda" We'll, put him in
the bin"
This eccentric aristocrat's racing esta6-
hshment was conducted In a manner en-
tirely his own. His trainers-he was per-
petually changing them-must have ex-
perienced a time of II.
One of Lord Glasgow's fads was to have
all his two-year-olds galIoped together in
his presence. and any that he believed
were not up to the mark were at once
ordered to be shot Many a valuable
racer thus was sacrificed in a perfectly
needless and brutal manner. He had
great wealth. but also was possessed OF
a frightful temper. This latter was sore
ly tried on one occasion. when one Of his
trainers had the audacity to take a
falr' out Of his proud master.
Going over that worthy's stables one
day. and remarking what a nice lot of
horses they were. the trainer replied in
the affirmative. adding that. strangely
enough, their owner had never seen
them.
What. exclaimed his lordship. in
astonishment. DO you mean 10 tell me
that any man calling himself sports
animals as these you now show me. can
actually be SO Indifferent to their we'll
being as not even to come and look at
them occasionallyr Surely, the fellow
must have some reason for such extra
ordinary behavior
He has. my lord-and a very good
one" replied the trainer. edging away
to the door as he spoke. He's blind.''
And with that he bolted. followed by
his infuriated visitor. who vowed by all
the gods, as he pursued the other round
and round the yard that he would be
the death of him for taking such a lib
erty. 1t was a case. however. of first
catch your hare" and, having darted
into the front door OF his house. banged
1t in his lordship's face, and got safely
out the back way.
Great Britain annually pays something
like sl50,0oo in annuities and pensions.
and. strange to say, the majority OF the
recipients have done nothing to deserve
them. They get the benefits because they
happen to be the descendants of indi-
viduals who, long ago, were awarded
these bounties for eminent-or other
services rendered their King or country.
Among the largest of these perpetual
annunities Is that received by the Duke
Of Richmond and Gordon. which amounts
to Sc. 900 a year. The origin OF this re-
Queen Bess," glorious days. who received
tax of one shilling on each caidron OF
coal shipped from the River Tyne, and
used in England. This tax was paid to
her and her successors until Charles III,
the merry monarch" gave it to the first
Duke of Richmond. He and his heirs re-
ceived II more than a century, till. in the
time Of George III, II was commuted to
the present annuity, which is known on
the British treasury books as the Rich
mond shilling"
Another instance Is that of the Schom-
berg pension. bestowed by King William
III upon a favorite Hollander Of that
name for his military services. He
granted the sum of 10000 a year to this
family in perpetuity. and. though por-
tions of 1t have been commuted or sold
in lump sum to the government at dif-
ferent times. there is still paid out $4,000
yearly to people who are in some remote
way connected with the original Schom-
bergs.
Another of the same Kings annuities
Is still being paid to the heirs of LORD
d'Auvrequerque, Henry de Nassau. his
heirs and assignees, forever. in consid-
Grafton Of his many and faithful serv-
ices" even though they were of rather
sinister political nature. Ten thousands
dollars was the original sum. but that
has been commuted by successive heirs
I
nuity Is reduced to 2.S0.
In the reign Of Charles II, duty upon
imported wine was presented to the first
Duke Of Grafton, Henry Fitzror. In the
beginning Of the last century the then
duke commuted this duty for the yearly
pension of $4,000 and his fortunate sue
cessors up to this day receive this ample
income, for which they have done moth
ing.
A conspicuous case is that of Lord
Nelson, who is paid $4,000 a year by
the Byitish nation. though not even de-
scended directly from the famous admi-
raL This comfortable income is assured
ito all and every the heirs made OF the
title to whom of Earl Nelson shall de-
scend.''
As ancient fees" the sums of $40 and
500 yearly are respectively paid to the
Duke Of Norfolk and the Duke OF Rut-
land. though no one can accurately say
how they arose, nor do these annuities
incur any obligations whatever except the
pleasant one of receiving them!
But commoners as well as dukes and
lords have their share Of the 'swag"
for doing nothing. The Law Courts
alone pay over $4,000 in annuities, many
OF which are for compensation Of abol-
ished ofices.
Tungsten, which only in recent years
ha rorne mi 1eneral use WAS diacuase6