New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-26
NEW HOME FOR R. c. S.
Memories Recalled by Geo.
graphical Society Purchase.

copyright, 1912. by the Brentwood company.I
Lord Curzon, president OF Great
Hritain's Royal Geographical Society, TO
which several well known Americans and
canadians belong, has, according to cable
dispatches, purchased in behalf of that
world famed organization Lowther
Lodge from the Speaker of the House
Of Commons, and within short time the
society will remove from its old estab-
ushed quarters In Savile Row further
westward to It's new home.
Lowther Lodge can be truly described
"a ideal for the purpose. Built OF red
brick. large and commodious. standing IN
extensive grounds with fine shade trees,
q occupies at the Exhibition Road en-
trance of Hyde Park a site adjoining tho
Albert Hall 1t owes its existence to
the late William Lowther. father of the
Sneaker. who one time Minister Pleni-
potentiary 70 the Argentine Republic.
and for many years in Parliament, dis
pensed hospitality there for over half
century. until his death last spring at
very advanced age.
His other sons, In addition TO the
Sneaker. are Sir Gerard Lowther, British
Ambassador at Constantinople married
10 Alice Blight. daughter OF Atherton
Blight, OF Philadelphia);, Harold. who
makes his home at Northfelds Ranch,
near Roundup, Montana, and the fourth
and youngest, Henry. military secretary
10 the Duke Of Connaught. Governor Gen
eral of Canada. The head of the Lowther
family is the Earl of Lonsdale.
II seems fitting, anyhow, that the Royal
Geographical Society should be housed at
Lowther Lodge, for the latter occupies
the site Of Kensington Gore, famous dur
ing the first half OF the nineteenth CEN
fury as the residence Of that remarkable
and beautiful woman the Countess OF
Blessington. Her salons were the head
quarters Of the most cosmopolitan gath
erings that could be found under any
one roof in the London of those days,
and II was there that distinguished men
from every quarter OF the globe made
their rendezvous when in England
Among the habitues OF Kensington Gore
al that time were Disraen, afterward
Lord Beaconsf1eld: Lord Palmerston'
Louis Napoleon, afterward Emperor Of
the French: the great Talleyrand, Don
Carlos, Count de Montemolin. uncle OF
the late Don Carlos. Duke Of Madrid, who
inherited the formers Legitimist preten-
sions TO the throne Of Spain; the first
Lord Brougham. and last, but not least
the brilliant and handsome Alfred Count
Ard
traved in his novel Henrietta Temple"
under the name OF Count Mirabei, to
whom the first Lord Lytton dedicated his
novel ''Godolphin." whom Byron described
10 Moore as Cupid unclaimed" and who
painted the finest portrait in existence OF
the great Duke OF Wellington. The
Duke. when he saw the picture. exclaimed
with emphasis. Thank God! At last I've
been painted like gentleman!
II was dOrsay who helped Lady Bless
ington to do the honors at Kensington
Gore, even during the lifetime OF her
husband, though. contrary TO what has
been related, he did not live there, but in
q small house close by.
As a matter OF fact, Lord Blessington
himself first brought d'Orsay into his
menage by inviting him 10 accompany his
party for a tour in Italy, and from that
time on ne never remained long away
from the Blessingtons' immediate neigh
borhood until the death Of the countess.
While at Naples Lady Blessington
caused Count d'Orsay 10 wed Lady Har-
ret Gardiner, who was not her daughter,
as has been alleged, but her stepdaughter.
Lady Harriet was only fifteen years old
at the time, and her father. Lord Bless
ington, presented the couple with $4,000
ON their wedding day.