The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-06
NO HALF-AMER
PEERESS IN OWN RIGHT

- -
brought TO a premature close, at the
age OF forty-one. in Canada, by break
Ing his neck. through his horse stumo-
ling over a stone and throwing him on
his head. He left no son and his peer
age became extinct with his death
The new Lord Sydenham IS In no
way related TO his namesake OF seven
decades ago. He is not politician or
| statesman. but a soldier. very as
tinguished officer OF the corps u royai
engineers, who as such has taken
very leading part In designing and I'M
proving the Notifications and deiences
OF England's over the sea dependencies
He was also at different times military
attache' OF various British embassies
in Europe. But e was the work that
he did in connection with the defence
of the colonies that won for him their
good Will. and IL was at the solicita-
ton of the eople OF Victoria that he
was appointed to the governorship OK
that Australian dependency. He did so
we'll there that he was promoted 10 the
lGovernorship II Bombay.
Before he had been very long at
Bombay he lost both his wife and his
daughter, the latter a very beautifuI
girl and a universal favorite. 4 year
or so ago his loneliness weighed upon
him II such an extent that he married
again. the present Lady Sydenham be-
ing daughter of the late George
Morant. of Marlborough Park Hants,
and mature widow of Captain A. S. Rey-
nolds of the Thirtyfirst Regiment
Lord Sydenham. whose peerage through
his childlessness bids fair to become
extinct at his death. is no mere sclen-
tific soldier, but has seen plenty OF &C
tive service, especially in Egypt and
the Soudan.
Lord Sydenham. who came into the
world on independence Day and cele-
brates his birthday, like Uncle Sam. on
the Fourth Of July. has taken his title,
not, as might generally be supposed
from the London suburb familiar to
all American visitors TO the Crystal
Palace there, but from the old Devon
shire family OF Sydenham. Of Brympton,
from whom he Is descended through
the female line Brympton came into
the possession OF the Sydenham family
as far back as 1866. through the mar
rage of Walter Sydenham to Johanna
only child and heiress of John Stour-
ton. Of Brympton. The latter is now
owned by old Sir Spencer Pousonby-
Fame. so long at the head OF the LORD
Chamberlain's department, and now
Black ROD to the order OF the Bath.
If I lay stress on the fact that Lord
Sydenham takes his title from his De-
vonshire ancestors rather than from the
London suburb of Sydenhan, II Is De-
cause OF the popular superstition in
England as to the unluckiness of as
Stunning metropolitan titles. They are
relatively few in number and include
the Duke of Westminster. who has lost
his only son, the late Lord Battersea-
who left no issue by his marriage.
with Miss Rothschild, and the closing
years Of whose life were darkened by
all sorts of troubles. the late LORD
Wandsworth. childless and always the
picture of meiancholia, Lord Isl.ngton.
who is also without any heir to his
peerage, and Lord Kensington.
Madame Raymond Poincare' the wife
of the newly elected president OF the
French republic, Is fortunately a
thorough woman Of the world. who may
be relied upon to avoid the extraor-
binary solecisms, the faux pas, and
the odd speeches which rendered
some of the former mistresses of the
Palace of the Elysee the butt of rid1-
cule Who, for instance. can forget the
wife of President Grevy, who in his
Younger days had been his COOK ana
/ whom he had married many years AFTER
/ the birth of their only daughter. now
Mrs. Daniel Wilson. On the first oc-
casion of King Edward. Cthsn Prince OK
Wales) being the guest OF President
/ Greyy at dinner at the Elysee. Nine.
Grew, seated next to him. wishing TO
make conversation. commenced asking
him about his children and then, curl
Gus as to what careers he might choose
for them asked. And your eldest, Mon
signeur, what are you going to make
of him." The British heir apparent,
taken aback for a moment at the
strangeness OF the question, smiled. and
then replied quietly, "All things con-
sidered. Madame. 1 think that 1 will
make him a King of England"
| IL is TO Nine. Faliieres. the wife or
the now outgoing president, that IS
however, ascribed a story to the effect
that on the first occasion OF ner re-
ceiving a visit from King George of
Greece, she asked after the health or
.votre Belle Helene" having confused
! in her mind the extremely mature
Queen Olga of Greece, whose grand
children are grown up, with the lovely
but undraped Helen, sung by Homer
and La Belle Helene. of Offenbachs
comic opera of that name. King
George managed by 2. great effort TO
preserve his gravity and assured
Madame la Presidente that he would
convey to his consort her gracious in
lauiries and above all the charming and
complimentary manner In winch they
were couched
! 1CoDvrfpbt 1919. by the BrentW OoO