The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-31

business man who had no natural
tastes or experience Whatsoever, eN-
cited Il good deal of criticism. and was
their popular comic operetta, "Ii NJ.
s.. Pinafore," especially in tho words
III you stick to your desk and never
go to sea. you may all be rulers Of
the. Queens Navee." He did, however,
very we'll at the admiralty, owing to
his wonderful business ability and
genius for administration, and was in
turn Secretary for War, for Ireland,
dying as First Lord of the Treasury.
leader Of the House OF Commons. and
lord warden of the Cinque Ports He
was the particular object Of animosity
and of attack by Lord Randolph
Churchill, both as his ministerial col
league and as n rebel against his nu
thority when out of office. Indeed,
Lord Randolph seemed never tired of
either bitterly attacking him or sheer
ing at him.
w. Fl. Smith was. however greatly
liked and trusted by Queen Victoria,
who often consulted him about her
investments and about the manage
ment of her private fortune, and it was
She who. on his sudden death insist
cd upon bestowinG peerage upon his
widow, in recognition of his public and
private services to his sovereign.
Prince Arthur OF Connaughts house,
which hc has just rented for 4 term
of years from Lord Plymouth. and
where he will make his home with hie
cousin the young Duchess OF Fife, af-
ter their marriage in next October, is
one of the handsomest mansions in the
Mayfair district of London. One of
it's features is the large square hall,
,.,l,i ,1, hoo L. ~
the spacious building. It's walls are
faced throughout with Penarth ala
baster, Q;iarried by Lord Plymouth or
his estates in South Wales The floor
is laid with green and white marble
squares, and on each side of tho hall
there are Il number CT white alabaStcr
columns, which have the effect of re-
moving any trace of severity in the
architectural treatment.
There is very wide flight of white
marble steps to the first corridor. OF
which the library, with it's walls all
covered with old Spanish leather, is
reached. Another flight. of dozen
or more marble steps, and then the
staircase divides and ascends in two
flights to the first story. The balas-
ters on each side of the stairs are
formed of Cinpilino, marble. of n deli
cate green shade. and the walls are
panelcd with BreScia marble.
On reaching the head of the stairs
on the first story, the spacious aula
is entered. 1t has been used by Lord
Plymouth as q music room. and ex-
tends the whole depth of the house.
Light is admitted at one end through
cupola of toned glass, and at tho
other by the windows overlooking
Mount Street. Artificial light is pro-
vided by superb crystal chandeliers
Off this aula is the green drawing
room, in which all the woodwork Is
enameled in green AMI the furniture
in silk brocade Of the same Xhade.
The walls are in leather. and the Vene-
tian glass candclabra with which this
room is lighted are extremely hand
some.
Occupying the north corner of Mount
Street and Park street, the exterior of
the house is as handsome as the in
terror; and. while there may be some
mansions (thouEh mot many in Lon
dom that are more stately. yet there
arc none that are so extremely artistic
and SO perfectly harmonious. the taste
"f Lord and Lady Plymouth, two of
the most artistic members of the
British peerage. being apparent in
every detail.
Copyright, 1919, by the Brentwood
Company