The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-03

sells to the salon Bleu. IN fdct, tne
Blue Salon at Brussels is the one IN
democratic feature OF the most demo-
cratic court OF Europe.
Sir Francis Scott. who arrives to-day
in New York from England, ON board
the Oceanic, is only the firth bayonet OF
his line. but is tho chief of the ancient
house OF the SCOTS of Balwear1e.
which was founded by Sir Michael
Scott. surnamed the Wizard. famous rs
an astrologsr and as a mathematician
in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
When I gay ne founded the family.
mean that he was its most famous
member OF the family In olden times
For the family is descended from his
brother. he himself having been or
dained a priest by Pope Honorius. who
later on consecrated him Archbishop OF
cashel. IN Ireland.
At Toledo. then under the dominion
of the Moors. ne acquired an extraor-
binary knowledge OF Arabic, and it IL
through him that the Western World
first obtained a knowledge Of the Ara
bic versions of Aristotle. He IS the
author OF a number of books stin IN
existence on astrology. alchemy and
the occult sciences, and achieved much
fame - a soothsayer. foretelling the
death of Emperor Frederick ii. of tho
Holy Roman Empire. at whose court ne
was regarded as the most distinguish
ed OF the savants by which IT was fire
quented.
Sir Michael figures In SIR Walter
SCOTS Lay of the Last Minstrel" &C
cording to which poem he lies buried
10 Melrose Abbey. and also appears in
Canto XXX OF Dante's Inferno,
among the magicians and soothsayers
How he escaped being burned at the
stake for witchcraft is extraordinary.
For his celebrity as a magician was OF
European renown: while 10 this day in
Scotland any work Of great labor and
an tiquity requiring more than ordtn-
airy human agency is attributed 20
Aud Michael or the Devil"
Sir Francis is about thirty years OF
age. Is unmarried, was formerly in the
army, and Is engaged IN tea-planting
I'm Ceylon. Having FIVE =isters. all OF
whom benefited under his fathers will,
he Is not rich
Lord Aldenhams son and heir. the
Hon. Gerald Gibbs. who has just ar
rived in New York from Europe, on
il a member of the ancient city OF
London firm OF Anthony Gibbs Co,
which has been in existence since the
time of the American War of Indepen-
dence. and which for the last i20 years
has been so largely interested in the
South American trade.
The connection Herewith led Lord Al
denham, PRIOR to his succession 10 the
NJ Il ia House
Of Commons under circumstances
which attracted a good deal of atten-
ton at the time. 1t may be remem-
bered that whihe the war between
Russia aud Japan was in progress the
British government, by way of indirect
ly helping it's Oriental ally, purchased
two fine Chilean men-of-war. which
otherwise would have gone to swell
the size of the Muscovite fleet. The
purchase was made by the English
government through Anthony Gibbs
Co.
Now there IS an unwritten law in
England to the effect that people In
terested in government contracts can
not sit in the House of Commons. But
II is a rule that in recent years, at any
rate. has been more honored in its
breach than in its observance, and
there have been instances where not
merely Members OF Parliament, but
even members OF the administration,
have been quite as much concerned in
government contracts as the Hon. Al
ban Gibbs, without being called upon
to give up their seat in Parliament
Alban Gibbs (now Lord Aidenham)'
however felt that with the altogether
unblemished traditions OF his Arm, the
name of which is synonym for every
thing that is high principled and
straight not only at home. but also
throughout South and Central America
and Australia. he could not permit any
question to be raised as to his POSI-
ton in the matter.
He felt this all the more strongly. as
he had been at the time for more than
ten years a member for the city OF
London in Parliament; dignity which,
while IL entitled him at each openin
of Parliament to a seat among the Cab
met ministers on the Treasury Bench
Of the House of Commons. rendered II
incumbent upon him TO avoid any
thing that could in the slightest de-
gree affect the honor and name OF the
great commercial constituency of whicf
he had been so long the spokesman IN
the legislature of the empire. Needless
TO add that he was reelected oy an
Overwhelming majority, but suose-
auently again resigned his seat, or
this occasion in favor of Arthur Bal
four. the ex-Premier. who found NM
self without a seat Arthur Balfour
is now a member for the city of Lon
don AIban Gibbs. shortly after sur
rendering his seat TO Balfour. succeed
ed. through has fathers death. to a
peerage as Lord Alderman.
Lord Aldenham is related both TO
Arthur BaIfour and 10 Lord salisbury
For his wife. now dead. was daughter
Of the late Marquis OF Salisbury's SIS
ter. Lady Mildred Cecil. married 10 the
Right Hon. Aiexander James Beresford
Hone. Arthur Balfours mother was
another sister OF the late Marquis o.
salisbury. namely. Lady Blanche Cecil.
married to James Balfour- The GibbSes'
in addition to being London merchants.
have long been regarded as coun -
- family and are in possession
today OF lands which belonged 10
them as far back as in the reign Of