Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-01
london, July IL.

nERHAPs the most astonishing
transformation produced by the
great war is that It has set the
British nobility hard at work.
Many noble lords are. OF course, tight
ing in the war. for that has always been
the favorite occupation OF a gentleman.
but the necessities OF the present con.
nict make a much higher demand upon
the British upper classes than merely
calling for q supply of officers. These
classes at last realize that unless they
not only provide an army but arm and
equip II efficiently they will have no coun-
try left worth lighting for. and will spend
the rest Of their lives being kicked
around by efficient Prussian officers.
As q consequence, wealthy noblemen
who never did anything harder than
shooting over their estates, are grinding
away at shell cases and doing even
rougher work II they have not sufficient
skill to do that. Even women OF title,
many OF them young and beautiful. ac-
customed hitherto to life OF luxury and
admiration. have been performing the
rougheSt kind of war labors.
The first nobleman TO so to work on
war munitions was the Earl OF Norbury,
one Of the richest and most dignihed
noblemen OF England. In the peerage
he is described as William Brabazon
Lindsay Graham-Toler, fourth Earl OF
Norbury, Baron Norwood, Baron Nor
bury and Visoount Glandfne. Now he is
a hand in machine shop.
lie was too old for military service
and not trained to be an officer. More
over, he realized that the need OF war
munitions in the British army was even
greater than that OF soldiers. He ap-
piled for the hrst useful lob he could
hear Of, and obtained one In an aero
plane factory. He has been photo
graphed working at q lathe and deposit
ing his time check. showing that he is
doing his duty like regular workman
without any nonsense or favoritism.
''The hours are a. m. to p. m,
with half an hour for breakfast and an
hour for dinner" Lord Norbury told a
correspondent Of this newspaper.
Il am not altogether strange to the
work." he explained. II have run =
lathe OF my own for the last thirty-ave
years. and have been used TO turning
my hand TO all kinds Of mechanical jobs
that wanted doing. ! had intended at
first to offer myself for she'll work, but
when an advertisement appeared asking
for mechanics for an aeroplane factory
applied for Job and was taken on"
Lord Norbury is fifty-three years OF
thusiasm of a man half his age. Though
the hours are long. they viii not mean
much hardship for me-" he said. Il Ike
work, and am never happier than when
I'm working at something"
Once when he was staying with some
friends in the backwoods OF Canada, he
related. he put in no less than eighteen
hours in one day on some piPe-htting in
the house.
The peer munition maker receives en-.
actly the same treatment as the other
workmen, and lodges In one room near
the factory.
Many other members Of the nobility.
both men and women, we're stirred to
action by Lord Norbury's example and
promptly sought work where they could
be useful In supplying the armys needs.
The noble Earl of Albemarle is trying
to make strong boots for the soldiers,
having always had a gift for this kind
OF work. The equally noble Earl of
Ashburnham found that the best Job he
could obtain was shovelling coal into
furnace where shells we're being made
The Duchess Of Rutland mother OF
the famous Manners girls. is making
herself useful preparing little tins OF
pork and onions for the soldiers.
So grave has been the lack OF war
materials and munitions In England that
many women have gone to work in the
factories. The supply OF ordinary work
ing women was not sufficient for the
purpose and many women OF title and
high social position have gone 20 work
on such tasks as making uniforms and
even making shells. They expect In this
way net only 70 increase the war sup
plies, but 10 shame the men who have
not been doing their utmost.
Among the spoiled darlings OF society
who have thus gone 10 work perhaps the
most beautiful and picturesque Is the
Vlscountess Curzon. She Is the wife OF
Viscount Curzon, who Is the eldest son
OF Earl Howe, and IL only a very dis
fant relation Of Lord Curzon OF kedles
ton, who married Miss Letter, OF Wash
ington.
Lady curzOn is considered the most