South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-29
RICH DUKE SELLS
ANCESTRAL HOMES
High British Taxes Force
Leading Land Owner TO Put
Property on Mart.

LONDON, Jan. 2s.-The Duke Of
Westminster IS the latest Of the
British dukes 10 be taxed out Of his
ancestral homes.
Since Lord Howard de Walden
disposed OF the major portion OF his
London property the Duke Of West
minister has been the wealthiest OF
London's landlords and generally
was credited with being the wealth
lest OF Britain's artistOcrats.
Now. however, the inroads Of the
rural. municipal and national taxes
have transposed his one-time, solid,
substantial wealth into a mere myth.
So the duke, rather than suffer the
penalties OF the 'nouveau pauvre,
has decided TO sell out and quit this
land OF high civilization and still
higher taxation and beat II to the
wilds OF Africa until the tax gath
erer's demands are more common
surate with the ducal bankroll.
The duke has acquired farm Of
900 acres in Rhodesia and for
some years hopes TO lead the life of
a Gertrude Page hero In that very
healthy but very barren dominion.
On his new farm the duke hopes
to Craze hundreds Of head Of cattle,
branded no doubt with the West
minister crest, and also TO indulge
in much big game hunting. The new
duchess will accompany him.
Snubbed Socially.
The duke and duchess have not
cut any figure In social circles since
their marriage. In the first place
queen Mary, like Queen Victoria,
thoroughly disapproves Of aristocra-
tic divorces and ever since the mar
rage between the duke and the first
duchess was split by the divorce
court Buckingham Palace has
frowned on him. His second wife
has had to share the ostracism.
1t is not known at the moment
whether the whole Of the dukes real
estate in Great Britain will be dis
posed of although the general opin-
ion is that no reasonable offer will
be refused. There is no wealth now
in landed estates in this country. At
one time a mans wealth was gagged
by the extent Of his lands The
tables have turned; the bigger the
estate the poorer the man is nearer
the mark nowadays.
All the big landed proprietors,
whose ancestors would sooner have
cut off their right hands than part
with an acre of their land, are now
glad TO be rid OF their property,
which is nothing more than a bur
den to them. The duke of Portland
was the last aristocrat TO part with
! his estate and nearly broke his heart
doing so.
DOleful Parting.
ct is exceedingly painful for the
representatives Of old families 10 be
! obliged TO part with their estates,
which have been in their family for
/ generations" the duke of Portland
said TO his tenants, '@but it is no use
blinking at facts, however disagree
able they may be. II the present
heavy taxation continues and the
/ present scale Of death duties is
maintained there inevitably will be
I a closing down of all the large coun-
\ try houses.
! For centuries past landed estates
/ have been handed down from one
generation 10 another, and landlords
/ and tenants have lived on terms Of
mutual trust and affection. l fear
now that that trust will pass away
/ i'm the new order of things. But If it
/ is for the good Of the country we
must not complain"
The following is a list OF the old
| aristocrats who have been obliged
through stress of circumstances to
sell part of their inheritance:
Duke Of Devonshire. Duke of Bed
ford. Duke Of Grafton, Duke of
Sutherland. Duke of Rutland, Duke
/ of Westminster. Duke OF Mari
borough, Earl Beauchamp, Earl Of
I Denbigh Earl Bradford, Earl of
| Desborough, Lord Aberdeen, Lord
Lovat, Lord Harrington, Lord
Harlech, Lord Leconfeld. Lord Lon
desorough. Lord Portman. Lord
Camden, Countess of Warwick, Lord
LyttOn. Lord Walsingham.
The old houses are now passing
into the hands OF the commercial
magnates. Hitherto they were con-
tent to live in the city, but now they
demand their country houses and
the advent OF the motor car makes
them easily accessible.