Evening star., 1923-09-11
Earl Of Dysart Keeps Historic
Gate Closed Even for Funeral

Cromwell. 1t was tke>Duke of Lauder
dale who played so important and un-
savory a political role in the reign or
Charles II and James II, and II was
during his marriage to the widow OF
Sir Lionel Toilemache that her home
at Ham House. between Richmond
and Teddingtcn, became the head
quarters of the notorious "Cabaf ad-
ministration, of which Lord Macauiay
writes so Interestingly.
The most remarkable thing about
this suburban mansion, or rather pal
ace. the principal residence of the
earls of Dysarty-is-that, according 10
the elaborate inventory compiled by
the above named Duchess of Lauder
dale in 1878, every article of furni-
ture in the state apartments occupies
today its original position, and every
picture hangs in its old place-this
after the lapse of two and 4 half CEN
turtles. In the private chapel-is pre-
served prayer book presented by
Charles I TO his 1boyhood friend, with
n most touching and fraternal inscrlp-
ton in the royal handwriting, and in
the so-called ''CabaI rooBas where the
statesmen used to assemble in coun-
Gil, the silver fender fire irons and
hearth dogs-the latter fashioned like
King Charles spEniels--are the very
ones that were placed there for the
use of Catherine of Braganza, queen
OF Charles II, when she stayed at Ham
House.
Lord Dysart, who is in the neigh
borhood OF sixty and a childless wild
over, occupies the bedroom of his an
cestreBs, the Duchess of Lauderdale
and, sleeps in the same antique bed
covered and hung with the same stun
of :crimson damask and gold that once
saE her slumbers. Thus the historic
charm Of this old historic residence is
th9t t&eyerything that has ever be-
loHged ito it still remains. Nothing
has been taken away, sold or other
wlse disposed Of No books have been
added to- the great library since Vol
talre sent hts 'Henriade" to the fourth
earl, and the twelve Caxtons which
adprnedsft then are there today. This
fourth earrs wedding clothes and his
Carter robes. are as carefully pre-
served as If he were to wear them to-
morrow, though he died in 1910 and,
in the so-cailed miniature room"
there is frame containing an ear
ring. with q lock of hair taken from
kdle Ltedo "a tQOCOh A@AiSaOChh law
{te, Robert Devereaux, Earl CT EsseX,
ION the morning of his execution. Ash
"Wednesday, February 25, 1901
sSThe late Earl of pysart, Erandfa-
thers of the present peer. was an eN
fraofdinary character. Having quar-
relied with his wife, he withdrew to
small house which he owned, near the
Strand, from which he never emerged
during the remaining ffty years oi
his life, allowing no one save his Law
yersa and his doctor to have access 20
his room, thes servants having re
through hole in the door. His only
son. Lord Huntingtower, predeceased
him by some six years, being killed in
the hunting field and leaving his
charming Irish wife, one of the
Burkes OF Glipsk Castle. County Gal
'Ioway, her son and her two daughters.
I'm the utmost poverty. Not farthing
in the way of assistance could she
get from her. recluse old father in
law, one of the most celebrated misers
of the Victorian era, whose only
aimusemeTt waste gloat over the title
deeds and bonds, amid which he
ingtower and her threky children man
aged to exist, between her husband S
death and the decease of her seini-in-
sane father-in-law, no one but herself
and the late Premier William E. Glad
stone and his wife could tell, Glad
stone had been one of the most inti-
mate friends of Lord Huntingtcwer,
who had appointed hint guardian of
his .chifdre en-. q trust which thes states
man fulnlled IN the most generous
manner. r. : >--:-se- = ss... sse.s =: =: