FANCY PORTRAITS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7830, 7 April 1891, Page 6

FANCY PORTRAITS.

EARL OF LONSDALE.

fThere are certain families who seem to associated with sport in all i» branches. It is inherited In the blood, ahd generation after generation we find lathers and sons fond of the Turf, the chase, the road, the river, and all the pastimes of the day. Amongst the many men who have played the game in all its branches, few have had tbe experience of t-if-l-owthers, all of whom are essentially swrtsmen to the backbone. They are nqtth-countrymen, and for more than two centuries have reigned Iv Cumberland and Westmoreland, like princes. The family o***m Lowther Castle, one of the noblest seats amongst the many belonging to the gentlemen of England who live at home atlease. The greater part of the town of Whitehaven belongs to them, and they alio have large estates in Rutlandshire, Bfrleythorpe being in the centre of the splendid Cottesmore couutry. #he Lowchers have been closely connects with the Turf and the Chase for many y#rs. The family racing colours have gSperally been white, yellow'sleeves, and r# cap, the second colours have been pSple. yellow sleeves aud red cap, a|U it was carrying Che orrner blhner that Spaniel won the Derby of 1831 w| Lord Lowcher, the great-uncle of the pfisent earl. In later years Jerry, Jericho, ami many other good horses accomplished vtiiant deeds on the Turf. The present pier's father, who was then known as CSonel Lowther, came Into the title in IS*, and he was well known both in the rmng and hunting worlds. This lord dSftnot adopt che family colours, preferri% that his horses should run in the "fprple, yellow sleeves, and red cap" that K||g Lud, and several other good animals iwSge to victory. _ _ Fond as be was of hunting, St. George, Earl of Lonsdaie, was perhaps better k»wn on the Turf. When he came into tlif title in 1876 he made his debut in the ragtag world under Captain Machell's ausplS~r with King Death, Hesper, and a fdw other platers. In 1877 he launched ot§ more, and he gave £10,000 for Petrarch | imthe hope of winning the Lincolnshire Handicap with him. This failure, though, ! wM* atoned by Petrarch winning the first said Gold Cup of £1,000 that was ever run f|| at Ascot or elsewhere, in addition to tSfc High Level Handicap at Epsom a fortirahc previously. Petrarch's racing caFeer terminated in the Champion Stakes df 1878, and at this time he was the proSrty of Lord Cal'horpe, who purchased mc horse for £3,0.0 in cousequence of his falling up lame after winning the Rous Memorial Stakes at Ascot the same year. H commemoration of thac victory Lord fcbnsdale invested the amount of the Stakes (£950) in two handsome silver ffiields, emblematic of the Turf and the Sphase, which were designed and manufacIred expressly for him to be handed wn as heirlooms with Monti's gold tazza Lowther Castle. His lordship may be id to have reached the zenith ot his ort but brilliant Turf career in 1878, as ;hough in the previous season his stud rried off no fewer than forty-three races, c aggregate value of which was of £12,301 is wasexceeded by £14,5_» for twentyree races in 1878, exclusive of the Croyn International and Great Sandown irdle-raees. The most distinguished otributor to that amount was Pilgrime. On 'retiring from the Turf iv the tumn, Captain Macholl bought his sthd r £18,000. The animals included Master lldare, Boniface, Advance, Birdie, tevron, Breadfield, Hackthorpe, Somert, and Blue Blood. Then Lord Lonsdale tted heavily at times, and, like all angers, had his good and bad weeks, is geuerosity was unbounded, and be warded his trainers and jockeys, after inning any important race, in tbe most teral manner. When JewitC was marjd he sent him a silver dinner service, arth £500, as a wedding present. After is Lord Lonsdale travelled, and during c winter of 1830 81 he had a voyage to c West Indies ia his steam-yachr, the rrthumbria, and arrived at New York in arch. Never physically a strong man, r died suddenly in 1882. He was sue-, eded by his second brother, Hugh Cecil SLowther, the present peer. | Hugh Lowther, as he was generally Sstyled, had earned great popularity long (before he ever came into the title. He was Swas always passionately fond of sport, and aook to the saddle in his early boyhood, feorn in 1857 he was ed ucated at Eton, and in 878 married Lady Grace Cecil Gorddh, the rater of the eleventh Marquis of Huutly he present Lady Willougbby De Eresby, Shud of Lords Esme, and GranvilleG-rdon. fHugh Lowther. made his name as being a Really good man to hounds in the days mhea his father was the Master of the tfjottesmore, and not many months had lelasped after he had said good-bye-to JEton, before he was to be found wb*.h Her Iffajesty *s Staghoun-ds or the Household drag. Beth Lord and Lady if-onsdale have always* been as fond of fid venture as they have of the chase. Her gfadyship is a determined and even daring horsewoman, and her innate courage was fwell illustrated when she accompanied H-ord Lonsdale in an extended sporting lour in America, A visit to the Rocky mountains was embraced in their trip, mud for a considerable distance they were IgCcompanled solely by a trapper. They Underwent many hardships and privations lp_-ay nothing of perils. Her ladyship spiciated as cook for the small camp; once fney hadfa very Oftfrow escape of their lives p they we're nearly overtaken by a prairie Mc, and in galloping away from the flames . mey had to abandon their guns and a considerable portion of their wearing apparel. I|t Lowther Castle are many mementoes of Mis memorable expedition, and doubtless mey call to mind many pleasantly exciting fpminiscences.- In later years Lord lirasdale has also made a trip to the -lactic Regions, whence he has brought a wiry curious collection of animals thac he saot, and other specimens of natural Kfeiorv. Lord Lonsdale is perhaps most dlvoted to fo± hunting, and was engaged f» Mr Langham, the master of tbe Woodland Pytchley, as huntsman, on tbe same rafrxns as a professional huntsman. In 1880. After he came into the title, everything w|s done in a most lavish manner for tbe fte seasons. The kennels were at BrigSlock, near Thrapston, and on his retirement he moved his pack to Blankney for two seasons, and afterwards sold them, ffbrd Lonsdale is a good horseman, and _fme years ago he took the Great Eastern Mrag Hunt Cup and a good hurdle-race at fib-Isle. His lordship is a real good Jpfdge of a horse, and he has taken many prizes in the showyard.. More ffian a dozen famous hunters can be men-

isbned with which he has taken awards, Slid he has been singularly fortunate, too, Mth ponies and harness horses. It will Iteate no astonishment to learn so good a JJEidge of horse-flesh should have been j&equently solicited to decide upon the #erits of competitors at shows. Lord Juonsdale has a decided prejudice in favour J>f chestnuts, being the old family colours, find bis forefathers always adhered to the Maine colour, and he. will drive no other. *jpr.is Lordship is also a very fine whip, and pie is fond of coaching. Just at the •present time he has arranged a series of -Striving and riding matches, his opponent Ibeing Lord Shrewsbury. Another of Lord pjonsdale's prominent characteristics is an Intense love of music. Several years ago mc formed a private band of about a dozen .highly talented musicians, and none but fgbose who visit his residences cam understand what a true English host he really Us, and how thoroughly he can enter into |the varied enjoyments he is able, to afford phis guests. Of late Lonsdale has pgured very prominently as a supporter §&f boxing, of which he was very !° ad . B ?'- n *! |ten years ago, and it may now be told that supposed novice in the art Is the H. Wox" who fought the Midland county Sbutcher aud beat him in three rpands twelve years ago, though at the time Fox s Seal name was kept secret. The nghc gcame about by the butcher insulting one pf Mr Lowther's friends, a foreigner, and tto settle it "MrFox" met the butcher at % time and place appointed. ■ Fox was iraaeked down twice'in the first round, tbufc completely knocked out the Midland Sbutcher in the next two round**. In tne Recent trial in which Slavin ««** .iWere concerned Lord Lonsdale stood their friend, working energetically on tbeir li-half; and it was greatly through his labours that they secured a favourable Verdict. As yet Lord _K»nsdale Is not Iknown on tbe Turf as an owuer of raceiwrse-, though he Is well --nown laractng §_rcles. s Webear, though, that he has one ?6r two horses in the charge of Armstrong %t Penrith, one of them being the Youngster, LizzieKendali. who is reported to be very promising- Most probably as stud wiU be increased, be so there is little doubt .that his colours will become one of the mo.t popular on the Turf, as he is a good, honest, and impartial man.—£»ce»s«- Victualler's Gazette.