"THE DUKE."

Evening Star, Issue 12943, 5 May 1908, Page 4

"THE DUKE."

FRIEND OF KINGS AND PILLAR OF SOCIETY.

ENGLAND’S GREATEST LANDLORD. [From Ode Special Correspondent.] LONDON, March 27. The death of the Duke of Devonshire removes one of the strongest personalities from the field of modern politics and one of the greatest social figures of the day. How come the Duke .by that commanding authority in the counsels of the nation that was his? When the then youthful scion of the historic bouse of Cavendifit made his political debut as representativt of North Lancashire in the Commons in 1857, at the age of twenty-four, we are told that there seemed few signs of promise, apart from his birth, of this young and seemingly ordinary politician attaining to any particular eminence. Hie intellectual outfit was entirely conventional, and his love of sport seemed to overshadow all other interests. Few men, indeed, ever embarked upon a public career more slenderly equipped with those especial gifts and graces which make for popular success, and it may well be doubted whether, without the advantages of his station, the Duke would ever have attained, with all his virtues, the position in politics be achieved. The ‘ Westminster Gazette ’ sums up admirably the secret of the Duke's success in public life. “ Dis greatest admirers,” it says, “ could never accuse the Duke of bcin.i brilliant. Such success as the Duke achieved was due in nowise to the arts of the orator or the wiles of the diplomatist, but to the simple, transparent, unquestioned, and unquestionable honesty and single-mindedness of his character. The British nation trusted in a supreme degree in the judgment of the Duke of Devonshire, because, perhaps, they saw embodied in his character all those qualities—and also, be it added, most of those limitations—which we reckon to be typical of our race, “ Wiien Lord Hartinglon succeeded to the temporary leadership of the Liberal party in 1875, John Bright summed up in two words his most characteristic and mostvaluable attributes —‘ Health and hardlieadedness.’ Let health include mental sanity ns well as physical vigor, and the praise was perfect. The Duke of Devonshire had not a particularly alert intelligence. His interests were hot very wide. It was not his way either to dream dreams or to 6oe visions. In the matter of imagination he was not very richly endowed. But in the possession of that cold, unemotional horse-sense, ns it has been called, which sees life steadily and sees it whole, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, but addressing itself directly and with the utmost practicability to the matter in hand, few were more abundantly equipped.” Politics represented only one side of the late Duke’s career, for he was a great social figure, one of the greatest in the land—friend of kings and princes, pillar of the turf, territorial magnate of almost unequalled influence, alid so on. There are in truth, few prouder names in the ranks of (he British aristocracy than that of tiro Cavendishes. A Duke of Devonshire has, indeed, a varied choice of residences. Besides tlie great house in Piccadilly (Devon, shire Douse) and the seaside resort at Eastbourne, his seats have been described as ‘‘palatial Chats worth, with its magnificent surroundings and its manifold art treasures ; Handwicke, holding the bulk of the family portraits; Lismorc, in a lovely country ; Bolton Prion-, in full view of the picturesque abbey, and placed upon one of the most perfect of the many sites chosen by the astute old monks, and nowadays in the centre of some of the finest shooting in the kingdom.” From the top of an omnibus Devonshire House, as seen over the prison-like wall, looks a gloomy pile, but beyond it run spacious lawns, and those who have attended the receptions of the Duchess and ascended the circular staircase leading from the low pillared hall have been dazzled by the splendor of the great saloon in front and of the ballroom and dining room to the right hand and the left. But to describe all the glories and treasures of Devonshire House and itr lovely grounds would occupy much space. Some of the finest pictures are contained in the saloon or ballroom, a magnificent room, with a very hoaiililul painted concave ceiling, costly Empire furniture, crystal chandeliers, and superb curios. In' the green drawing room is another painted ceiling, with gold carved in relief, costly chandeliers, and walls hung in green silk brocade. Then there is a blue drawing room, hung with Murillos. Rembrandts. and other priceless paintings: a red or Court drawing room, containing Sevres china worth a fabulous amount; the Bachcss’s boudoir, which was the Duke’s sitting room; the dining room, looking on to the grounds, a fine apartment handsomely decorated in cream, with fruit and flowers in gold relief, and containing numerous fine paintings ; the library, and so on. A wonderful collection of watches and clocks is also a feature of the house, and. generally, it would need a rare knowledge of objets d’art to appraise the value of its contents.

Bnt even more magnificent than Devonshire House E. oi' course, Chatswontb, the Cavendish's Jar-famed Derbyshire seat, win re the highest in the land have been entertained ‘n truly princely fashion for generations. Probably, indeed, no residence in the kingdom, except those of Royalty itself, costs more in the matter of upkeep than this palatial abode, -with its enormous retinue of sen-ants. The preterit mansion elands on the site of an earner one, which was built in 1687. One of its most wonderful features is its magnificent I’brary. Of the many Royal visitors who have been entertained at Chatsworth, one of the earliest was Mary Queenj of Scobs, who resided there against her will, being detained there, hi fact, a captive under the surveillance of the Ear! of Shrewsbury, “ Bess of Hardwick's ” husband. Since then Chatsworth has been visited by almost cveiy sovereign that has reigned "in Eng* land, but by none more frequently than King Edward, with whom the late Duke was on terms of closest friendship. Once, tome years ago, when the King was about to nay a visit to Chats Worth, his journey thithci was postponed, ostensibly because the King

lad a col<l -whilst tree-planting at Winaeor. Dame Rumor said otherwise, alleging that the reason for the postpoheTOent was that the Duke counselled His Majesty -to stay away until a certain untueasant incident, which might become pubic property, had blown over. It was said at the time that among the Duke’s guests were a certain member of the old nobility Ar, d his wife, who had so far forgotten what was due to their station in life and to their host as to try to correct theiif ill-luck at cards by cheating. The lady, it was alleged, was in the habit of standing nonchalantly near the table where her husband w pbjing in such a position that she overlook the hands of his opponents, and by fingering different items of her jewellery signal to him what cards the opposition held. What truth there was in the tale I cannot say, but the fact remains that on the day the King should have appeared at Chatsworth the alleged cheats left, and have never been included in any house party given there since.