A PAINFUL CHAPTER IN THE PEERAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8928, 17 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A PAINFUL CHAPTER IN THE PEERAGE.

The London correspondent of a Philadelphia paper writes : Tho all-ruling power whom some men call Providence and others Fate is responsible for soma curious and significant dealings with thoso whom the unthinking world puts down as Fortune's most favoured pots. Here, for instance, Is His Grace Henry Fitzalan Howard, K.G., fifteenth Duke of Norfolk aud hereditary Earl Marshal of England, almost fresh from the grave of an idolised wife, shedding bitter but unavailing tears over the heir to his title, now just recovered from an attack of illness. With an annual income exceeding some £600,000, splendid palaces in which to reside, and a title whioh dates baok to the time of Richard 111,, ono would think that tho Duke ought to bo a happy man. But, as a matter of fact, there is not a simple cottager or labourer on his vait estate at Arundel whom he does not envy ono at least of his possessions. The cottager can find happiness in his lusty, healthy lads, growing up to help him in his old age; but the Duke, with all his wealth and all his advantages, is forbidden such joys. All that remains to him is the poor croaturo known as the Earl of Arundel and Surrey. Born eight years ago, this heir to potential wealth and position is blind, is dumb, is deformed, and weak in intellect. Life to him must be a burden, a riddle which ho cannot solve; and not all the wealth of England can alter the circumstance. People who envy him hu rent-roll should look also at this skcletonf in his cupboard, and admit that there are some things more precious than wealth. If the young Earl reaches the ago of manhood, It is pitiable to think that he will bo unable to wield the power placod ia his bands, and must, in all probability, remain for ever a living and breathing corpse in a golden coffin.