MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4301, 9 March 1901, Page 8 (Supplement)

MARRIAGE OF THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER

The future mistress of Grosvenor House is tho beautiful daughter of a still more beautiful mother. Nob so very long ago, Mrs Cornwallis-West had tho reputation of being tho fairest woman in tho three Kingdoms, and even now she rivals her two daughters in freshness and charm, while to her might still be addressed tho verses written in her honour many years ago by tho lato Mr Abraham Hayward, and of which tho concluding verso ran—

For though envy itself should disarm, And in praise of thy beauty agree, On none will thy fulness of charm Ever flash as it flashed upon me.

Although it is popularly supposed that the course of a Duke’s, or even’ of a future Duko’s, true, love must necessarily run smooth, it is an open secret that the young millionaire wearer of tho strawberry-leaves had to encounter a considerable amount of opposition before his romance camo to a satisfactory conclusion. Humours of his engagement were current some two years ago, when the Duke, then tho very youthful Lord Belgrave, spent many of his happiest days in Ruchin Castle, Colonel Cornwallis-West’s splendid place in Wales. Then followed a sojourn in South Africa, where, with Sir Alfred Milner as ‘‘guide, philosopher and friend,” the future wearer of the strawberry leaves was encouraged to see something of Greater Britain His grandfather, the lato Duke of Westminster’s unexpected death revived rumours of nis heir’s approaching marriage, but, true to tho old British adage, “I could not love thee, dear, so well, loved I not honour more,” the now Duke, after spending a few days in England, hastened to tho seat of war, from whence ho has only just returned. Miss Shelah West and her sister. Princess Henry of Pless, might represent Moonlight and Sunlight, so utterly different are their types of beauty. Tho Princess is tall and very fair, while tho future Duchess of Westminster is exceedingly dark and piquant-looking, her style recalling tho early Irish loveliness of her mother.

The Duke’s marriage is naturally a source of groat gratification to his tenants and neighbours in Cheshire, the more.so that Miss Cornwallis-West is very well known in that part of the world. Indeed, she has been acquainted with her future husband since early childhood, for as a little girl she often stayed with her grandmother, Lady Olivia Fitz Patrick, who lives at Brighton Hallj near Chester : while Euchin Castle, situated half way between Denbigh and Corwen, is considered by Welsh folk to be within a very easy distance of historic Eaton Hall. Miss Sholah West is essentially a country girl, her two favourite amusements being riding and yachting. The latter form of amusement is pursued by her and by her sister from Now!and.-, the delightful place in the New Forest which has now been for some years the property of Colonel Cornwallis-West. One of the prettiest traits in the character of the Duke of Westminster’s fiancee is her great affection for her mother. The two ladies, notwithstanding the difference in their ages, might be sisters, aud Miss West shares all her mother’s tastes, notably that for gardening. As to the young Duke himself; it may be said very literally that he was born with a gold spoon in his mouth. Though he bad the misfortune of early losing his father, ‘the late Earl Grosvenor, he bad all the advantage of constant intercourse with his grandfather, certainly one of the most remarkable personalities of the Victorian era, and who will go down in history as having been one of the most noted philanthropists, sportsmen and politicians of his time. The late Duke was touchingly devoted to his young heir, and Lord Belgrave —as he then was — was never seen to greater advantage than when in attendance on his grandfather. Everything that could be done to fit a youth for a great position was done in the ease of the present Duke of Westminster. He knows every tree,, every hedge and every farm building on the great Westminster Estate; and, through- his stepfather, Mr George Wyndham, he has had many opportunities of seeing modern political life at its best and noblest.

In these days there is always something peculiarly fascinating about the possession of immense wealth. At one time the late Duke rather went out of his fray to say that his income was not nearly as large as was popularly supposed. His heir, however, cannot fail to become in due course one of the wealthiest men in the whole of the civilised world. Even in the last twelve months a great many leases on his London property have fallen in, and, when it is remembered that the Westminster London Estates, consisting of about six hundred acres, lie between the Marble Arch on the one side and Buckingham Palace road on the other, it will ho understood why the late head of the House of Grosvenor should have been credited with an income averaging over a thousand pounds a day!