Earl Beauchamp.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7491, 14 April 1899, Page 4

Earl Beauchamp.

REVELATIONS BY A NEW YORK newspaper

The New York World says The appointment of Earl Beauchamp as Governor of New Sonth Wales, coming direct from the Qoeen herself, is a leading topic in English clubs and drawing-rooms. It is cited to emphasise the loyalty of Victoria's friendships, for the Earl's lata father was an intimate of the Qaeen, and enjoyed her fullest confidence. Before his death she promised to further his heir's career, and this is the fulfilment of the promise. But it is the character of the young politician's personality and the knowledge of his matrimonial affairs that add piquancy to the discussion.

For everyone knows that he i 3 in love. Ordinarily that would not create comment. But since the young earl was eighteen years of age he has done everything in a remarkable and original way, and in falling in love he didn't deviate from his custom.

Instead of doing what everyone would expact a sensible young earl to do, he did exactly the opposite. And to emphasise his genius for folowing hia own bent he added a few frills, jast as if he wished to make the romance picturesque. Therefore, when three years ago he fell in love, it wasn't with a high-born lady, but with one of his mother's maids. She was pretty and good, the kind of woman to appeal to a broad and serious and unconventional man. The announcement of his intention to marry a maid shocked his mother and his intimates in high life. Bat in public affairs he had won celebrity by shocking party leaders and by his fearlessness In puriuing his own course of action. For five years he had been accustomed to opposition.

At twenty-two, with an Income of L 30.000 a year, he deserted his mansion in Mayfair and took up his abode with the poor in the Whitechapel slums. He felt it to be his duty. Night after night he held mission services in the open air and preached God and humanity. Criticism of his coarse did not swerve him. Neither did it inflaeoca his action at Oxford, where, as her best debater, he was a Radical of Radicals. And later as a firm Unionist he defied his party leader, took a strong independent stand, ana sit with the progressive party in tho L'jnaon School Board. To his projected me™a!liance every influence was opposed His answer was defiant action. It was pointed out that his sweetheart was not accomplished. He sent her ahroad, ana paid for her full tuition in the chief Continental schools. She is now completing her education. It is at this epoch in his career that the Qaeen intervenes. She sepds him abroad to fill a responsible position for five years. Rumor has it that she hopes the cares of office may cause him to change his matrimonial purpose. Ia person, Lord Beauchamp is sparely built, and elegant of figure. He looks exceedingly delicUe. and the Lygons are a delicate family. There is a tradition—almost amounting to a superstition, in fact —to the effect that no eldest son of an eldest son can ever succeed to the family honors. The late Earl was a second son. Whether or not the ill-omened record is now to be broken is a question, but it may be mentioned that the present Earl (who is unmarried) is inclined to be superstitiono, and put 3 down the " family curse " to the fact that some of its endowments are "spoils of che Church." He is himself a very devout Churchman, almost to the extent of being cs. entatious about it, and has been known to attack clergymen in pablic for their Jack of orthodoxy. What he lacks in judgment, however, he makes up for in generosity, and many a Church, many a struggling mission, ca'l down blessings on his name. Not long ago he paid a heavy restoration bill for the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral.

At Oxford Lord Beauchamp went through one or two eventful afftirs. The chief of theie was tha great disturbance which took place when the Dean of Christ Church refused to leave some members of the " House" to attend a ball at Blenheim. Lord Beauchamp j part in the affair was indirect, but ic ended in his severing his connection with Christ Church. There was something of a scene between himself and the Dean, during which he is asserted to have asked to be allowed tha " certificate of good conduct" which would enable him to become a member of vVadbam, or some other college. The certificate was refused, and the Etrl retired, vowing that he would not receive a degree from Alma Mater until she should herself be inclined to present him one honoris causa. The condition has not yet been fulfilled, but a successful pre-consulate may result, of course, in anything. Lord Beauchamp, in those Oxford days had rooms in Canterburbury Quad at Christ Church, and very charming rooms they were. When out of college, he had " digs " at a roomy old house in Pembroke street, known as Micklem Hall. For some time one of the most conspicuous objects of one of these rooms was a huge UnionJick, which he had carried about to the accompaniment of somewhat discordant music through Oxford streets at a monster Unionist demonstration. The young peer was naturally enough a staunch" supporter of the Tories. The chief complaint against him as a budding politician was that he could not keep the/fact of his being a large landed proprietor out of his speeches. But it was generally felt that he had some convictions, and the courage of them, for which reason he was liked and respected by many. He was the President cf the Oxford Union in 1893.

Eirl Beauchamp is a well-read man, with tastes, especially in foreign literature, considerably wider than his pose as a Chu-ch champion might suggest. He certainly has had an easy life of it so far. As Mayor of Worcester he found himself on a bed of roses, for nothing could be easier than to entevtain county and civic dignitaries when the tea-fights and other functions could be given at glorious Madresfield, and L _ .dy Mary Lygon was there to assist him. With Worcester honc rs he was not content, however. He captured a seat on the London School Boaid at the last election (as a Progressive, be it noted), and has done good, hard, unassuming work there. He is extremely fond of levees, and likes to be seon here, there, and everywhere. Some of these things will be much in his favor as Governor of the great Australian colony, bat whether he will be equal to all the burdens which will be placed upon his shoulders remains to be seen. By-the-way, nobody was more surprised than Lord Beauchamp himself at his appointment. He, as a matter of fact, did not hear of it till several weeks after it bad been offered to him. He was travelling in Greece, and had penetrated well into the interior, forgetful of all home possibilities. When he returned to Athnns, there was the portentous letter which offered him this great chance ; a little frightened as well as astonished at his good luck, he did not, however, hesitate to accept at once.