“LADY OF THE LAMP.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21020, 8 May 1930, Page 18

“LADY OF THE LAMP.”

When the Duke-of Portland described bis wife as the “ queen of all hearts, 0 ' he did not mention the secrecy which she enjoins on all those whom she helps Here,- however, are a few instances (says a special correspondent of- the Sunday Despatch:— ‘ r Mr King, her factor from the Caithness estate, tells the following of Andy and his horse. Andy was a fish hawker in Caithness, and one day this horse, middle-aged Andrew, found difficulty in drawing an exceptionally heavy load of fish. A tall lady approached and offered to buy the fish. The price was agreedupon, whereupon the lady also bought Andy’s cart. Andy’s astonishment grew when the lady also proceeded to buy Andrew. After payment, he watched in amazement all his fish being freely distributed to the villagers. That same evening, Andrew, drawing an empty cart, retired to the luxurious stables at Langwell, Caithness, for life. The duchess has crossed the lonely Scottish moors in winter •to visit the sick. 'She is called the “ Lady of the Lamp.” The fisherfolk of the stormy ports and villages of Northern Scotland have many nights of anxiety while their loved ones are away at sea, and when a stemn brings tragedy it also brings the duqhess with her consolation and help. There is the story of Sergeant P , whose case was declared hopeless by the military doctors, as a piece of shrapnel was lodged against his spine, paralysing his legs. The duchess sent the man to the best specialists in London. " I saw him again the other day,” said an estate gardener, “ and he jumped over a chair! ” “ Directly anyone is seriously ill-—• too serious for ■ ordinary doctors—the duphess calls in Sir . Douglas -Shields. Many humble people have . been cured in. Sir Douglas’s nursing home for the wealthy,” said another retainer.