AMBITION OF A NOBLE DAME.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XIII, 31 March 1900, Page 579

AMBITION OF A NOBLE DAME.

“Ce que femme vent Dieu vent,” says the old proverb. The Duchess of Devonshire, so says a prevalent rumour, has decided, in her imperious way, that the Duke is to be the next British Premier. Such a consummation of his political career is quite on the cards. The Duke of Devonshire has long been the great reserve force of England’s Imperial statesmen. But for his abnegation he might at least twice during the last twenty years have actually taken the reins of the highest office the Queen has to bestow. It is well known that on the triumph of the Unionist cause Lord Salisbury offered to serve under the Duke. A characteristic quality, however, of strong self-restraint; an apparent diffidence of manner, and an amount of practical common sense which would not disguise from itself the numerical weakness of his own following, kept back the Duke of Devonshire from assuming the power he is undoubtedly capable of wielding. In his earlier life, perhaps, the influence of a helpmeet such as the Marchioness of Salisbury possessed in her husband would have urged on the Marquis of Hartington, as was his best known title up to 1891, to pluck the full fruit of his talents and hereditary position. But a romance has lain behind the life of one who has seemed the coldest and most impassive of British statesmen. He is now sixtysix years of age. being three years younger than Lord Salisbury. He did not enter upon the possession of Chatsworth, the famous Devonshire demesne of the Cavendishes, until 1891. and it was not till the next year that lie married. The beautiful Louise, dowager Duchess of Manchester, became his wife. It was an open secret that he had remained a bachelor so long from his devotion to the brilliant daughter of the Comte d’Alten of Hanover. whom the seventh Duke of Manchester had won as his bride in successful rivalry. Great society dame as she was. the Duchess of Manchester could hardly enjoy those opportunities for presiding over a political salon as she has done since her second marriage. The mistress of Devonshire House has taken the place as hostess of those great functions at which Lady Salisbury, but for her lingering illness during the last few years, would have pTesided. ' Iji* Marquis and the Duke have maintained a firm political alliance, and their dual control of the Unionist party has upset the tradition that England does not like a coalition Ministry. Tn the intense struggle over home rule the Duke of Devonshire’s dogged determination to maintain the union at the hazard of his political fortunes was but a strict adherence to the whiggish traditions of his family. His unexpected vigour, however, in assault surprised even his admirers. The inspiration was generally attributed in a great measure to the' Egeria whose advice he constantly sought and followed. In social functions and in the performance of civic duties and as a great landlord the Duke has of late years taken his full share, assisted by the Duchess. No season has gone b'v without a brilliant gathering of society leaders under the Devonshire auspices. If the whirl of London proved too exacting there was always the exhilarating air of Eastbourne to tlv to. with the chalk cliffs and downs of the south const of England. On the Devonshire property here the Duchess received her golf friends. In the autumn Chatsworth and Burton drew her house parties together, and only the shortness of the Kaiser's it visit Io England prevented her entertaining the Imperial guests. With America the Duke and Duchess have not a few associations of interest. Tn the civil war the then Marquis of Hartington came over, that he might personally study the immense prob-

lems then forcing themselves on statesmen. The Duchess’ son came over and found a bride. The heir to the Duke of Manchester is known as Viscount Mandeville, and it was the present Duchess of Devonshire’s son whose marriage to Miss Consuelo Yzanga was celebrated in Grace Church in May. 1876. but who did not become Duke of Manchester until 1890. His son. the present Duke, succeeded to the title on his father’s death, in 1892. Time has gone on and another young Duke has crossed the Atlantic to make the acquaintance of his American kindred, but only to be summoned back to England prematurely by the serious illness of his single surviving sister. One occasion of gorgeous pageantry is inseparably connected with the reign of Louise. Duchess of Devonshire. at the great house in Piccadilly, opposite the Green Park. It is a somewhat dingy looking brick building, but the mirrors and candelabra of its staircase, halls and drawing rooms one July night of the memorable Queen's Diamond Jubilee fortnight in 1897 flashed and sparkled in a scene of wondrous beauty. The famous Duchess of Devonshire, immortalised by Gainsborough, whose canvas and kiss to the burly butcher elector won Charles James Fox his seat for Westminster against all the influence of the Crown and Court, now met a rival in a successor. As hostess at what has become an historic fancy dress

Im 11, the present Duchess of Devonshire gathered together the royal personages and flower of the aristocracy assembled in London. The Prince of Wales appeared as the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers of Malta, the Princess as Margaret of Valois, while the Duke of York as the Earl of Cumberland, in the time of Queen Elizalteth. wore in his hat the identical glove given to the Earl by the Maiden Queen. Superb dresses, designed with the most minute historical accuracy by antiquarians and artists revived the glories of mediaeval courts and the sumptuous times of Louis Quatorze. The Duke of Devonshire himself was Charles V. of Spain, his dress faithfully reproducing Titian’s presentment of that grave and potent Emperor. The works of poets and dramatists inspired the costumes of almost every period, grouped together in carefully organised quadrilles. Every era up to the present century had its representative. Tlie Duchess of Devonshire chose for her prototype Zenobia. Queen of the East. Attended by a suite of children trumpeters and fan bearers, picturesquely attired in Assyrian costumes, she presided over this court of revels in a dazzling dress of gold cloth and green velvet, set off by an array of heirloom jewels. The choice of the heroine was characteristic of the Duchess’ tastes. Nature intended her to play a great role. Was it fate or mischance that diverted her from her manifest destiny?