THE DUKE OF NORFOLK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 465, 10 March 1882, Page 21

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK.

Thb spirit moved me this afternoon— All Saints day — to attend vespers at the Chapel of the Nunnery of the Assumption, Kensington square. The light streams through stained glass windows of- exqni* site beauty upon an altar rich with tracery and many coloured marbles and decked with lovely flowers and countleas lights. One by one file in the nuns in long court trains of deep violet cloth. The Prioress leads the choir and the singing is perfectly divine— ai beautiful as that of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart an Borne. In the place reserved for ladies of rank, I saw a tall rather stout lady, praying with great devotion. I found out afterwards that it was the Duchess of Norfolk, who is now on a religious retreat in this holy house, whilßt her husband is away at Lourdes on a pilgrimage with. his sick son, the infant Earl of Arundel and Surrey, the hope of the great house of Howard. The child is not deaf and dumb as represented, but nearly blind— a light passed before his eyes makes very little impression. The pious father hopes " the Lady of Sorrow and pity " will intercede for him, and in this faithless age, his faith, I think, is most touching, when we remember what a man he is — the father of the poor, the very comforter of the sorrowing. All England bears witness of the holiness of life, the untiring charity, the nobility and liberality of this most modest and retiring, but also princely man. The Duchess, after the Queen and Princess of Wales' the greatest lady in England, is the most timid of living women, and the equal in all that is good with her husband. Some time ago a poor little street sweeper was run over. The Duchess was passing in her carriage and saw what happened. In an instant she jumped out, and lifting the wounded waif, all muddy and dirty as he was, had him brought to her carriage, and carried him on her knees to the Children's Hospital, where you may be sure every attention was paidto him.-' An English correspondent.