"The Earl'S Daughter''
VIII "THE
EARL'S DAUGHTER''
\To her friends Aet. 59.
YONKERS, NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 1891
Thus far Lady Henry [Somerset] is charmed with America, except the streets and roads.
These horrify her.
They even shock me after the English ones.
In New York we had to drive to her banker in William Street, and we were jolted so unmercifully that I do not believe Lady Henry will ever be willing to drive through the New York streets again.
The roads here are not much better.
She is amazed we stand it, and I confess Iam too.
She says everything looks as if it were only just begun...
To her family Aet. 59.
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 1891 After the meeting Olive [Seward] took us to the White House to call on Mrs. Harrison, and to see the President's weekly reception.
Loyalty would demand that I should draw a veil over the President's wife, but the truth may as well be told.
The poor dear Presidentess is not a Lady, and she neither acted nor looked like one.
She was dressed in an old done-up black silk made in the fashion of about 10 years ago, and apparently pieced out with all sorts of odds and ends of silk.
She called Lady Henry " Miss Somerset", and then feeling that was not right, she called her " Miss
''THE EARL'S DAUGHTER'
Lady".
She had a strong Western accent and said "Yes Ma'am" with a dreadful twang on the ma'am.
She displayed the utmost ignorance of affairs, and seemed to be a woman utterly without culture in any direction.
It was a sample of American democracy that I could have willingly withheld from Lady Henry's inspection, but it certainly was an experience.
After seeing the Presidentess we went into the President's public reception which he holds every Wednesday, and which is free to every human being, rich or poor, old or young, black or white, who may choose to come.
It was a sight to be seen for English eyes, and Lady Henry was delighted with it.
It was the most beautiful illustration of the true Democracy of our country possible.
There in the Executive Mansion of the great American nation stood the President of that nation shaking hands with anyone who chose to come, all received on a perfect equality, and all as free of the said mansion as though it were their own home.
Some of the groups who passed through were poor families with the father carrying the baby and the next older child clinging to the mother's skirts.
Then there were working men with their stained and frayed coats, and working women with their shabby waterproofs and their brown paper parcels, strangers and home folks, all sitting on the White House sofas and easy chairs, and walking at will about the rooms.
It seemed incredible to English eyes, but Lady Henry delighted in it, and for my part I felt proud of a country where such a thing could be...
It was still raining when we crossed over from Jersey City, and Lady Henry was disgusted, as well she might be, with the whole arrangements at that miserable
Desbrosses St. ferry.
I never knew before how disgraceful, and I think I may say with Papa, how morti-
A RELIGIOUS REBEL
Jying that ferry is.
I wonder the New Yorkers stand it.
And yet when I see the condition of their streets I do not wonder either, for I should say their streets had not been touched since they were first made one hundred years ago.
It is like driving over the rocky bed of a stream and nearly jolts you to pieces...
On Friday a grand '" White Ribbon " 1 lunch was given us.
The table cloth was trimmed with white satin ribbons, all the flowers were white rosebuds, the rolls were tied around with white ribbons, and at each of our plates were bunches of white roses, tied together with broad white ribbons on which our respective names were painted with gilt paint.
We sat at that lunch table 2 mortal hours, and went deliberately through the following 14 courses, with the plates changed each time.
1. Raw oysters on half shell.
2. Beef tea in cups.
3. Celery and radishes.
4. Lobster cutlets.
5. Salted almonds and olives.
Ice cream in fancy little ice cups.
7. Chicken cutlets and peas.
8. Celery and radishes again.
9. Large cups of chocolate and whipped cream. to. Salted almonds and olives again., 11. Fancy ice creams and cakes.
12. Salades and cheese.
13. Candies.
14.
Fruit.
Although the lunch was at 2.30 we had all the windows shut in dark, and curtains drawn and candles lighted.
This seems to be the New York fashion.
All the grand people, Vanderbilts etc. are still out of town, so we have not been entertained by any of them, although they have offered their empty houses and their horses and carriages for our use....
On Saturday the Council of the King's Daughters gave us a breakfast at a famous up-town restaurant, like Delmonico's only
1The American White Ribbon corresponded to the English Blue Ribbon of temperance.
'""THE EARL'S DAUGHTER''
more fashionable.
This was very interesting as they are all most lovely and interesting women.
Of course both at the White Ribbon lunch and the King's Daughters breakfast Lady Henry was perfectly charming and everybody fell in love with her.
She was by far the prettiest and most charming woman at either of them, and by far the best dressed.
To her daughter, Mary Costelloe (Berenson) Aet. 59.
GERMANTOWN, WVov. 7, 1891
Lady Henry Somerset and I have had a miserable voyage, no great storms but oh! such sickness.
I had had my bed made more comfortable so that I could lie in it, but my state-room was at the bow and tossed up and down like a rubber ball.
I thought I was the biggest fool in creation for having come. I would like to say '' Never again", but the recollection of past similar remarks restrains me !
All the way out to Chicago I was trembling in my shoes in regard to the meeting of Lady Henry and Miss
Willard.
I had said so much to Lady Henry about Miss Willard that I began to ask myself, "' suppose she should be disappointed "', and as I had not seen Frances for 4 or 5 years, I could not tell but she might have changed.
But I need have had no fears for she was more charming than ever.
I notice what thee says about religion and there is much truth.
All the surface part of religion, that is all the spectacular part and the emotional part are largely matters of geography and of race, and also I would say of era too.
But behind and beneath all these there is a knowledge of God that must be and that is more or less
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REBEL the same everywhere. I like Jukes's illustration taken from the description of the Holy City in Revelation.
The city lieth '"' foursquare " and has gates on every side.
Consequently people who enter it come from all the four corners of the earth and travel in four opposite directions.
The man 'who enters one gate must travel south' while the man who enters the opposite gate must travel north.
But all enter the city and meet there.
And just so in finding God.
We may travel on exactly opposite pathways according to our race, or country, or era, but we all meet in God at last.
I fully agree with thee about the ticklishness of our emotions, and therefore that gate of entrance would never be the one for me, although I believe many do enter there.
To her friends Aet. 59.
BOSTON, Nov. 10, 1891 It is almost impossible to get time to write in the whirl of a W.C.T.U.1 Convention.
Lady Henry and I are great "lions" in addition to all else, and this involves a lot of social work in the way of calls etc. that is more fatiguing even than meetings and Committees.
Of course itis all her title, not to say that we neither of us have personal charms.
But one's charms are greatly enhanced by the " Lady" that accom- > paniesthem. ...
This last week has been a tornado !
The Convention and the women have absorbed every second of our time.
I have my hands full in guarding poor Lady Henry who is beset on every hand.
Everybody wants to shake hands with her, and when she is tired I simply will not allow it.
It is a battle to get * Women's Christian Temperance Union.
'"'THE EARL'S DAUGHTER''
her out of every meeting.
I have to pull both her and Frances [Willard] out by main force....
I am looking longingly towards home and shall be delighted to get there.
The women are lovely but there are a great many of them, and it is very tiring.
Sixty pulpits were filled by our women on Sunday, and I preached 3 times.
Lady Henry's Sermon was a great success.1
The crowds were something fearful.
She sent me ahead ..
. and came later herself, and she was nearly torn to pieces getting through the crowd.
She has a perfect ovation everywhere.
Of course she is so lovely that all hearts are captured.
To her friends Aet. 59.
BOsTON, Wov. 20, 1891 I do not believe any public character has ever come to America before who has aroused such enthusiastic love as she has.
It is no sinecure to be her protector against her admirers.
I have to guard her as a hen guards its chickens from the hawks, or she would be simply crushed with kisses, and handshakes, and birthday books, and every other form of admiration possible.
I tell her she must put on a stern front when I am gone, and learn how to protect herself.
But she is so gracious and kindly, just like our sweet Lady Mount Temple, that it is hard for her to turn a cold shoulder to anyone.
1 Lady Henry Somerset was a successful preacher, overcoming the prejudices even of those who were predisposed against her.
Logan Pearsall Smith used to repeat a story of hers.
She had been preaching at a town somewhere in the north of England ; when she had done, the mayor got up and said, "I am bound to confess that, although
I have always disapproved of ladies appearing in public, I have examined her Ladyship closely and observed nothing ondacent, either in word or in gesture."
A RELIGIOUS
REBEL To her friends Aet. 61.
FRIDAY'S HILL, Sept. 11, 1893 Beds in England as a general thing leave much to be desired.
I have been to stay at fine places over here, where money seemed to flow like water, and have scarcely been able to sleep a wink because of the miserable bed.
And the wife of one of England's greatest Lords, who had lived all her life in Castles, told me the other day that she had never had a comfortable bed in all her life until within the last year !
We have had another most beloved and honoured guest since I wrote my last Letter, and that is George
Macdonald who came with his wife and two daughters.
He is the dearest old man, so gentle and yet so strong, and with such a marvellous insight into spiritual things.
He is like an old patriarch who embraces the whole world as his family, and spreads hands of blessing over all.
He reminds me more of my own dear father than anyone else I ever met.
But he has been very ill and seems much more feeble than I have ever known him.
He thinks he has a slight stroke of paralysis, but his wife will not listen to this, and says it has only been nervous prostration from overwork.
I expect, however, that he is growing old like some of the rest of us, and there is nothing to grieve over in this.
He has done a beautiful work in the world, and it is only fair that now he should have a little prospect of rest.
; There is something lovely to me in the gradual laying . down of burdens and of responsibilities that is the privilege of growing old, combined with the happy outlook towards the glorious future.
The only thing
"THE
EARL''S. DAUGHTER'?
I2I that is unlovely in old age to my mind is when it tries to hold on to its vanishing rights and responsibilities, and interferes with the free development of the generation that is called in the Divine order to take its place.