Lord
Lansdowne's See-Saw Career
(Copyright, 1903. by WllHam Thorp.)
H
un r ivxviisa is popular mvur
or popular blame! said a well
known English politician in a
London club recently. Look at
TjinndnvnA. Not lnnir Aim. whpn
our troops were encountering disaster upon
disaster in South Africa, he was the most
unpopular man in England, lie was more
than unpopular; he was hated. As minister
of war he was blamed for everything over
looked or unforseen by the army. If he
bad gone among a London mob after Storm
berg, say, he would have stood a good
chance of being torn to pieces.
"But now he is a popular idol. He has
warned Russia oft the Persian gulf and
Immediately he is acclaimed as another
Palmerston. The whirligig of time has
brought him up to the top again with as
tonishing rapidity.
"No man ever seemed more hopelessly
ruined politically than Lansdowne did when
public indignation at the South African
blunders forced him to give up the position
of secretary of state for war. HI3 appoint
ment as foreign minister Immediately aft
erward was the most uppopular act of
Lord Salisbury's career and it wa3 also the
pluckiest. But it has turned out well.
"Lansdowne, starling as the best hated
man in British politics, has become the
most popular foreign minister since Rose
bery perhaps since Palmerston. He has
a great career before him and it would
not be surprising If he -succeeded Mr. Bal
four In the premiership when the latter
grows tired of It."
The credit of the Marquis of Lansdowne'
success at the British foreign office la
largely due to his clever and accomplished
wife, who has long held a prominent post
tlon in European society. Like many Eng
lish women of noblo families, she makes
politics her hobby. Bismarck used to call
her "the amateur diplomatist," and say
that she was too clever for moBt of his
ambassadors. That was In her younger
days. Since then she. has been "vicereine
of India and Canada, winning golden opin
ions from everybody.
Lord Lnnsdowne was one of the best vice
roys India ever had, but the English offi
cials used to say that Lady Lansdowne
really governed the country. If one of
them wanted a bridge, or an Irrigation
tank, or a famine relief appropriation for
his district, he would try to interest Lady
Lansdowne In the matter rather than the
viceroy. If she could be convinced that tht
thing was needed, she would soon set the
right wheels to work and get it.
When Lady Lansdowne went out into the
streets her curriage would be surrounded
by natives who wanted grievances redressed
or privileges granted to them by the gov
ernment. She would go to great trouble to
make Inquiry into their ca-es and see Jus
tice done. At nights she would go dis
guised In native garb into the poorest
Quarters of Calcutta on missions of charity
or Justice, like a feminine Haroun-al-Ras-chld.
A retired Indian Judge tells a curlou
story about Lady Lansdowne in this con
nection. He was dining at the viceregal
lodge one night, and the conversation
turned upon a sensational murder trial
which he was conducting at the time.
After dinner Lady Lansdowne drew the
Judge aside and said:
"I do not want to Interfere with vour
Judicial duties, but I know as an absolute
fact that the man who is charged with
that murder is Innocent. If you will send
a detective to me tomorrow morning 1 will
direct him to the house where the real
murderer Is now 'hiding. I only discovered
the fact this afternoon when I was down
there In disguise with one of our syces."
Sure enough, the murderer was caught,
as Lady Lansdowne had said, and the In
nocent man was released. This Incident,
becoming known, made her very popular
with the people of Calcutta, who are not
Used to English "mem-sahibs" taking so
mi the blooming of roses the
woman who keeps abreast of the
times Is on the alert to gather
In every leaf of the fragrant
harvest From time immemorial
the Orientals have utilized roses for their
choicest sweets and confections, and for
their perfumes and flavors. Our great
grandmothers were adepts In the prepara
tion of rose flavors and pot pourrls, but
the modern woman has been slow In awak
ening to their possibilities.
The rose pillow Is now esteemed tho
acme of daintiness for the new baby's
carriage or the bride's outfit
To collect a sufficient supply, make a
systematic tour of the garden each morn
lng while the dew is still on, provided wito
basket and shears. Select the roses whase
petals are ready to fall, shake into the
basket, snip off the denuded stem and
throw it away. Carry the fragrant burden
to the garret or spare room, where papers
have been spread upon the floor, and empty
the petals upon them. Stir and turn every
W
( 1
: -'V- ',''
THE MARQUIS
much Interest in their humble lives.
Lady Lansdowne would not tell how she
found out the murderer. She said that she
made it a rule never to talk about her ex
cursions In native costume, lest she should
get her native guides and friends intc
trouble with their own people.
Her husband was famous for two things
during his stay In India his dread of the
Russians and his courage in tiger shoot
ing. He saw the hand of the Russians
everywhere In Afghanistan, in Persia, In
Kashmir, on the Pamirs, even in native
riots in Calcutta. His subordinates used
to laugh at his Russophobia.
"I really believe," said one of them,
"that Ijiinsdowne thinks In his heart of
hearts that the Russians cause the famines
and the floods which trouble us every now
and then."
It is natural that such a viceroy should
gTOw into the foreign minister who has
flung down to Russia the boldest challenge
uttered by a British statesman since the
Fashoda incident.
Lord Lansdowne spent large sums of
money while in India in developing the
Secret Service department. He hoped it
would circumvent the malevolent designs
which he ascribed to Russia. Lady Lans
downe took great Interest In the work, and
Interviewed several of the principal spies
when they came Into Calcutta or Simla
with reports of their observations In Per
sia, Kaflrlstan, Baluchistan and other coun
tries where Russian agents were supposed
to be busy.
Sportsmen in India still talk of Lord
Lansdowne's skill us a "shlkarrl" (hunter
of big game), and the natives speak with
bated breath of some of his exploits.
"The great empress did wisely In Fending
the Sahib-Bahadur (the viceroy) across the
Dainty Ways of Utilizing Rose Leaves
day until perfectly dry. transferring to
bags when that Is accomplished.
When a sufficient amount of petals has
been collected, put In pretty cases mtdd of
fine hemstitched handkerchiefs fagot ted
together, through which white or lose
colored ribbon may be run. These wash
beautifully. If something more elaborate
Is desirable, a bolting cloth cover, embroid
ered or hand painted with roses, is dainty
and effective.
For rose syrup, collect fresh petals each
morning and spread on a tray to dry.
When enough have been collected for a
tumbler of preserve, put in a fresh grr.nite
or porcelain kettle with Just enough water
to cover, and simmer until tender. Add
sugar in the proportion of a pound to each
pint of the leaves and watr and cook to
a rich syrup. Th Turkish wom n fte
quently use honey in place of suijir, one
half pound of the honey cqju'ing a pound
of susar.
This syrup gives a delicious flavor to a
pudding sauce or mince meat, or It may
'-"5 It".- -v.- .
OP LANSDOWNE.
black water to rule over us," said an old
Mahomedan, who had acted as beater In
some of Lord Lansdowne's tiger hunts.
"He Is the bravest of all the sahibs I have
met. I have seen him follow a wounded
tiger alone and on foot through the Jungle,
and go right into the dark cave where it
crouched at bay. Nothing could be seen
of the beast except its two glaring eyes
shining out of tho darkness. The Sahib
Bahadur put a bullet between them as the
tiger sprung upon him, killing It instantly."
Before they went to India In 18S8 Lord
and Lady Lansdowne pleased the Canadian
people by their friendly and unassuming
manners, which were in marked contrast
to those of former governors general and
their wives. At a garrison ball at Halifax
the colonel of the regiment, who was giv
ing the dance, came up to Lady Lansdowno
and said:
"Lady Lansdowne, won't you give me a
dance, please? I'm tired of dancing with
these silly little colonial girls. They have
no style. I believe I'm engaged to one of
them for the next dance, but you might
be kind enough to rescue me."
Lady Lansdowne replied, in tones loud
enough for everybody to hear, that the
colonel was unfit to associate with any de
cent people, coloniul or otherwise, and con
cluded: "If this is the way you treat your guests
I will relieve you of the presence of one
of them at once." Then she ordered her
carriage and left the ball.
While on a tour in Manitoba one sum
mer. Lord and Lady Lansdowne were
driven by a heuvy thunderstorm to seek
shelter in a farmhouse. They were to
gether in a small open trap and none of the
viceregal party was with them. Being
tired of the toadyism to which a man In
be utilized us a sweet at a Turkish tea.
Pour in glasses and seal.
To secure rose flavoring, till a wide
mouthed bottle with fresh petals, packing
them down as tight us possible. Then
pour over them enough pure alcohol to
submergo.
Richer and stronger Is rose brandy. Fill
a glass Jar with frugrant petals, and cover
with French brandy. Next day pour off
the brandy, take out the leaves and re
place with fresh ones. Return the brandy.
Do this several times, until the brandy is
strongly Impregnated. Then strain and
bottle tightly. Keep the can covered dur
ing the distillation process.
The petals of tho yellow rose infused In
boiling water furnish a delicate dye. which
Is attractive with old-fashioned roso des
serts and for homemade candy.
To make candied rose leives. gather
fresh leaves nnd spread them 011 uu in
verted sieve or oiled paper In the open air
until slightly dry, but not crisp. Make a
syrup, using a balf pint of water and a
his position Is always mor m
Jected, Lord Lansdowne gave his nam as
Fltsmaurlce, the family name of the T anc
downes being Petty-Fltzmaurlce.
The farmer and his wife welcomed them
with true Manitoba hospitality, and In
sisted upon their staying for the night, a
the storm did not abate. Lady lansdowne
helped to get tea ready and do the evening
"chores," while her husband listened
gravely and respectfully to the fanner's
views on what the government of Canada
ought to do and ought not to do. They de
clared afterwards that it was the most en
joyable evening they spent while they
were in Canada.
"The old farmer," said Ird Lansdowne,
In a lecture on Cnnada which ho gave at
Dover, England, some years afterwards,
"had a clearer head for politics than most
Of the statesmen and diplomatists I have
met."
Lord Iansdowno was the twelfth of the
statesmen to whom the conduct of foreign
affairs was entrusted during the reign ot
the late Queen Victoria, and lie bid fair
to achieve as big a reputation as uny of
his predecessors. He has a high sense of
public duty and untiring Industry. He
works harder than any of his clerks, often
sitting at his desk until dawn watlng im
portant dispatches to King Edward's am
bassadors, which he does not care to en
trust to the mot confidential assistant.
His unshaken courage, moral as well as
physical. Is another Important qualification
for his high ofllce. He Is not afraid to
make up his mind on a big question or
havo It made up for him by his clever
wife and to stand by It, whatever the risk.
Tho wind of popular clamor docs not move
him an inch. That was shown plainly
enough by his contempt for the storm of
abuse heaped upon hltn In tho earlier
stages of the South African war.
The British foreign ofllce has been noted
for generations for its hospitality. The
foreign office parties are leading features
of London's social life, and rank second
to no other diplomatic functions In Europe.
They have been presided over by some of
the most charming and accomplished
women of the Victorian era, among Lady
Lansdowne's predecessors having been Lady
Palmerston, Lady Granville, Lady John
Russell and Lady Salisbury. After the
death of Lady Salisbury these parties
languished, but now they have been re
vived with more than their old splendor by
Lady Lansdowne. The social qualities
which made her an ideal "Vicereine" In
Canada and India are standing her In good
stead now, and she has stepped Into the
place left vacant by Lady Salisbury as
leader of the most intellectual and arlsto
cratlo set in English society.
Lord LanBdowne holds no fewer than
fourteen titles. He Is once a marquis,
thrlco a viscount, thrice an earl, four times
a baron and four times a knight as K. d.,
Q. C. S. I., O. C. I. E. and O. C. M. Q.
honors bestowed by Queen Victoria for his
successes in tho difficult art of colonial
government. As Baron of Kerry he holds
a title dating back to 11S1. It was con
ferred on one of his ancestors for as
sisting in Strongbow's conquest of Ire
land. Since then a long line of Illustrious
Fitzmaurices have gained tltlo after title,
estate after estate, in reward for their ser
vices as statesmen nnd soldiers.
The present head of- the family might
well have chosen to rest upon the laurels
of his ancestors. 80 far as strangers can
Judge, he has no ambition; he merely feels,
as Lord Salisbury felt, that it is the duty
of a man in his position to give his life
and his talents to the service of his coun
try. That is the aristocratic spirit by which
the British empire Is mainly governed,
even in these democratic days. It Is a
bond between Lord Lansdowne and his
former chief, and explains why the latter
gave him another and better chance to
"make good" after his failure as war min
ister. half pound .of granulnted sugar, ond boll
until It spins a thread. Dip each rose leaf
In this syrup, using a hat pin or fine wire.
Then lay back In place. After several
hours, melt a hnlf cupful of fondant, add
two or three drops of essence of rose, a
drop of cochineal to color, and a few drops
of watir to thin. Dip the leaves In thia
one by one, sprinkle with crystallzed sugar,
and return to the oiled paper to harden.
Nothing in Sight
"Yes," en Id the nged man with tho seedy
garments, "I am ready to shuffle off thla
mortal coil any old time. I have already
lingered too long on this ball of clay."
"Why do you s.iy that?" queried th
young man wliu was posing as the audi
1 nee.
"Bccauue," replied the ..Id codger, "all
the easy marks Hint I could touch are
doing business In tho other world." Chi
cago Newa
