THE PRESENT DUKE AND DUCHESS.--A ROMANTIC ATTACHMENT
There must have been a thrilling sensation of delight at the good
fortune that had overtaken him when the present Duke found himself in
possession of the family honours and estates. There had been so many
vicissitudes in the Dukedom that any chance survival might have stepped
in to bar his claim. "There's many a slip between the cup and the lip"
is an old saying, and many a relation of a great noble is near the
succession of his honours, only to see them pass to some other branch
where least expected.
The present Duke, or to give him his full family name, William John
Arthur Charles James Cavendish-Bentinck, was a long way off the fifth
Duke, in the table of consanguinity, he had no trace of the Scott blood
in him, and was in fact only second cousin of his eccentric predecessor
in the title.
His father was Lieutenant-General A.C. Cavendish-Bentinck, whose
descent was through the third Duke, so that the two branches had to go
back nearly a hundred years to find a common ancestor. His birth took
place on December 28th, 1857, and it must have seemed then a remote
possibility that in less than five and twenty years he would succeed to
one of the proudest Dukedoms in the land, with the opportunities of a
royal alliance.
Two of the Duke's half-brothers were engaged in the South African war;
Lord Charles Bentinck was a Lieutenant in the 9th Lancers and was
slightly wounded in the siege of Mafeking; for his services he won a
medal and a brevet-majority. He was born in 1868 and was educated at
Eton; he married in 1897 a daughter of Mr. Charles Seymour Grenfell of
Taplow. In the East Midlands he has won considerable popularity as
Master of the Blankney Hunt.
Lord William Bentinck was a Captain in the 10th Hussars and showed his
ardour in the war by endeavouring to form a body of Colonial Mounted
Rifles.
Among the eccentricities laid to the charge of the old Duke it was said
that on his young heir going to visit him on one occasion at Welbeck,
he ordered him to stand in a corner of the room.
When in 1879 the old Duke passed away from his world of mysteries and
escapades, the heir was a Lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards. He was
not long in the Army, and when he came into the title there were too
many other engagements for him to attend to without troubling himself as
to the routine of military duty, though he kept up a connection with the
forces by becoming Lieutenant-Colonel of the Honourable Artillery
Company of London, Honorary Colonel of the 1st Lanarkshire Volunteer
Artillery, and of the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment.
Welbeck soon began to assume a new aspect under his regime. Gradually it
lost its appearance of a contractor's yard and looked like one of the
stately homes of England.
Looking back to the time when he first came into his noble heritage, the
Duke made a touching reference at the Welbeck Tenants' Show, in 1906, to
the death of his agent, Mr. F.J. Turner, who for 48 years was in the
service of the fifth Duke and himself.
"When I first came to Welbeck, now twenty-seven years ago," said the
Duke, "I was a mere boy, very ignorant of the ways of the world, and
more ignorant still, if it were possible, of business habits and of the
management of a great estate. I shudder to think what might have been my
fate, and the sad fate of those dependent upon me, if Mr. Turner and
others, who guided my footsteps, had been different from what they
proved themselves to be. It was in his power to make or mar the
happiness and prosperity, not only of myself, but also of many of those
who live in this district and who farm my land."
The Duke followed the traditions of his family and commenced to form an
expensive racing stud.
In 1882 his attention was concentrated to a considerable degree upon
this object. He bought the famous sire, St. Simon, at the sale of the
late Prince Batthyany's horses. St. Simon could not compete in the
classic races in consequence of the death of his owner, and all through
his racing career he was not put to any severe test of speed, or most
likely his name would have represented the double achievement of being a
famous racer, and the sire of famous racers too. He was bought for
1,600l., the purchase being effected on the recommendation of Mat
Dawson, the trainer, and the horse was then a two-year-old. That he
could go at a terrific pace is proved by an observation made one day by
Fred Archer to the trainer. St. Simon was at exercise when Archer's spur
touched him, unintentionally by the jockey. He bounded into a gallop--a
state of action rarely seen before--and Archer subsequently said that he
had never been whizzed through the air at such a terrific pace. In the
very pink of condition, fresh and strong, the Duke had to congratulate
himself on securing his bargain, for he was sent from the course to the
stud, with the result that the magnificent total of 246,000l. was won
by his progeny in stakes alone.
At length, in 1888, the Duke reached the goal of his ambition in his
career on the turf, for he was the winner of the Derby with Ayrshire,
which also won the Two Thousand Guineas. Then he followed up his success
next year by winning the Derby again with Donovan, a horse that also won
the St. Leger.
The names of the mares finding their habitation at Woodhouse Hall,
about a mile and a quarter from Welbeck Abbey, are identified with some
of the most remarkable successes of the turf. Here is a string of
animals through the veins of which ran purest blood. Amoena, Atalanta,
Battlewings, Danceaway, Golden Eye, Lady Mar, Larissa, Marquesa,
Mowerina, Modwena, Miss Middlewick, Shaker, Semolina, Staffa, Wheel of
Fortune, Tact, Ulster Queen, and many besides. The Goddess of Fortune
beamed on his Grace's colours whenever they appeared in the great races.
The long series of victories resulted in immense winnings. For instance,
Modwena was credited with 5,884l.; Ayrshire, 35,915l.; Johnny
Morgan, 4,067l.; Donovan, 55,154l.; Semolina, 12,686l.; Miss
Butterwick, 8,179l.; Raeburn, 8,374l.; The Prize, 3,134l.; St.
Serf, 5,809l.; Memoir, 17,300l.; Schoolbrook, 2,705l.; Amiable,
10,582l.; Other celebrated stock also bred by the Duke included Anna,
Charm, Catcher Clatterfeet, Elsie, Eisteddfod, Galston, Katherine II.,
Little Go, Oyster, Rattleheels, St. Bridget, Simony II., The Task, The
Owl, The Smew, Troon, Ulva, and many more. Major Loder's Spearmint was
the winner of the Derby in 1906, and it was a bay colt by Carbine--Maid
of the Mint, so that a horse owned by the Duke was again associated
with the blue ribbon, Carbine having been imported from Australia by his
Grace some years before. Carbine had another name, "Old Jack," given him
because of his laziness, and a whip-stock, had to be used occasionally
to keep him up to the mark. An Australian picture of the horse was
painted by Mr. W. Scott, and after being in the possession of Mr.
Herbert Garratt for some years was sent to his Grace with a request that
he would accept it, which he did.
All the time that the Duke was paying so much attention to horse-racing
it was being asked in Nottinghamshire whether Welbeck was ever to see
another Duchess of Portland. The palace of the magician in the heart of
Sherwood Forest had not had a mistress for forty years, and the gossips
were not diffident in expressing their opinion that it was time the
splendour of its hospitality was graced by the presence of a Duchess.
The Duke was thirty-two years of age in 1889, and his name had been
coupled with that of a royal princess; but whatever foundation there may
have been for the rumour that he was going to marry into the royal
family, it was seen eventually that he was determined to wed for love
and not for pride of place.
Of the rich and well-born heiresses tracing their lineage through
generation after generation of English chivalry, and who would have
deemed it the prize of a lifetime to become Duchess of Portland, the
Duke's choice fell upon a young lady whose name was unknown to the
denizens of Nottinghamshire. She was Winifred, only daughter of Thomas
Dallas-Yorke, Esq., of Walmsgate, Louth, and came of an old Lincolnshire
family.
She was a merry girl as she used to ride her pony in the Lincolnshire
lanes, indeed, she was regarded as somewhat of a tomboy, but a year or
two passed away, and she surprised those who had known her in girlhood,
to see her the most fashionable beauty in the Row.
She had a wondrous type of beauty too, that made all those who admired
its style, fall beneath her spell, her complexion was delicate, yet with
the glow of health upon it, her teeth were pearly, her eyes full of
sweet reasonableness, her nose that of the classic heroines of Greece,
and her willowy form such as Sir Joshua Reynolds would have delighted to
paint in a portrait, that would have been one more justification of the
poetical phrase, "Art is long and life is fleeting."
Her lithe and graceful figure, nearly six feet in height, with a face
pleasing and mobile, and a voice that charmed in its tone, made her
distinguished in any society where she appeared.
The story is that once when staying with some friends at Brighton she
went to the Devil's Dyke, a romantic place visited by almost every
tourist and resident in that neighbourhood. There she was prevailed upon
to consult a gipsy as to her future, and the fortune-teller prophesied
truth, for the oracular words came forth:--
"You will carry off the greatest matrimonial prize in all England," the
gipsy said, as she went through the palmistry study of Miss
Dallas-Yorke's shapely hand; "but shortly after your marriage there's
trouble of some sort, for the lines become cloudy. I know what it will
be, young lady; a terrible illness must attack you, yet take courage and
have no fear, my dear, for all will turn out well in the end."
The sequel to the story is that after the happy event of the marriage
the gipsy had a black gown and a purse of money presented to her by the
Duchess as a compliment to her sagacity as a prophetess.
The latter part of the prediction was fulfilled also, for soon after
her marriage the Duchess was attacked by typhoid fever at Welbeck, and
her life hung in the balance for a short time during her illness.
Happily she recovered to take her place in Society, as graceful and
winsome as ever.
She had been out, in the Society sense of the term, several seasons
before she became acquainted with the Duke. How the meeting came about
is thus related:--
She was on a visit during the autumn of 1888 to a country house In
Scotland, and while waiting with her maid on the platform of Carlisle
station, she was noticed by the Duke, who was also northward bound for
sport on the moors.
The Duke was waiting on the platform too, and was attracted by the
perfection of her appearance, her lofty carriage and the expression of
the true gentlewoman on her countenance.
A few weeks afterwards an introduction took place at the house of a
friend, when they spoke of their recollection of having seen each other
on the platform of the railway station.
Although the Duke must have known that he was the most coveted
matrimonial prize in England at that time, yet it is said he was shy at
proposing to this magnificent daughter of a Lincolnshire squire.
He must have done, however, for in a few months the marriage was
celebrated.
Soon after the engagement the Duke bought a sable cloak of immense value
for his fiancée; but Mrs. Dallas-Yorke protested against the gift and
said that her daughter had not been accustomed to such costly attire.
What was the Duke's observation upon this has not passed current;
suffice it to say that the priceless cloak was received and worn by Miss
Dallas-Yorke, who in Society was chaperoned by the Marchioness of
Granby, now Duchess of Rutland.
Such a fluttering among Society dove-cotes was seldom seen, and sound of
wedding-bells rarely heard with such gleeful joy. It was a love-match,
and, therefore, a popular event all over the land. Only a few weeks
before, the Duke's horse had won the Derby, and the ovation given him by
the racing fraternity was unprecedented to any one, peer or commoner,
below royal rank.
Then the bride was so full of smiles to all who had the privilege of
offering her congratulations.
The Duke had earned the reputation of being a "good fellow," a phrase
carrying its own meaning in relation to a typical English nobleman. At
the zenith of his popularity there is no wonder that crowds lined the
streets on the wedding morning to catch a glimpse of the happy pair as
they drove back from Church. The Prince and Princess of Wales honoured
the ceremony with their presence, and such cheering there was as the
faces of the bride and bridegroom were seen at the windows of the
carriage. It was a smart equipage, and even the coachmen and footmen
were decorated with horse-shoes of flowers on their coats.
Then there were the rejoicings at Welbeck, where the new Duchess soon
ingratiated herself with the tenantry. "The Good Duchess" was smiling
and approachable, and quickly found her way to the heart of the most
churlish country herdsman.
It was apparent that the Duchess's mind was not solely occupied with
plans for reigning in London Society and dictating the fashions for a
select and fastidious circle. She knew her powers in that respect; she
had already conquered and was content to please the Duke, and fulfil the
duties of her station towards those who were her equals, and towards the
Duke's retainers on his estates and their dependants.
Not that she ceased to dazzle with the radiant splendour of her jewels,
which adorned her natural gracefulness.
Her coronet of diamonds contains in it a lustrous gem, called the
Portland stone, worth 10,000l., and her jewels altogether are of
fabulous value. Nothwithstanding the changing fashions of High Society,
she retains her preference for a Medici collar of lace and a spray of
Malmaison carnations.
With the immense sums of money the Duke had won over the Derby victories
he was desirous of adding new treasures to his wife's jewel-case; but
she prevailed upon him to build some almshouses for poor old women at
Welbeck; moreover she is credited with having influenced him to moderate
his indulgence in racing.
The almshouses, which were called "The Winnings," have upon them the
following inscription: "These houses were erected by the sixth Duke of
Portland at the request of his wife, for the benefit of the poor and to
commemorate the the success of his race-horses." They were not built out
of money made by betting, a habit not encouraged by the Duke.
At a later period, addressing a meeting of young men, he said: "Turn a
cold shoulder to the bookmaker and those who would advise you to throw
your money into the lap of fickle Fortune If you want to be happy. You
might just as well throw the money into a pond."
The Duchess always has a happy way of opening a Bazaar for some
philanthropic object, and her radiant and affable manner charm those
with whom she is brought into contact, perhaps for the first time. She
is a supporter of the Church Army Training Homes, Bryanston-street, and
she has had the courage to preside over a temperance demonstration in
Hyde Park. Swimming has become a fashionable accomplishment with Society
ladies, and she has shown her interest in extending the cultivation of
that exercise. This is only to mention but a few of the objects that
claim her time and attention, and no lady of high position is more ready
to aid a worthy charity where possible.
The first child that came to the Duke and Duchess was Lady Victoria
Alexandrina Violet, born in 1890. She was highly honoured at her
christening, for Queen Victoria acted as sponsor person, and held the
baby in her arms. There is at Welbeck an autograph letter from the
Queen, congratulating the parents on their firstborn. The next was the
heir to the Dukedom, William Arthur Henry, Marquis of Titchfield, born
March 16th, 1893, and the third Lord Francis Norwen Dallas, born in
1900.
The Duke was Master of the Horse from 1886 to 1892, and from 1895 to
1905; and the Duchess acted as Mistress of the Robes for a short time in
1905, she was also one of the "Canopy Duchesses" at the Coronation.
The Duke's estates in Scotland include Langwell Lodge, which the family
has frequently visited for deer-stalking and grouse-shooting in the
autumn. Then there is Cessnock Castle, near Galston, Ayrshire, where the
Duke and Duchess had not stayed for many years till 1906. A considerable
part of the fifth Duke's Ayrshire estates, including the Kilmarnock
property, passed at his death to his sister, Lady Ossington, and at her
death to another sister, Lady Howard de Walden, and thence to Lord
Howard de Walden. The Duke has extensive shootings at Fullarton, near
Troon, and Fullarton House was for some time the residence of Louis
Philippe of France.
The house of Langwell is situated on a beautiful grassy slope, with the
sea in front, while in the background are the silver-clad Scarabines,
rising with imposing grandeur. The Langdale and Berriedale rivers here
join and flow into the sea, and there are picturesque gorges, with
cave-dwellings and ancient ruins having historic associations. Frowning
cliffs rise precipitously from the waves, and weird caves, only to be
entered when the tide is low, add to the romantic character of the
scenery.
In the neighbourhood of this favourite shooting lodge are some steep and
dangerous hills which presented great difficulties to the horses when
taking his Grace's guests to and fro to enjoy their sport. But having
become a votary of the motorcar, these stiff hills have been surmounted
with ease by the four or five vehicles which the Duke has acquired for
sporting purposes. Helmsdale is the nearest railway station to Langwell,
and the road over the Ord of Caithness includes several hills with rough
and loose surfaces, and gradients ranging from 1 in 2 to 1 in 16, so
that the journey is not without its stress both for horses and
motorcars. John o' Groat's is forty-five miles distant, but this, as
well as other places of interest in the neighbourhood, is within
visiting range by the cars, though such long distances were not
attempted with the equine species.
To capture the Master of the Horse as an automobilist was a great
achievement for enthusiasts in the advocacy of the new mode of
travelling. The Duke of Portland has been such a devotee to the horse,
as were his ancestors centuries before him, that it was not to be
expected all at once, that he would, give his countenance to any new
invention likely to supplant the noble animal in its position as the
servant and friend of man. Having been a cyclist, when that hobby seized
the fancy of the fashionable world, it was not a long step to
automobilism, and having proved the superiority of the motor vehicle,
the Duke gave orders for some of the best types of cars to be supplied
to him. One of the most luxurious is a Limousine de Deitrich, and his
interest in the new art of locomotion is such that he has had a perfect
track prepared at Clipstone, called "The flying kilometre."
In 1907 the Duke became a member of the Royal Automobile Club and
submitted all his drivers for examination for the certificate. The test
took place at Welbeck, when there were shown several technical drawings
executed by the candidates, who all passed with merit and received their
certificates.
The Duchess on one occasion made some observations in public on motors,
and expressed a doubt as to whether any of her friends would forsake the
horse in favour of mechanical locomotion. That time, however, came
about, and now the Duchess is claimed as a patroness of the car, which
if prosy, compared with the delights of horsemanship, is, nevertheless,
useful for accomplishing distances which horses are not expected to
cover.
In a speech in the House of Lords, the Duke said he considered the
advent of the motorcar could not but have a weakening influence on the
horse-breeding industry, and before very long several of the functions
which horses at present perform, both in the towns and country
districts, would be carried out by mechanical means. His object in
making these remarks was to call attention to what was impending in
order that some steps might be taken to foster the horse-breeding
industry.
As far as a continuance of interest in race-horses is concerned, the
Duke had at the commencement of the season 1906 twenty-one horses in
training with W. Waugh at Kingsclere, including thirteen two-year-olds.
Both King Edward and the Queen have been entertained at Welbeck since
their accession to the throne, and in 1906 there was a visit from the
Duke and Duchess of Sparta, the Crown Prince and Princess of Greece.
The Duke's sentiments on "patriotism" may be gathered from some remarks
he made when opening a miniature rifle range constructed at the
Nottingham High School. He referred with approbation to the work of Mr.
Robins, Premier of Manitoba, through whose policy the Union Jack was
unfurled from the roof of every school in the province: "The man who
objects to perpetuating the glories of the flag, who declines to have
his children infused with British patriotism is undesirable." "These
words," said the Duke, "apply to the anti-patriot, the pro-Zulu, the
pro-Boer, the inciter to rebellion in Egypt, and to the stirrer-up of
strife in India. I do not see why rifle-shooting should not become a
popular national sport, equal in prestige to games like cricket and
football."