Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1901 — EARL'S “LOAN” TO A FOOTPAD. [ARTICLE]

EARL'S “LOAN” TO A FOOTPAD.

British Nobleman's Forced Contribution Started Robber to Frosperity. Although 80 years old, the Duchess of Cleveland Is a constant traveler and Is noted for her conversational powers, which age has not Impaired. She can tell a story as well as her son, Lord Roseberry. One.of her favorite stories is about her father, Earl Stanhope. One night when the Earl was walking alone in the Kentish lanes a man jumped out of the hedge, leveled a pistol, and demanded Ills purse. “My good man, I have no money with me,” said Lord Stanhope in his remarkably slow tones. The robber laid bands on his watch.

“No,” Lord Stanhope went on, “that watch you must not have; it was given to me by one I love; it is worth £IOO. If you will trust me I will go hack to Clievening and bring a £IOO note and place it in tbe hollow of that tree. I cannot lose my watch.” The man did trust him. The Earl did bring the note. Years after Lord Stanhope was at a city dinner, and next to him sat a London Alderman of great wealth, a man widely respected. He and the Earl talked of many things and found each other mutually entertaining. Next day Lord Stanhope received a letter, out of which dropped a £IOO note. “It was your lordship's kind loan of this sum,” said the note, “that.started me In life and enabled me to have the honor of sitting next to your lordship at dinner.” A strange story. But the Stanhopes are a strange race, and things happen to them that never did occur to other people.