Part 23 (1/2)

He was a conspicuous young ue, an excellent sense of humour in private life and intrepid social boldness He had appearance more than looks, a keen, lively face, with an expression of ena

The as soman, I should have felt no confidence inHe was a reeneration He had ambition and--what he claimed for himself in a brilliant description--” for other people a warht his contee Wyndhao farther, as the forinality and the latter was a finer scholar, but I always said--and have a record of it in e Curzon would easily outstrip his rivals He had two incalculable advantages over the; and, though Oriental in his ideas of colour and ceremony, with a poor sense of proportion, and a childish love of fine people, he was never self-indulgent He neither ate, drank nor s to chance

No one could turn with e Curzon; he was a first-rate host and boon companion and showedperiod of years Even now, if I died, although he belongs to the more conventional and does not allow himself to mix with people of opposite political parties, he would write , he was threatened with lung trouble and was ordered to Switzerland by his doctors We were very unhappy and assembled at a farewell banquet, to which he entertained us in the Bachelors' Club, on the 10th of July, 1889

We found a poe us on our chairs, e sat down to dinner, in which ere all honourably and categorically ”--to which allusion is made here--but ere ultie's poem caused a lot of fun and friction, jealousy, curiosity and endless discussion It was folloo years later by another dinner given by the sauests and in the same place, on the 9th of July, 1891

The repetition of this dinner was more than the West End of London could stand; and I was the object ofwith Sir Stanley and Lady Clarke toEdward--then Prince of Wales--when my hostess said to me in a loud voice, across the table:

”There were some clever people in the world, you know, before you were born, Miss Tennant!”

Feeling rather nettled, I replied:

”Please don't pick me out, Lady Clarke, as if I alone were responsible for the stupid ones a no suspicion of other people, I was seldo and intolerant This was George Curzon's poem:

[Editor's Note: See footnotes at bottom of poem]

10th JULY, 1889

Ho! list to a lay Of that coathered to dine, In the year '89, In a haunt that in Hamilton Place is

There, there where theyof GEORGIUS CURZON; Brave youth! 'tis his pride, When he errs, that the side Of respectable licence he errs on

Around hiht?

Souls sparkled and spirits expanded; For of the, By a spiritual link they were banded

Souls and spirits, no doubt But neither without Fair visible teirt with a shrine, For the pious to linger a spell in

There was seen at that feast Of this band, the High Priest, The heart that to all hearts is nearest; Him may nobody steal From the true Common weal, Tho' to each is dear ARTHUR the dearest [1]

Aives when she sends Such treasures as HARRY and DAISY; [2]

Tho' many may yearn, None but HARRY can turn That sweet little head of hers crazy

There was much-envied STRATH [3]

With the lady who hath [3]

Taught us all what may life be at twenty; Of pleasure a taste, Of duty no waste, Of gentle philosophy plenty

KITTY DRUMMOND was there-- [4]

Where was LAWRENCE, oh! where?-- AndHas not wept at the pang That he never can VIOLET'S man be?

From WILTON, whose streams Murether; [6]

In her spirit's proud flights We are whirled to the heights, He sweetens our stay in the nether

Dear EVAN was there, [7]

The first choice of the fair, To all but hientle!

And ASHRIDGE'S lord [8]

Most insufferably bored With manners and modes Oriental

The Shah, I would bet, In the East never met Such a couple as him and his consort [8]