The Evening of His Life

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 82, 28 June 1927, Page 13

The Evening of His Life

How Rosebery Spends His Declining Days

The Earl of Rosebery, K.G., who was Prime Minister 32 years ago, attained his 80th birthday last month.

He spends most of the year at his delightful Epsom home, the Durdans, which has a balcony from which fie has often watched his favourite horses. All his life Lord Rosebery has loved horses, and his turf triumphs—twtea he won the Derby—have given him some of his happiest hours.

When his younger daughter married the Marquess of Crewe his racing colours were a feature of the brilliant scene at the wedding in Westminster Abbey.

Notwithstanding his age and his frailty of health, he is just as chars*!ing a conversationalist as ever. He likes one or two guests at luncheon, and will discuss current politics, literature and art with wit and first-hand

knowledge. Epsom local affairs have always interested him, and the town has received tokens of his generosity. Men engaged in the public life of the district have been surprised at Lord Rosebery’s accurate acquaintance with their work. Troubled for half his life with insomnia—which nearly prevented his acceptance of the Premiership in 1894 —he finds relief in evening drives. Often his carriage, with an old-fash-ioned postillion, is seen in the country roads near Epsom. The 11-year-old daughter of the laJe Right Hon. Neil Primrose, Lord Rosebery’s younger son, who fell in the war, is Lord Rosebery’s frequent companion on his daily drives in the motor-car. Miss Ruth Primrose has the nimble wit which is hereditary, and is a very happy, clever child. The King and Queen, when they visited Lord Rosebery recently, were interested in her. Lord Rosebery, who has a high place among statesmen who are also authors, continues to be an omnivorous reader. His excellent memory enables him to criticise new volumes of reminiscences and biographies with exactitude. Lord Rosebery pays brief visits to London and Dalmeny, but Epsom is now his chief residence, and there he will receive widespread birthday greeti ings.