CINDERELLA UP TO DATE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 148, 13 June 1908, Page 3

CINDERELLA UP TO DATE.

FROM WORKHOUSE (lIUL TO WESTEND HOSTESS. The rise of the .poor but beautifcil girl from squalor to wealth lias been the favourite Wienie of story-writers from Hans Amlorscn and the Brothers Grimm to the modern novelists. Somatimes it happens in real life, and an instance of this (says the London Daily Express) has just been revealed bv the Rev. W. Hobbs, of West Norwood, a member of the Lambeth Board of Guardians. He tells, step by step, of the progress of a pauper girl who was educated by the Lambeth parish, who went out into life when she was liileeu years old as a domestic cervant, and who, because of her charm and tauity, won throngli from drudgery and poverty to be a great London hosto-s. To-day she is Lie wife of a wealthy London financier. Society tomes to her house in .Mayfair, but only very few know that their witty ami gracious hostess was not so long ago a child of the workhouse. For obvious reasons her name cannot be dis.losed, but the story of her career, as given to an Express reprosentalive. is a striking romaii.ee of real life. She was born in a by-street in London, and when siie was .|uite a child circumstances brought her to the care of Lambeth parish. The guardians had her ediuatcd, and at school her indnstrv and intelligence were noticeable. '

She went out "in service," and might have been there to-day lim for the fact that her position in the house was made impossible by local gossip. This came to the notice of the Lambeth guardians, who insisted on the girl leaving. The workhouse gales opened before her again, lint she was determined not to eat the bread ot poverty. Her refinement, unusual in the class to which she belonged, and her individual charm impressed' Mr. Ilobl.s, who, as one of the guardians, took her in charge. Through his aid she got another situation. The turning-point in her life, however, was when she went to a nursing home. Hither came a fashionable patient, and sihe. like everyone else who came in contact with the erstwhile pauper girl. was fascin.ii.ted wilih her pretty ways. She became, a lady's maid in the house of the wealthy lailv. And here, just as thev do in novels, the son of the house fol'l in love with her. Opposition was useless. They were separated for a time as a test, just as diehard Fcvcrel was separated from Lucy. And eventually (hey were married, and now she is one of society's most charming leaders. She stiil reiueiulicrs her pauper days, and the kind heart of Mr. Hobbs. The other day Aio sent a huge cheque to the clergyman ill memory of what he had don? for her. The money, she said, was to go towards furthering the charities with which he is associated. A few days later a splendid carriage and pair stopped outside Mr. Hobbs' house. From it descended the girl, no longer a pauper and a servant, but a lady of fashion who hud come to sec her fairy godfather.