LADY ISLINGTON

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 41, 28 May 1910, Page 6

LADY ISLINGTON

A CHARMING HOSTESS. AN INTERVIEW. London, April 25. Though for some years the new Governor's wife has been one of the most graceful hostesses in London society, and has entertained Royalty at her residence in Chesterfield Gardens, Mayfair, she has not yet overcome her objection to publicity in the form of newspaper paragraphs and interviews. A well-known and popular figure in society, she has never yielded to the insistent journalistic desire to describe iter charming dinners and receptions in the columns of the papers, and it was with repeated protests that she submitted to the conditions of her new position and agreed to say a. few'words for the benefit of New Zeala.iiders.

Lady Islington is of medium height, dark, and strikingly handsome. Her father, Mr. Robert Henry D. Dundas, is a direct lineal descendant of the Dundases, one of the o.dest families in Scotland, and her mother, wiho is also living, was the Hon. Catherine Anne Camngton Napier, daughter of the first Lord Napier of Magdala, alter whom the capital of Haw.ke's Bay was named. Lady Poynder (as she was then known) herself was man"':' in 1890, and t'iie one child of the mania \ a. daughter, is now twelve years of age. Laughingly protesting that she did not wish to be '•interviewed,'' Lady Islington admitted that she was looking forward to the change with a good deal of interest. 'Of course," she said, "it is quite a new thing for me, and one cannot tell how one will like a new life, but I hear from all accounts that the .people in New Zealand are charming, the country delightful, and the climate wonderful. I feel certain the people will be very sympathetic."

It was only natural that oriP should ask Lady Islington to express herself on the question of female suffrage. £sbe pleaded privilege. '' 1 really should not. say anything about it, at any rate in relation to New. Zealand. In my public speeches I have always said .1 am very "much opposed to it here in England, because I do not think it would be a good thing for us." "My wife lias never been an active political woman," remarked Lord Islington. "She has really taken no active part in things of that sort." On the education of girls, too, Lady Islington preferred noe to spea-K. As for hobbies? "What does it mean exactly?" she asked. "If it means that one writes books, or paints pictures, or sings in public, then I have no hobbies. But lam very fond of literature and of art and of music.

"Please do not say that i am a keen motorist. I use the motor to go to the station and to get about, but hot for anything else. With me it is -purely a useful form of locomotion. But I like riding and hunting, and I am very fona of an outdoor 1 am looking forward to very much in New Zealand." Asked if she did anything in the way of (philanthropic work, Lady Islington pleaded not guilty, but Lord Islington confessed that she was president, oi Btc .Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children,- in which she took a very active part, and that she had for years assisted him very considerably in the work of the Great' Northern Hospital, of which lie is chairman. The only child of the Governor and Lady Islington, Joan Alice Catherine, a girl of twelve years, is at .present beingeducated by a private governess, and will go out to New Zealand with her mother. There it is hoped she will spend the greater part of her time. In response to the urgent wish expressed by the New Zealand Ministry, Lord Islington will leave England in time to be .present at the opening of Parliament in June. He will jo'n the P. and 0. steamer Macedonia at Marseilles on the 13th May. It will not 'be the first time that Lady Islington ' has been abroad. She has had frequent tours of Europe, a.nu sne went to India at the time of the great Durbar. But she confesses to being a ■deplorable sailor, and looks forward with some trepidation to the Australian Bight. "I should not be able to go out with my husband even if Government House were ready. I have simply millions of, things to do Iwth here and in Wiltshire —everything to arrange, the servants to get together, and a host of visits to pay, and, you see, it is .practically only three weeks. The notice is very short." Lady Islington is very popular among the tenantry on the estates in Wilt- ] shire. Her best-known portrait is that by Sargent. Another of her and her daughter by J. J. Shannon; R.A., was exhibited iii the Royal Academy a fewyears ago.—Wellington Post's London correspondent.