Recollections and Reflections by a Woman of No Importance

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II Mrs. Thistlethwaite and Napoleon III--Mr. Gladstone receives the Kiss of Peace--Mrs. Cornwallis-West and Gladstone--Mrs. Gladstone Amuses the Crowd--Political Thorns--Lord Londonderry and the Duke of Argyll have Views--Prime Ministers in the House--Nervous Members--A Crowded House of Mourning--Mr. Balfour and Sir William Harcourt Upset--John Morley's Spelling--Gladstone's Opinion of Queen Victoria--The Aberdeens in Ireland--What the King said to Lord Aberdeen--Her Ladyship First--Gladstone sends for Lord Cloncurry--The Letter Miscarries--The Result-- God Help Ireland! --An Unpopular Viceroy at Punchestown Races--Where Disraeli got his Money--Society Derelicts--Lord Beaconsfield's Cosmetics--An Inquisitive World--Questions Asked and Answered--Country Fairs--Scenes at Bampton--New Forest Ponies. The Mrs. Thistlethwaite mentioned in the preceding chapter was for some years the chere amie of Napoleon III. Her maiden name was Laura Bell. She was a beautiful woman, with fair hair, wonderful eyes and figure, and lived in Grosvenor Square. If I remember correctly, her husband divorced her. She had many friends, and some of her methods of keeping them up to the mark were original. Eventually she turned very religious, and held Friday and Sunday teas, when she discussed religion and kisses with her friends. Mr. Gladstone was an admirer of hers, and liked to discuss with her ecclesiastical dogma. Being a High Churchman, he fasted on Fridays and had a fish luncheon, after which it was his habit to attend Mrs. Thistlethwaite's tea-party and receive the kiss of peace. We have lately heard a good deal about Lord Beaconsfield's love affairs, but not much of Gladstone's. This is not fair, for he had quite a pretty taste in women, and why should he have been le...