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[Page 24]
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Around their home is some very delightful scenery, and on their estate they have established homes for the Ministering Childrens League, which is Lady Meath's especial care. Here with the advantage of a country home, the children grow up well and strong, and become useful citizens. Through the courtesy of the Earl I visited the House of Lords, and saw the introduction of Lord Blythesword, [possibly Lord Blythswood] with its accompanying ostentatious ceremony, I thought in some parts it savoured of comic opera, especially where the herald dressed in doublet and hose prompts the elect and his attendant sponsors, who stand either side, they dressed in ermine bordered robes with cocked hats, are told to "rise, take off your hat, bow, sit again," the same formula is repeated, and yet again, and by that time I found it difficult to restrain my mirth, and thought it must be a little comedy added. Though more used to the procedure than I, it must, I am sure have struck Lord Beresford, one of the sponsors humorously, for I distinctly saw him wink at one of the Peeresses.
Afterwards I met Lord Landsdowne, Lord Cuzzon [Lord Curzon] and Lord Camperdown. The Earl obtained permission for me to enter the room where the Dardenelles Commission was sitting, and it gave me a very chokey feeling to see those statesmen at their deliberations. It made history for Australia, but at what a cost. A mist clouded my eyes as I recalled that first wonderful contingent, as it marched down Collins Street, in very truth the flower of our manhood were they.
Afterwards we had tea on the famous terrace, and at the next table were seated John Burns, the noted labour member, and Judge Neale of Chicago, a colleague of Judge Lindsay's in the Childrens' Court. He mentioned having met our High Commissioner in Paris the previous week.
For Whitsuntide I accepted an invitation to Graffam [Graffham] Court, and found the next estate was that of Lord Cowdray, father of Lady Denman wife of our former Governor General.
The country in May is perhaps at its best, albeit one could not imagine, anything more beautiful, everywhere was a carpet of blue bells. The meadows were filled with daisies and buttercups, the Hawthorn hedges