LADY DUFF GORDON'S LETTERS FROM EGYPT.
Lady Duff Gordon's Letters from Egypt. With a Memoir by her Daughter, Janet Ross, and Introduction by George Meredith. (R. B. Johnson. 73. 6d. net.)—The few survivors of those whose privilege it was to live in the political and literary society of the "fifties" and " sixties " will never forget the striking figure of the writer of these letters. She came of illustrious descent as to mind and person. Her mother, Sarah Austin, the second of the "Three Generations of Englishwomen" in Mrs. Ross's delightful book, was one of the hand- somest and most intellectual women of her day, and the conver- sational powers of her father and uncle, John and Charles Austin, have never been surpassed. Lucy was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Austin, and married Sir Alexander Duff Gordon at the age of eighteen. She was handsome rather than beautiful. In his Memoir Mr. George Meredith, while doing justice to her pure-white complexion, clear-cut features, large brown eyes, and inky brows, says that hers "was the head of a Roman man." Her figure, stately and broad-shouldered, had none of the soft flexibility of womanhood, nor was this the character of her mind. She was downright in speech and manner, free from affectation, except perhaps a little of the affectation of unconventionality, which sometimes appears in those who, like her, have a strain of Bohemianism. Under a somewhat intimidating exterior she hid a warm, large heart. She was full of compassion for the poor and suffering, while she had no sympathy with petty grievances, and nothimg but contempt for worldliness,—i.e, worship of money and rank. She had perhaps too little respect for the opinion of the world. Trained by her father in classical studies, her early visits to the Continent developed her talent for languages ; and she did not waste time in trying to acquire accomplishments for which she had no special gift. In her home at Esher she was able to indulge her love of companion- ship, for although there is a greater choice of friends in London, it is eager to become intimate with the few one cares for in the country. Many of the most eminent men of the day were glad to run down and enjoy the cordial, unostentatious hospitality of the "Gordon Arms," and the warm welcome of its gracious master and mistress. When she was forced to leave so much that was dear to her at home, her sympathies went out to the natives of the country to which she was banished, and by whom she was worshipped. This was not extraordinary, considering the con- trast she must have made to Eastern women, whose sad fate she describes so vividly. The letters increase in interest after she had learned to speak and understand Arabic. Her style is bright and unaffected, with a strong sense of humour. It is marvellous how, in spite of weakness and suffering, she kept up her courage and interest in all her surroundings : and it is this sympathy and interest which render her letters different from any other traveller's. In fact, she was no traveller but a sojourner, and had time to overcome the prejudices on both sides which divide the East from the West. Her friend Mrs. Norton wrote of her : S.Yninathising, helping, doctoring their sick, teaching their Children, learning their language, Lady Duff Gordon lived in EgYPt, and in Egypt she died, leaving a memory of her great- ness and goodness such as no other European woman ever acquired in that country."
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