One hundred years ago
The world has taken a profound interest during the last week in the action for libel brought by a lady's maid, Jane Jones, against the Duchess of Westminster, for writing, in answer to an application concerning her character, that when in the service of the Duchess, she had gone 'quite out of her mind' after being told that the Duchess was intending to get a foreign lady's-maid in her place. The cross-examination of a live Duchess in Court is a rare treat to the British public, and the sang-froid with which she admitted that she was willing to give her former lady's-maid a fresh chance, at the cost of suppressing the story of the annoyances she suffered, so long as the next employer was not of her own kith and kin, added piquancy to the case. After three days' trial, the verdict went for the Duke and Duchess. but not till the public had been mtiLii gratified by discovering that a Duchess can write very slovenly letters, and that on her principles, neighbourliness is thus graduated — first, take care of your own family; next, of your discharged lady'smaid; and lastly only, of strangers, even though they be of your own order.
Spectator, 19 April 1879
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