Until the Duke of Norfolk's mar-riage, in 1904, the Duchess of Somerset held the rank of premier duchess, and filled the part with distinction at King Edward's Coronation in 1902. Her Grace is often referred to as the most travelled of all our duchesses, for she is very fond of journeying to remote corners of the world. After her marriage, as Miss Susan Mackinnon, in 1877, to once published her adventures on a very unconventional tour in Canada, under the title of the "Impressions of a Tenderfoot." In those days she wore very short skirts, a cloth cap, stout boots, and gaiters, and "roughed it" completely with her husband, cooking her own food, and living in tents. The Duchess has often confessed that this was the happiest time of her life. Her Grace, however, is a many-sided woman, for she has written books and composed songs, and is also one of our first authorities on gardening. Flowers are her hobby, but this scarcely needs telling, for the gardens at Maiden Bradley, her beautiful home at Bath, are famous for their originality as well as their beauty. The Duchess, too, has always been active in philanthropic work, and her effective criticism of our antiquated British Poor Law system has resulted in various reforms.

The Duchess of Somerset Lafayette

Mr. Algernon St. Maur, as the Duke then was, she travelled the world over with her husband, at that time an officer in the 6oth Rifles. She