4 LFAVF.S I'-ROI\T A IIUNTTNC: DIARY 



Lad)" Rookwood, whose ck^ath, after a \'ery brief illness, in the 

 spring" of i S99 came; as a ^"rcat shock to the county of k^ssex, 

 and which left a void that can never be filled, always took the 

 deepest interest in the |)erformances of the Essex Hounds, 

 with wliich some ot her husband's happiest years were so 

 closeK associated, \\heii he was known throughout the lent^th 

 and breadth of k'.ssex as "Sir ilenr\." She e\"er evinced the 

 deejoest interest in all movements, social or philanthropic, that 

 made for oood in the county, and w^as'of <4"reat help to her 

 husband in promotino- the Conservative cause. One of the 

 earliest and most successful branches of the Primrose League 



Desdichado, after a Painting by A. Dickinson 



was founded l)y her. Lady Rookwood formed yet another 

 link in the chain of evidence that statesmen make the happiest 

 and most fortunate marriao-es. 



" Desdichado," known at the kennels as " Dusty Shadow," 

 was a beggar to go through dirt, and like many lop-eared ones, 

 was a rare good sort. He generally carried Fred Firr during 

 Lord Rookwood's mastership, and was ridden by L^irr when he 

 ran first in the Welter Cup race at Rundells in 1881 and 1882, 

 and Essex Open Steeplechase, iSS;, ; and bx Harry Bagot 

 when he won the Welter Cup for the third time at Rundells in 

 1884. The likeness of " Desdichado" is taken from a painting 



