The Times/1926/Obituary/Beatrix Lucia Catherine Tollemache

THE HON. MRS. LIONEL TOLLEMACHE.

"R. T." writes:—On the 23rd inst. there passed away from a large circle of relatives and friends, who can ill spare her, the Hon. Beatrix Lucia Tolllemache, daughter of the first Lord Egerton of Tatton. Mrs. Tollemache—who was born in 1840—married, in 1870, the Hon. Lionel Arthur Tollemache, a son of the first Lord Tollemache. He died in 191. They were a gifted couple, and well known to most eminent men and women of the 19th century. Both husband and wife published books from time to time, some of which may live after them. Passing their days in studious fashion, they were constant contributors to newspapers and review; Mrs. Tollemache's poems, which often appeared in the Spectator, will be remembered regular readers of that journal. She was a very lovely and brilliant woman of exceeding charm, an artist and a capable critic, her beautiful face being an index to her uncommon character. She was notable, too, for her command of foreign idioms, and all the treasures of the best European literature were fully open to her. The bent of her exceptional mind was shown by her mastery of the difficult Russian language, which she acquired when she was already a septuagenarian.

Mrs. Tollemache's later life, however, was mainly devoted to the care of her invalid husband at Haslemere; and there, after his death, she lived in retirement, where her may charities will not soon be forgotten. Her kindness was indeed unbounded. She was a great lady of the old type, with the power of inspiring the love and devotion of all who knew her intimately. The writer of this brief notice feels that the words he uses utterly fail to convey the praise which is so well merited by such a personality. Mrs. Tollemache retained her confidence in this country, her serene hopefulness to the last, dying peacefully and painlessly full of years and wisdom. The world is the worse for the loss of such a woman her native country of Cheshire—that "Seede Plot of Gentilitie"—never grew a fairer flower!