Chaplin

Henry Chaplin, 82, Viscount, typical English squire, personal friend of Edward VII, former Cabinet Minister, for 48 years a member of the House of Commons, died at London.

As a young man he was engaged to Lady Florence Cecilia Paget. One day, as they were on a shopping tour, she walked out of the door, slipped into a cab that the Marquis of Hastings had ready, drove directly to church, married the Marquis. About three years later, at the Derby of 1867, Hastings' horse was favorite. Chaplin's horse, Hermit, broke a blood vessel about a month before the race and went to the stake at odds of: 100 to 1. Just before the race Chaplin took every bet that was, offered. The race was run in a snow-storm and Hermit won, netting his master upwards of $500,000. Hastings lost supposedly $350,000, was ruined and committed suicide. When Chaplin was made Viscount in 1916, his arms consisted partly of a "chest-nut-colored race horse in a white headstall."

As a member of Parliament he was a vigorous opponent of Gladstone and Parnell, and represented the old landed and agricultural interests.