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Duke of Westminster; Lady Katrina, having charge of the ladies in the duke's castle at Westminster; Sir William Roberts,tried and trusted henchman of the duke and ehiefof the commissary department of his castle; Sir George Stock- ton, sometimes called Sir George,the Long, literary represcn- tative and court critic to the duke. The very pleasant and almost courtly manners of the duke, together with the good titles which all of them possessed, made a good impression upon the shades, and it was after a discussion of only a few minutes that the House Commit. tee decided to admit them to membership tothe" Associated Shades." After being admitted, for a little while all went well,and the new shades became very popular. But this popularity was destined to fall as quickly as it rose. "The whole party, headed by the duke, began to grow ver-y-dictatorial and overbearing in their manner. "Matters drifted from bad to worse until finally his Grace of \Vestminster usurped Sir Walter Raleigh's power as head of the House Committee and took entire possession of the House Boat. He dis- charged the old House Committee and appointed in its stead a committee consisting of Sir William, who held the position of chief lieutenant and commissary general; Lady Katrina who was given absolute authority over all the ladies with the title of Preceptress, and Sir George, "the Long," who was put in charge of the Poet's Corner with the right to criticise any of its occupants' productions be- fore they were offered for publication. With the nbove-uamed shades as his assistants, the duke has been running things with a high hand for the past month, introducing new customs and entirely overturning the old regime. Some idea of the great change which has been brought about by this usurper, and the almost uni- versal discontent that has resulted therefrom, lTlay be ob- -I· 177-1-
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