Social Victorians/People/Bourke

Hon. Algernon Bourke, Vanity Fair, 1898

Also Known As

• Family name: Bourke [pronounced burk]
• The Hon. Algernon Bourke
  • Button Bourke
  • Algy Bourke
• Mrs. Guendoline Bourke
  • Guendoline [The National Portrait Gallery, London, uses this spelling for Lafayette's portrait of Bourke in costume for the ball, as does Russell Harris in the Lafayette Archive, held by the Victoria and Albert.]
  • Gwendolen
  • Gwendoline
• Shelley Bontein and Emilie Sloane-Stanley Bontein
• See also the page for the Earl of Mayo, the Hon. Algernon Bourke's father and then brother, and other Bourkes

Overview

Algernon Bourke

Although the Hon. Algernon Henry Bourke was born in Dublin in 1854 and came from a family whose title is in the Peerage of Ireland, he seems to have spent much of his adult life generally in England and especially in London. He was "a noted fisherman."

Oscar Wilde and the Bourkes

A number of writers say that Algernon and Guendoline Bourke were satirized in Oscar Wilde's 1895 The Importance of Being Earnest, but none of them cite a source for their claim. Connections between Wilde and Bourke did exist, however, but so far we have no actual evidence that Wilde based anything on the Bourkes.

Franny Moyle says that Algernon Bourke was "one of Oscar [Wilde]'s friends" and

had heard that Queensberry had obtained tickets for the first night of The Importance and was planning to address the audience about Oscar's relationship with Bosie. [Bourke then told Wilde what he had heard.] Thanks to this tip-off George Alexander [manager of the St. James's Theatre] had written to Queensberry stating that his ticket had been issued in error and was not valid, and then he and Oscar had applied to Scotland Yard for protection.

Algernon Bourke was a cousin of Lord Alfred Douglas, Wilde's Bosie, and in 1898 attempted to facilitate a reconciliation between Bosie and his father, the Marquess of Queensberry. Lord Alfred Douglas addresses his relationship with Algernon Bourke and Bourke's role in this attempt in his Autobiography:

For his spectacular victory at the Old Bailey did my poor father no good. He was, metaphorically speaking, pursued by Furies ever afterwards up to the time of his last illness. A great number of people of his own class, who did not bother their heads overmuch about what happened to "Queensberry's boy" after his father had ruined him, yet definitely drew the line from that time forth at Queensberry himself. He was "cut" by many of his oldest friends, and politely cold-shouldered by others. My godfather, dear old Lord Robert Bruce (I am called, as my second name, Bruce, after him), who was in the Navy with my father, and up till then one of his greatest friends, told me himself, years after, that he never spoke to my father again after what he had done. He was for ever estranged from his son and heir, my brother Percy, and from Percy's wife and children, and though he received me back into favour for a short time, about a year before his death, our reconciliation did not last long. After formally "forgiving" me and embracing me with tears many times in the smoking-room of Bailey's Hotel, where he was then staying, promising me my allowance back again and actually writing to his cousin, Arthur Douglas, who managed his affairs, to that effect, and calling me "my poor darling boy," he whipped round on me again and wrote me an abusive letter in which he said that he did not intend to give me a penny until he knew exactly what my relations were with "that beast Wilde." This was quite gratuitous, as I had already explained in a letter to my cousin Algie Bourke (the Honourable Algernon Bourke, brother of the late Lord Mayo) exactly what those relations were, and he had shown my letter to my father, who had thereupon expressed a desire to see me and receive me back into favour. What happened was, precisely, that I wrote to Algie Bourke from Paris and told him that I should like to make friends with my father again, and I asked him to try to arrange it. I told Algie that I was ready to express contrition for what I had done, "but," I said, "I cannot undertake not to see Wilde from time to time. I can, however, give you and my father my word that my relations with him are entirely harmless and only dictated by my feeling that I cannot abandon him now that he is poor and broken after being his friend when he was rich and flourishing." I went on to say that I was sure my father would appreciate the situation that my intercourse with Wilde was chiefly confined to helping him financially whenever I could, and that I had already given my word of honour to my mother that I would never live in the same house with him or sleep under the same roof with him again. (I had given this promise to my mother when I left Wilde in my villa at Naples. In return for the promise my mother gave me £200 to give to Wilde.) I went on to say to Algie that I must ask my father to "consider the sort of dog's life I have had for the last few years and to meet me half way," and not make it impossible for me to bring about the reconciliation which I so sincerely desired.

Algie, kindest and most untiringly good-natured of men, immediately approached my father, showed him my letter, and wrote to me within twenty-four hours to say that it was all right, and that my father would be delighted to see me and had spoken in the most affectionate way about me. The interview I have described took place between us. This must have been in 1898, I think. The reconciliation lasted only about a week, and came to an end when my father wrote in the terms I have described. I made a "suitable" reply, in which I said that it was obvious that there was no possibility of any lasting peace between us, and once more hurling back the celebrated and legendary "allowance" with stinging words.

Algernon Bourke in General

Because he was the son of the Earl of Mayo, perhaps, or perhaps because he was so involved in projects that got reported on, he was mentioned a great deal in the newspapers, but after his bankruptcy, he seems to have receded in prominence, in part because he was living outside of the U.K., and apparently separately from his wife, Guendoline Bourke.

Bourke ran as the Conservative candidate for Parliament from Clapham (population, c. 70,000) in 1885, a race he did not win. As a candidate he is described like this:

Acted as a newspaper correspondent during the Zulu war. Subsequently Poor-law inspector in the West of Ireland. "A loyal supporter of Church and State." Desires to reduce the School Board expenditure, and revive trade; and is opposed to Mr. Chamberlain's "police of hasty and experimental reform."

The London Weekly Dispatch says he is "a dashing and unscrupulous young Tory."

"Algy" Bourke was "Man of the Day" (No. DCCII [522) for Vanity Fair in 1898, caricatured by Leslie Ward (above right) and damned, perhaps, with faint praise:

Son of the great and murdered Lord Mayo, he is contemporary with the outbreak of the Crimean War, he is a Member of the London Stock Exchange, he has a beautiful wife and a daughter, and, being a very fashionable young man, he was once refused as their Member by the worthy electors of Clapham. He was an Eton boy, of course: and less naturally he went to Cambridge; where he was made President of the Beefsteak, the Amateur Dramatic, the Athenaeum, the True Blue, and the Hibernian Clubs. When he came down he tried journalism and went to Zululand as a Daily Telegraph ‘‘special”; after which he was improved into an Inspector of Workhouses [2, Col. 2c – 3, Col. 1a] in Ireland: which may account for his proficiency as a caterer. For seven years he worked under the late Mr. Chinnery on The Times: being popularly supposed to look after that journal's morals. He is a good man of business, and a great organiser who has made White's Club pay even if it be less “smart" than it was. He has done much for Willis’s since he took it in hand; he did well with his Battersea venture, and he thinks that he only failed with the Summer Club in Kensington Gardens because people would not go to the wrong side of the Park. Moreover, he runs a Club at Brighton, and he is Chairman of the Grand Hotel at Monte Carlo: whither he once organised a cheap trip. Altogether he is a veritable Clubman, and a very successful arranger of amusements, associations, and restaurants.

He is a popular fellow who is known to all of us; and though he is a little inclined to be quarrelsome, no one can get much the better of him. He is also a quick grasper of facts and a good talker. His favourite sports are fishing and the organising of associations for the introduction of salmon to the Thames. By way of being an art critic, he has made an interesting collection of engravings of the members of White’s Club from its foundation; but his friends say that he is not a well-dressed man. He has also written a history of White’s, and he is now writing one of Brooks's Club. He is a genial person, who looks as if the world agreed with him well.

He is an aquisition [sic] to a house party; and they call him “Algy.”

Guendoline Sloane-Stanley Bourke

Mrs. Guendoline Bourke exhibited at dog shows successfully and was a noted deerstalker. She was a sponsor of Irish art needlework as well. She was "an appreciative listener to good music" and studied with Edwin H. Lemare, organist at St. Margaret's, Westminster, who dedicated compositions to her, and Frances Burgess, "Organist and Choirmaster of St. Columbs', North Kensington, Director of the Plainsong and Medieval Music Society's Choir." In fact, she owned an 1885 organ made by Michell and Thynne, moving it from Gloucester Place, South Kensington, to Henley on Thames, Rotherend.

Her personal beauty is often mentioned in reports, and The World says she was "a magnificent woman." She is the first listed in the Graphic's 1891 "Leading Ladies of Society":

The Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke is a daughter (Gwendoline Irene Emily) of the late Hans Sloane Stanley, Esq., of Poultons, Southampton, and 49, Cadogan Square, S.W. She married, on December 15th, 1887, the Hon. Algernon Bourke, third son of the sixth Earl of Mayo, Governor-General of India (who was assassinated in 1872), and nephew of Lord Connemara, Governor of Madras. Mr. Bourke is a member of the London Stock Exchange, and resides at 33, Cadogan Terrace, S.W.

She attended many social events without her husband, especially into the 20th century, usually described with an appreciation of what she wore. Unlike her husband's, Guendoline's social status seems to have risen as time passed, and she appears in stories associated with the Princess of Wales, and then later with Queen Alexandra.

The Sloane-Stanley Family

Guendoline's family consisted of a younger brother, Cyril Sloane-Stanley, as well as her parents, Hans Sloane-Stanley and Emilie Edwards Sloane-Stanley. Exactly one year after she and Algernon Bourke married, Hans Sloane-Stanley died (in 1888), leaving an estate worth £33,704 7s. 5d. (1888, 321) Her mother remarried almost exactly a year after that, to James Shelly Bontein. Bontein's father had been Gentleman Usher and Clerk of the Robes to Queen Victoria.

Shortly after his death Truth described Guendoline and Cyril's father Hans Sloane-Stanley:

The death of Mr. Sloane Stanley, of Paultons Park, is much regretted in South Hants, as he was one of the most popular landlords in the county, and was greatly esteemed. Mr. Sloane Stanley was well known in yachting circles, and for many years he was Commodore of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, and owned the schooner Star of the West. He was one of the very few owners who continued to keep up the old custom of giving his crew a laying-up supper at the close of each season. There were great festivities at Paultons only a few months ago, when Miss Sloane Stanley was married to Mr. Algernon Bourke.

When he died in 1944, Cyril Sloane-Stanley's estate was quite a bit larger than his father's had been 50 years before. The probate was divided between what was limited to "settled land" and what was "save and except settled land." What was not settled land totalled £356,114 12s. 10d. and went to John Everett, company director; the Hon. Elwyn Villiers Rhys, captain, H.M. army; and William Adam de Geijer, retired captain, H.M. army. (1944, 430) His daughter Lavender was married to John Everett, and Diane was married to Elwyn Villiers Rhys. What was settled land totalled £168,975 and went to William Adam de Geijer, retired captain, H.M. army, and George Lawrence Stewart, solicitor. (1944, 430)

The Sloane-Stanleys descend from Hans Sloane (1660–1753), whose 71,000-item collections "provid[ed] the foundation of the British Museum, the British Library, and the Natural History Museum, London." Much of this Hans Sloane's wealth came from his medical practice in Jamaica, where he went as physician to the Governor General of Jamaica, the 2nd Duke of Albemarle, and where he married "a wealthy heiress of sugar plantations" worked by enslaved Jamaicans. His great-nephew, Hans Sloane, inherited Paultons, near Romsey, "and in recognition of this he adopted the additional surname of Stanley in 1821."

Portraits

Most of these images cannot be reproduced on these pages because of copyright restrictions, but they can be viewed online in the context in which they were originally published.

Gueldoline Bourke

• 1890: Miss Frances Eley — a painter of miniatures — painted and exhibited her portrait at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1890.
• 1900: Mrs. Guendoline Bourke's 1900 portrait by Ellis Roberts was printed in Lady's Realm. (pp. 771, 773)
• 1901: The Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke and Child, on the cover of Country Life, 13 July 1901

Algernon Bourke

• The caricature of Algernon Bourke (above right) was printed in Vanity Fair in 1898.

Daphne Bourke

• 1903: A photograph by R. N. Speaight of Daphne at 7 year old.
• 1904: A photograph of Daphne Bourke by Esme Collings was published in The King and His Navy and Army on 16 July 1904. (p. 485)

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies

Algernon Bourke

• Best man at his wedding: the Hon. Michael Sandys
• Marcus Henry Milner, "one of the zealous assistants of that well-known firm of stockbrokers, Messrs. Bourke and Sandys"
• Caroline, Duchess of Montrose — her "legal advisor" on the day of her marriage to Marcus Henry Milner
• Wilfred Scawen Blunt
• Alexander Meyrick Broadley (2) [Blunt, Broadley and Bourke were mutual friends; Blunt and Bourke were cousins.]
• "Natty Rothschild," according to Blunt
• Brett, who was Hartington's secretary in the early 80s.

Guendoline Bourke

• Bridesmaids at her wedding: Lady Florence Bourke, Miss Nora Bourke, Miss Edwards, and Miss Ewart
• Lord and Lady Alington, Belvedere House, Scarborough
• Evelyn James

Organizations

Guendoline Bourke

• Member, the Ladies Committee for the Prince's Skating Club, which also included Princess Louise (Duchess of Argyll), the Duchess of Portland, Lady Londonderry, Lady Archibald Campbell, Lady Ribblesdale, and Mrs. Asquith (in 1902, at least)

Algernon Bourke

• Eton
• Cambridge University, Trinity College, 1873, Michaelmas term
• Conservative Party
• 1879: Appointed a Poor Law Inspector in Ireland, Relief of Distress Act (and may have had similar positions into the 20th century)
• 1881: Partner, with 2 uncles, in Brunton, Bourke, and Co. (one of the sons of peers on the Stock Exchange)
• 1885: Office of the 7th Surrey Rifles Regiment
• 1886: Battersea Friendly Angling Society
• 27 February 1886: one of the Vice Presidents of the Bolingbroke Reading-Room and Institute
• Special Correspondent of The Times for the Zulu War, accompanying Lord Chelmsford
• Head, Messrs. Bourke and Sandys, "that well-known firm of stockbrokers" ( – 1901 [at least])
• White's gentleman's club, St. James's, Manager (1897)
• Willis's Rooms (described in 1895):

  ... the Hon. Algernon Burke [sic], son of the 6th Earl of Mayo, has turned the place into a smart restaurant where choice dinners are served and eaten while a stringed band discourses music. Willis's Rooms are now the favourite dining place for ladies who have no club of their own, or for gentlemen who are debarred by rules from inviting ladies to one of their own clubs. The same gentleman runs a hotel in Brighton, and has promoted several clubs. He has a special faculty for organising places of the kind, without which such projects end in failure.

• The Pelican Club, known for its boxing (1891)

Boards of Directors

• 1883: One of the directors, the Franco-English Tunisian Esparto Fibre Supply Company, Ltd.
• 1891: One of the founders, the Discount Banking Company, Ltd., which says Algernon Bourke is a director of District Messenger Services and News Company, Ltd.
• 1894: One of the directors, the Frozen Lake, Ltd., with Admiral Maxse, Lord Marcus Beresford, Hwfa Williams

  London is to have new amusement this winter, for which Mr Algernon Bourke, who has taught us that it is possible to eat as well in St. James’s as on the Boulevards, and Mr Hwfa Williams, of Sandown fame, are jointly responsible. The "Frozen Lake," under which title a real ice-skating rink is about to be constructed under their auspices, will no doubt be gladly welcomed by all skaters, and the venture is likely to prove a success.

Committees

• Member, General Committee, the Baths Club (1892)
• Member, Men's Committee of the Prince's Skating Club, which also included Lord Edward Cecil, Lord Redesdale, Mr. Alfred Lyttelton, Sir Edgar Vincent, Sir William Hart Dyke, and Mr. W. H. Grenfell (1902, at least)
• The Sala Memorial Fund, member of the committee (from 25 March 1896)
• Member of an "influential committee" headed by the Lord Mayor "to restore salmon to the Thames" (June 1899)

Timeline

1870s

1872 February 8, Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo was assassinated while inspecting a "convict settlement at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands ... by Sher Ali Afridi, a former Afghan soldier." The Hon. Algernon's brother Dermot became the 7th Earl at 19 years old.

1876 November 24, Friday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was one of 6 men (2 students, one of whom was Bourke; 2 doctors; a tutor and another man) from Cambridge who gave evidence as witnesses in an inquest about the death of a student falling off a horse.

1879 December 27, Saturday – 29, Monday, Algernon Bourke was in Kilrush as a Local Government Board Inspector:

Among many distinguished visitors at the Vandeleur Arms Hotel, Kilrush this week was the Hon. Algernon Bourke Local Government Board Inspector who arrived on Saturday, and sojourned there until 2 o'clock on Monday, when the honourable gentleman left by Steamer tor Limerick.

1880s

1880, probably as a Poor Law Inspector in Ireland, Relief of Distress Act, or Local Government Board Inspector, Algernon Bourke wrote a report about "distress" in Dingle, Kerry, that Right Hon. Sir Henry James used in a speech given in Parliament:

I gathered that there was a great want of employment in the district, and in round numbers I should say there are about six hundred heads of families who are available for work at moderate wages. This number is approximately supposed to be double what it is in ordinary years. In the matter of fuel, I fear in portions — only portions — of the Union the want is such as to amount to a famine. In and about the parish of Dunquin the people are burning the heather and bushes, and there is great probability that some families may, in consequence of inability to procure firing, be forced into the workhouse. I am of opinion that if the guardians had the power to give out-door relief in fuel, that a great deal might with little expense be done [228–229] to enable the people to get through their difficulties. The guardians at Dingle do not, as a rule, give out-door relief, and I cannot say whether they would avail themselves of a privilege such as is contemplated in the letter of the Vice-President of December 31st; but one thing I am sure of is, that if they did not [sic] use their power they would not abuse it. In portions of the eastern part of the union the want of fuel and the very great difficulty of procuring it is as great as in the district of Dunquin. I pass now to the question of potatoes. The time is fast approaching when the poor will have consumed all that the late wretched harvest vouchsafed them in this particular. Tales of the people re-digging their tillage in order to find potatoes left behind in the first instance come from reliable and authentic sources, and, if the relieving officers speak the truth, there will be when the seed time comes on such a want of seed potatoes as it is difficult to know how to meet, as it is alarming in its earnest of future privation and distress.

...

There is poverty in the supply of fuel, and a great and growing distress amongst the people in my district. I feel that, grave as the consideration of these matters may be, they dwarf before the contemplation of the poor becoming unable to make that all-important provision for the future, namely, in sowing that crop which is the staple of their existence. In the union of Dingle the tale comes that the people are eating their seed potatoes, and unless private charity comes to assist them in the spring I feel that a possibility exists that the want of 1880 may become the famine of 1881. It is right to say that the resident gentry are, for the most part, fully alive to the gravity of the situation, and are taking some steps to import some of the Scotch champions into the country.

1880, after, Bourke (known by his nickname Button) worked for the Times as advisor to the editor, Chenery, likely to shift its politics toward the conversative side. In his journals, Blunt exaggerated Bourke's importance, (774) but he was responsible for keeping information flowing:

Bourke never wrote a leading article, but his valuable information, derived from a large acquaintance in society and with political leaders, was also regularly used in special paragraphs. (12)

4 February 1880, Wednesday, Hon. Algernon Bourke attended the grand ball at Palmerstown House hosted by the Earl of Mayo. 1880 March 30, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke was working in the judicial system in Newcastle, County Limerick, possibly as Poorhouse Inspector:

A sworn enquiry was held to-day at the Workhorse, Newcastle West, by the Hon Algernon Bourke, L.G.I., to enquire into charges preferred by Dr. Pierce, Medical Office, against Dr. O'Shaughnesay. The enquiry was adjourned till Thursday next. Mr Moran, sol., Rathkeale, was engaged for Dr. O'Shaughnessy.

1880 April 17, Saturday, in-jokes dominate this report mentioning Algernon Bourke in the context of the Kildare and National Hunt races in Dublin:

And in mopy Upper Mount-street, where young Algernon Bourke, of the Onety-oneth, had promised to call for, and afterwards spin down to the races in his mail phaeton, the Blake girls; and in fastidious Fitzwilliam-place, and exclusive "Murryan-squeer," from which dashing army men, in their neatly-appointed, well horsed drags were to "tool" down sweet young Dublin lasses of the crême d la crême [sic], many an anxious forecasting of the weather was taken, lest by an unpropitious shower that last triumph of Mrs. Manning, or the Forrests, or Miss Sedford, or any of the grandes dames de la mode should be rendered as worthless as a Confederate "greenback." But by ten o'clock all doubts were happily set aside, and up struck the lovely April day in all its spring-time glory and then the road, oh, the road!

1881 May 10, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke attended the wedding of Marion Lascelles, eldest daughter of the Hon. Egremont W. Lascelles, brother of the Earl of Harewood, and Lieutenant Henry Dent Brocklehurst, of the Second Life Guards, nephew of Mr. Philip Brocklehurst, of Swithamley Park, Macclesfield. His gift was an "old enamelled watch set in pearls."

1881 May 23, Monday, 2:00 p.m., Algernon Bourke is listed among the Honourables at the Queen's Levee at St. James's Palace.

1881 July 14, Thursday afternoon, beginning about 2 p.m., Algernon Bourke was invited to a Garden Party at Marlborough House hosted by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales. Members of the family of the Earl of Mayo were also among the 1,500 or so invited guests.

1881 July 22, Friday, Algernon Bourke was invited to an evening party at Marlborough House hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

1881 September 17, Saturday, Algernon Bourke was reported among the company at Doncaster during race week.

1881 November 22, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke was sued in Dublin by Henry Naylor because he "had declined to pay" for a £35 piano.

1881 December 8, Thursday, Algernon Bourke was part of a battue at Palmerstown, when the group bagged 172 pheasants, hares and rabbits.

1882 March 7, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke attended the fashionable wedding of Reginald Chandos-Pole and Violet Denison.

1882 March 15, Wednesday, Algernon Bourke attended the Marchioness of Salisbury's first reception of the season.

1882 July 13, Thursday, Algernon Bourke was invited to the Garden Party at Marlborough House for Queen Victoria hosted by Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales. The more than 1,000 people invited also included a number of people from the family of the Earl of Mayo.

1882 September 19, Alexander M. Broadley in Tunis received a letter from Algernon Bourke asking him to provide legal counsel to defend prisoner-of war Arábi in Egypt, with Wilfred Scawen Blunt, which he did. (2)

1882 September 28, Saturday, Algernon Bourke attended the wedding of John M'Donald and Georgiana Lambart.

1883 March 21, Wednesday, the Evening Irish Times announced that Algernon Bourke "has arrived at Kingstown from England."

23 July 1883, Monday, noon, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was invited to a garden party at Marlborough House hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

31 October 1883, Wednesday, Algernon Bourke attended the wedding of Lady Cecelia Hay and Captain George Webbe.

1884 February 16, Saturday, Algernon Bourke attended the funeral of Thomas Chenery, editor of the Times.

1884 April 4, Saturday, Algernon Bourke was (may have been?) one of the "Supporters of the Pall" at the funeral of Prince Leopold George Duncan Albert, Duke of Albany at St. George's, Windsor.

1884 April 26, Saturday, Algernon Bourke attended a dinner party at the Lord Mayor's Mansion House for conservatives to meet Sir Stafford Northcote.

1884 May 3, Saturday, the "Rochester Conservatives" announced that they would "bring forward the Hon. Algernon Bourke, brother of Lord Mayo, as their second candidate," but because he would not be the first candidate, Bourke declined.

1884 June 18, Wednesday, Mr. Algernon Bourke was on a committee to watch a Mr. Bishop's "thought-reading" experiment, which was based on a challenge by Henry Labourchere made the year before. This "experiment" took place before a fashionable audience.

1884 July 25, Friday, afternoon, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was invited to a Garden Party at Marlborough House hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

1885 January 22, Thursday, Algernon Bourke's gift to George Buckle and Alicia Payn for their wedding was an antique cabinet.

1885 July 7, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke attended Eva Bourke's wedding to Windham Wyndham-Quin at St. Mary Abbots, Kensington.

1885 July 13, Monday, Algernon Bouurke was at Victoria Station as part of the crowd greeting Lord Wolseley on his return from Egypt.

1885 July 24, Friday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was invited to a ball at Marlborough House hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

1885 September 26, Saturday, Algernon Bourke took part in the Ealing Conservative Club fete and meeting supporting Salisbury's government and condemning "the dictates of one man" — Gladstone — for Gordon's death.

1885 October 3, Saturday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was named as the Conservative candidate for Clapham in the Battersea and Clapham borough after the Redistribution Bill determined the electoral districts for South London. On Sunday 15 November 1885 the London Weekly Dispatch supported Moulton, the Liberal candidate, who ultimately won the election:

Though a successful lawyer, Mr. Moulton is much more than that. He is a thorough and independent student of political science, who may be trusted to do good service to the Liberal cause with brain as well as with tongue. It will be matter for hearty congratulation if he defeats the Hon. Algernon Henry Bourke, who is a dashing and unscrupulous young Tory, and a nephew of the well-known politician with the same surname.

On Saturday 21 November 1885 the South London Press reported on posters for Bourke's candidacy:

The Hon. Algernon Bourke, Conservative candidate for Clapham, has a very industrious billsticker, who pastes up his patron’s bills in every possible place where they can be seen to advantage. It is unfortunate, however, that choosing the flank wall of an auctioneer’s the modern "Sam Slap" has produced some curious combinations, such as — "Vote for Bourke," "Now on View;" "Electors of Clapham, Vote for Mr. Bourke, and" "Be Sold Without Reserve;" "Mr, Bourke will" "Advance Money to" "the Electors of Clapham;" "Great Conservative Meeting. The British Constitution will be" "Offered for Sale this Evening," &c.

1885 November 3, Tuesday, 11:00 a.m., Algernon Bourke attended the wedding of his brother, Dermot, 7th Earl of Mayo and Geraldine Ponsonby. He gave them 2 Sheraton secretaires.

1886 January 5, Tuesday, late, the Hon. Algernon Bourke attended the Twelfth Night celebration at the Drury Lane theatre.

1886 January 10, "Sir" Algernon Bourke followed Sir Randolph Churchill in thinking that the nationalists in Ireland should be arrested "on the charge of high treason."

1886 March 13, Saturday evening, an Hon. Mr. Bourke attended a reception at the French Embassy, possibly Algernon Bourke or possibly one of his brothers or an uncle.

1886 July 10, Saturday, Hon. Algernon Bourke was invited to a garden party at Marlborough House given to the Queen. Guendoline Sloane Stanley is not mentioned but Mr. and Mrs. Hans Sloane Stanley are, as are Mr. and Mrs. F. Sloane Stanley.

1886 July 21, Wednesday, Algernon Bourke was invited to the Ball at Marlborough House, as were a Mr. and Mrs. F. Sloane-Stanley, possibly the parents of Guendoline Sloane-Stanley (if the "F" is a mistake), who married Bourke on 15 December 1887. Guendoline is not mentioned as having been invited.

1886 July 27, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke attended a service honoring a memorial at St. Paul's for his father, who had been assassinated.

1886 September 2, Thursday, Mr. Algernon Bourke was part of a group of mostly aristocratic men taking part in a "trial-rehearsal" as part of Augustus Harris's production A Run of Luck, about sports.

1886 October 2, Saturday, the Duke of Beaufort and the Hon. Algernon Bourke arrived in Yougal: "His grace has taken a residence at Lismore for a few weeks, to enjoy some salmon fishing on the Blackwater before the close of the season."

1886 October 11, Monday, Algernon Bourke may have been taking part in a performance of Run of Luck at the Drury Lane.

1886 October 23, Saturday, Algernon Bourke was staying at Wemyss Castle, Fife.

1886 December 30, Thursday, Algernon Bourke was back in London and attending the "Forty Thieves" pantomime at the Drury Lane Theatre.

1887 January 5, Wednesday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was one of the chief mourners at the funeral of Lady Margaret Harriett Bourke.

1887 March 1, 2:00 p.m., Algernon Bourke is listed among the Messieurs attending the Queen's Levee at St. James's Palace.

1887 May, a "signalling incident" in 1907 caused the Waterford Evening News to recall a similar event that had occurred 20 years earlier, in which Algernon Bourke, as special correspondent for the Times, caused the incident to be publicized:

During the manoeuvres in connection with the 1887 Jubilee of Queen Victoria a signal was observed going up from Lord Charles [Beresford]'s ship. It was a message to his wife, Lady Beresford, to the effect that, as he should be late for dinner, she was not to wait. Beyond the hilarity this domestic signal evoked, nothing more would have been heard of it, but Mr. Algernon Bourke (Lord Mayo's brother) was acting as special correspondent for the "Times," and that paper the next morning contained a full and humorous report of the incident. Then there was trouble.

1887 June 15, Wednesday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke attended a reception at the Foreign Office in honor of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

1887 July 6, Wednesday, Algernon Bourke was invited to and, presumably, attended the State Ball at Buckingham Palace. (Col. 1c)

1887 August 6, Saturday, the Brighton Gazette says that the "Hon. Mrs and Mr Algernon Bourke" were staying at the Royal Crescent Hotel in Brighton, but they didn't marry until 15 December 1887. Perhaps an elder relative, because she is mentioned first?

1887 November 9, Wednesday, the Hampshire Advertiser County Newspaper announced that

A marriage is arranged, and will take place early in January, between Mr. Algernon Bourke, third son of the late Earl of Mayo, and Miss Guendolen Sloane Stanley, only daughter of Mr. Hans Sloane Stanley, of Paultons.

Shortly after, the papers announced that the wedding would not take place.

1887 December 15, Thursday, Hon. Algernon Bourke and Guendoline Stanley were married at St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, by Bourke's uncle the Hon. and Rev. George Bourke. Only family members attended because of "the recent death of a near relative of the bride." Who the "near relative of the bride" was not in her nuclear family, and perhaps that explains the cancellation of the wedding and then the changing of the wedding date and not some problem in the couple.

1888 – 1899 January 1, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was "proprietor" of White's Club, St. James's Street.

1888 January 21, Saturday, Guendoline Bourke attended the wedding of Florence Ewart and Henry Hamilton.

1888 March 7, Wednesday, assuming that this date is not a week after the actual date, Lady Charles Beresford held a notable and well-attended "at home" that Guendoline Bourke attended, reported for being dressed in white and being among the beautiful women present.

6 April 1888, Friday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended the New Forest United Hunt ball at the New Forest Hall, Lyndhurst.

1888 May 2, Wednesday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended the Marchioness of Salisbury's reception at the Salisbury home on Arlington-street.

1888 May 22, Tuesday, the Dowager Countess of Mayo presented Guendoline Bourke at the Queen's drawing-room hosted by the Princess of Wales. This is Guendoline Bourke's dress:

Empire robe de cour of white satin duchesse, lined with rich pink silk, sufficiently bright to give a beautiful shell-like tint through the satin; tulle underdress, with upper skirt, embroidered with pearl, and caught up in Greek folds with large pink Tosca roses; white satin bodice, with Josephine pink sash tied at side, Headdress, veil and plumes; ornaments, diamonds.

Another description:

Mrs. Algernon Bourke's train was of white satin lined with pink, which showed through with charmingly shell-like effect. The dress, fashioned after those of the Empire period, was of white satin embroidered with pearls. A very broad sash of pink satin made the waist seem quaintly short, a trying thing to any but the young and tall, both of which qualifications Mrs. Bourke most happily possesses. She carried a lovely posy of La France roses.

1888 June 8, Friday, Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke attended a dinner and dance Hosted by Lord and Lady Wimborne at Hamilton House featuring Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, and for the ball, the King of Sweden and Norway and the Prince and Princess of Wales and their daughters were present.

1888 June 19, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke was one of the principal guests at the wedding of Captain Philip Green and Miss Mabel Emilie Scott.

1888 July 26, Caroline Graham Stirling-Crawford (known as Mr. Manton for her horse-breeding and -racing operations) and Marcus Henry Milner married. According to the Nottingham Evening Post of 31 July 1888,

LONDON GOSSIP.

(From the World.)

The marriage of "Mr. Manton" was the surprise as well the sensation of last week. Although some wise people noticed a certain amount of youthful ardour in the attentions paid by Mr. Marcus Henry Milner to Caroline Duchess of Montrose at Mrs. Oppenheim's ball, nobody was prepared for the sudden dénouement; and it were not for the accidental and unseen presence a well-known musical amateur who had received permission to practice on the organ, the ceremony performed at half-past nine on Thursday morning at St. Andrew's, Fulham, by the Rev. Mr. Propert, would possibly have remained a secret for some time to come. Although the evergreen Duchess attains this year the limit of age prescribed the Psalmist, the bridegroom was only born in 1864. Mr. "Harry" Milner (familiarly known in the City as "Millions") was one of the zealous assistants of that well-known firm of stockbrokers, Messrs. Bourke and Sandys, and Mr. Algernon Bourke, the head of the house (who, of course, takes a fatherly interest in the match) went down to Fulham to give away the Duchess. The ceremony was followed by a partie carrée luncheon at the Bristol, and the honeymoon began with a visit to the Jockey Club box at Sandown. Mr. Milner and the Duchess of Montrose have now gone to Newmarket. The marriage causes a curious reshuffling of the cards of affinity. Mr. Milner is now the stepfather of the Duke of Montrose, his senior by twelve years; he is also the father-in-law of Lord Greville, Mr. Murray of Polnaise, and Lord Breadalbane.

1888 December 1st week, according to "Society Gossip" from the World, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was suffering from malaria, presumably which he caught when he was in South Africa:

I am sorry to hear that Mr. Algernon Bourke, who married Miss Sloane-Stanley a short time ago, has been very dangerously ill. Certain complications followed an attack of malarian fever, and last week his mother, the Dowager Lady Mayo, and his brother, Lord Mayo, were hastily summoned to Brighton. Since then a change for the better has taken place, and he is now out of danger.

1888 December 20, Thursday, the Sloane-Stanley family, including Guendoline Bourke, attended the funeral of Hans Sloane Stanley. Algernon Bourke did not attend because he was still too ill.

1889 January 22, 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke sent a gift for the wedding of Lady Eleanor Lambton and Lord Robert Cecil, a pair of antique mirrors.

1889 May 18, Saturday, Algernon Bourke attended the opening of the Italian Opera season at Covent Garden.

1889 May 27, Monday, 11 p.m., the dancing commenced at the Queen's State Ball at Buckingham Palace, with both the Hon. Algernon and the Hon. Guendoline Bourke present.

1889 June 8, Saturday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke contributed some art he owned to the collection of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water-Colours' exhibition of "the works of the 'English Humourists in Art.'"

1889 July 2, Tuesday, Guendoline and Algernon Bourke sat in the Muriettas' box at a gala performance at Covent Garden also attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, a number of other royals and the Shah.

1889 27 July, Saturday, Guendoline and Algernon Bourke attended a garden party hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Harris, which was attended by a people from the theatre and arts worlds.

1889 August 15, Thursday, because of mourning on both sides, only the closest friends and family were invited to the wedding of Lady Wilma Pleydell-Bouverie and Lord Skelmersdale, so she may not have attended, but the Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke gave the bride a miniature silver kettle.

1889 December 2, Monday, Guendoline Bourk's mother, Emilie Sloane-Stanley, married James Shelly Bontein:

BONTEIN—STANLEY — December 2, at St. George's, Hanover Square, London, by the Rev. G. S. de Sansmarez, James Shelly, only son of the late James Bontein, Gentleman Usher and Clerk of the Robes to the Queen, to Emilie Josephine, widow of Hans Sloane Stanley, of Paultons.

1889 December 17, Tuesday, Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke gave a gift to Lady Violet Nevill for her wedding to Henry Wellesley, Viscount Dangan and so were probably in attendance.

1890s

1890 January 9, Thursday, Guendoline Bourke attended the fancy-dress Hunt Ball in York. She

looked a picture in a Gainsborough gown. The white satin skirt was flounced with sable and veiled with chiffon, the setuage of which was left to show without being hemmed up. There was a broad sash of rose-pink silk and each buttonhole was filled round with crimped lisse.

1890 February 12, Wednesday, Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke attended Lady Constance Leslie's reception at her house in Stratford-place.

1890 April 9, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended the New Forest United Hunt Ball.

1890 June 3, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke attended the 2:30 p.m. wedding of Count Alexander Münster and Lady Muriel Henrietta Constance Hay. She is also listed as having attended a ball hosted by Mrs. J. Menzies (daughter of Mrs. Arthur Wilson) that Prince Eddie, the Duke of Clarence and Avondale, also attended, that night.

1890 July 4, Friday, 11 p.m., the Hon. Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended the Queen's State Ball at Buckingham Palace. The dancing commenced shortly after 11:00.

1890 July 15, Tuesday, Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke were invited to a garden party at Marlborough House to meet the Queen.

1890 July 19, Saturday, Guendoline Bourke attended the wedding of James Francis Harry St. Clair-Erskine and Violet Aline Vyner, the two of them giving "four small silver dessert dishes" and Guendoline giving an "enamel and diamond pin."

1890 July 24, Thursday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended a dance hosted by Lord Alington attended also by the Prince and Princess of Wales and Princesses Victoria and Maud.

1890 September 6, Saturday, the Country Gentleman (as it was called at the time) reported that "Muckross, the only deer forest in Ireland, it may be said, has this year been rented by Mr. Algernon Bourke, who will next week be joined there for the stalking season by his brother, Lord Mayo." On 11 October 1890 the St. James's Gazette says,

The Earl of Durham has been staying at Muchross, county Kerry, on a visit to the Hon. A. Bourke, who has rented the celebrated shootings and fishings on that estate for the autumn.

1890 October 25, Saturday, the Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke gave a gold-mounted box to Lady Louise De Vere Beauclerk on her wedding to Gerald Loder, M.P., so they were probably present at the wedding, or at least the reception. Mrs. Bontein [sic Bontine], Guendoline's mother, gave a silver box, suggesting the relationship was through the women.

1890 November 29, 11:30 Saturday morning, Algernon Bourke's gift for the wedding of the Hon. Francis Dudley and Miss Forbes Beckwith was some cases of a Bordeaux wine: "three dozen Cantenac, 1875 vintage." Guendoline Bourke is not listed as having been invited to the reception, but this list from the Leamington Spa Courier has some gaps.

1890 December 4, Thursday, Guendoline and Algernon Bourke attended the wedding of Miss Mure and Mr. S. J. Portal. Their gift is not recorded.

1891 January, Algernon Bourke took party in a shooting party in Kallarnet, Totton.

1891 March 31, end of year for the British Museum, whose income and expenditures were reported as ordered by the House of Commons (as usual). Hon. Algernon Bourke was one of the major donors that year of coins, and he also donated "Ten ivory counters formerly used for gambling at White's Club, London."

1891 June 24, Wednesday, the Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke attended a dinner and ball Hosted by Lord and Lady Wimborne featuring Princess Mary Adelaide, the Duke of Teck, and Princess Victoria.

1891 July 9, Thursday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke were invited to a large Garden Party at Marlborough House hosted by the Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales in honor of Queen Victoria and the German Emperor and Empress. The more than 3,000 people invited also included a number of people from the family of the Earl of Mayo.

1891 July 22, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended a dance at the Earl and Countess Alington's that also included the Prince and Princess of Wales.

1891 October 22, Thursday, Hon. and Mrs. Bourke attended at least the reception of the Le Strange—Astley Wedding, although perhaps the couple is not the Algernon Bourkes.

1891 November 22, Sunday, the London Weekly Dispatch reports a performance by American "Lady Magnet" Mrs. Abbott, who claimed to be able to lift anybody using only her magnetic properties. An enthusiastic "committee of some fifteen gentlemen presented a written and signed testimonial" supporting Mrs. Abbott, "the Hon. Algernon Bourke, Professor Atkinson, Dr. Hides, and three other doctors who prefer to remain incog., being among the signatories. All the medical gentlemen concerned assured the Evening News and Post reporter of their complete and unconditional surrender. One of them went so far as to say that he had come with the full determination of disbelieving, but had been quite able to act up to his resolve."

1892, the Hon. Algernon Bourke privately published his The History of White's, the exclusive gentleman's club.

1892 January 27, Saturday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended the very fashionable wedding of Lord Henry Cavendish Bentinck, M.P., and Lady Olivia Taylour. Their gift was not noted in the list.

1892 February 10, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended the very fashionable wedding of Henry, Lord Alington and Evelyn Henriette Leigh in St. Paul's, Knightsbridge

1892 April 10, Wednesday, about 2:30 p.m., Guendoline Bourke attended the very fashionable wedding between Henry Sturt, Lord Alington and Evelyn Leigh. Her gift was a "tortoiseshell and gold heart-shaped tray."

1892 June 25, Saturday, the Gentlewoman's "Overheard by the Little Bird" says "That pretty Mrs. Algernon Bourke has been staying here, but returned to England in time for Ascot."

1892 December 13, Tuesday, the Gentlewoman says Guendoline Bourke is lovely in its coverage of Eleanor M. Ewart and Captain Guy Withington's wedding.

1892 December 15, Thursday, through 19, Monday, Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke were at a country-house party hosted by Mr. and Mrs. W. Maxwell Low.

1892 December 22, Thursday, Algernon Bourke attended the monthly meeting of the Zoological Society in Hanover-square.

1893 February 11, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke opened Willis's Restaurant:

Mr. Algernon Bourke has in his time done many things, and has generally done them well. His recently published history of White's Club is now a standard work. White's Club itself was a few years ago in its agony when Mr. Bourke stepped in and gave it a renewed lease of life. Under Mr. Bourke's auspices "Willis's Restaurant" opened its doors to the public on Tuesday last in a portion of the premises formerly so well known as Willis's Rooms. This new venture is to rival the Amphitryon in the matter of cuisine and wines; but it is not, like the Amphitryon, a club, but open to the public generally. Besides the restaurant proper, there are several cabinets particuliers, and these are decorated with the very best of taste, and contain some fine portraits of the Georges.

1893 February 7, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke attended the reception after Lady Emily Cadogan's wedding.

1893 February 20, Monday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke is listed as having attended the Queen's Levee at St. James's Palace held by the Prince of Wales; because wives generally are not listed, it seems likely Guendoline Bourke attended as well.

1893 February 28, Tuesday, 3:00 p.m., Guendoline Bourke attended a Queen's Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.

1893 March 22, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended Lady Wimborne's reception.

1893 April 1, Saturday, Algernon Bourke published a letter to the editor of the Times, reprinted in the Kildare Observer, arguing against Gladstone's Home Rule bill on the grounds that Ireland would not be able to take out a loan on its own behalf because of its obligations to the U.K., including what was called its share of the national debt.

1893 May 13, Saturday, Algernon Bourke was seen at exhibitions of art and furniture for sale by Christie's and on display by Lord Clifden.

1893 July 13, Thursday, Guendoline Bourke attended the Countess of Listowel's Garden Party at her residence, Kingston House, Princes-gate, accompanied by Miss Adeane.

1893 July 14, Friday, Guendoline Bourke attended the races at Sandown wearing a dark-blue-and-white outfit and black hat that got described in the newspaper.

1893 August 1, Tuesday – August 4, Friday, Guendoline Bourke, at least, was at the Goodwood races, mentioned in the Gentlewoman for her beauty, although none of the dresses were noted.

1893 November 4–11, Wednesday–Saturday, Guendoline Bourke was at a shooting party at Keele Hall hosted by Ralph and Mary Sneyd.

1893 November 30, Thursday, with Sir Walter Gilbey the Hon. Algernon Bourke "assisted" in "forming [a] collection" of engravings by George Morland that was exhibited at Messrs. J. and W. Vokins’s, Great Portland-street.

1893 December 14, Thursday, afternoon, Guendoline Bourke attended the wedding of American Adele Grant and George, 7th Earl of Essex and gave a "pearl and gold box." Mr. and Mrs. Shelley Bontein also attended, and Mrs. Bontein gave a "green leather bag and purse, with coronet and monogram in gold."

1894 January 27, Saturday, Psyche in "The Social Peepshow" in the Gentlewoman reported on a ball hosted by Lord and Lady Dunraven at Adare Manor that Guendoline Bourke attended.

1894 January 31, Wednesday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke, who was dressed more stylishly than most, attended the Kildare Hunt Ball hosted by Dermot, Earl of Mayo and Geraldine, Countess of Mayo.

1894 February 24, Saturday, The Field reported on a series of tennis matches; Algernon Bourke attended the one played at the Prince's Club.

1894 March 31, Saturday, Psyche, in the "Social Peepshow" column in the Gentlewoman, says that "Mr. Algernon Bourke has still further embellished Willis's restaurant hard by [the St. James's Theatre], by the addition of some valuable old tapestry that lately came to the hammer at Christie's."

1894 April 13, Friday, Guendoline Bourke set sail on the P. and O. Line S.S. Rome for Gibraltar along with her stepfather, Mr. Shelley Bontein, and her brother, Mr. Sloane Stanley.

31 May 1894, Thursday, the Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke attended the Duchess of Devonshire's reception at Devonshire House.

1894 June 18, Monday, the London Echo reported that Algernon Bourke was writing a history of Brooks' Club.

1894 June 20, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended the Annual Sale of the Scottish Home Industries; her outfit was described in the article in Lady's Pictorial.

1894 August 2, Thursday, the column "Overheard by the Little Bird" says, "At Willis' [restaurant] — 'What a smart cotillon Mr. and Mrs. Algernon Bourke gave on Thursday evening." Willis's Restaurant, King-street, St. James's, was a restaurant Algernon Bourke opened in 1893.

1894 September 7, Saturday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke were at a shooting party at Witley, which had been loaned to one of his brothers by William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley.

1894 October 22, Thursday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended the luncheon after the wedding of Lord Connemara and Mrs. Coleman.

1894 November 3, Saturday, Psyche, in "The Social Peepshow" for the Gentlewoman, reported that Guendoline Bourke had been seen shopping in London.

1895 January 5, Saturday, 2:00 p.m., Algernon and Guendoline Bourke gave an old mother-of-pearl workbox to Lady Edith Ward for her wedding to Frederick Glyn, Lord Wolverton and presumably attended the wedding and reception afterwards.

1895 February 23, Saturday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke attended the fashionable wedding of Laurence Currie and Edith Sibyl Mary Finch. Guendoline Bourke is not listed as having attended, but she is not noted as absent, either. Daphne Bourke was born on 5 April 1895, probably explaining Guendoline's absence.

1895 March 24, Sunday – 30 March, Saturday, Algernon Bourke was enjoying the sunny weather in Brighton.

1895 April 27, Saturday, Algernon Bourke attended the wedding of Norah Bourke and Henry E. A. Lindsay. Again, Guendoline Bourke is not listed as having attended. Daphne Bourke was born on 5 April 1895, and Psyche, writing the "Social Peepshow" column in the Gentlewoman, says,

I regret to hear of the serious illness of Mrs. Algernon Bourke, whose first child was born a fortnight ago. It is feared that the attack is of the nature of typhoid, but happily the patient's strength keeps up. Mrs. Bourke is at her mother's house in Clarges-street.

1895 July 13, Saturday, Algernon Bourke donated 10s. to the Daily Telegraph National Shilling Testimonial to W. G. Grace.

1895 July 29, Monday, Max Pemberton published a piece about Bourke, White's and "lady cyclists" in The Album.

1895 August 24, Saturday, "Marmaduke" in the Graphic says that Algernon Bourke "opened a cyclists' club in Chelsea."

1895 October, the Hon. Algernon Bourke opened the Prince's ice-skating rink for the season, if the newspapers were right that 1902 was the 7th season. He also was planning a bicycling club for Kensington Gardens to open the following season.

1895 October 7, Monday, the Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke attended the Maud Adeane–John Cator wedding.

1895 November 23, Saturday, through 26, Tuesday, Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke were at the Sneyd country-house party hosting the Duke of Saxe-Coburg.

1895 December 11, Wednesday, Guendoline and Algernon Bourke attended a shooting party at the Sneyds' to meet the Duke of Coburg.

1895 December 18, Wednesday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended the wedding of Lady Albreda Fitzwilliam and the Hon. Charles Bourke. Their gift is not noted in the newspaper account.

1896 March 17, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke attended the annual dinner of the Cymmrodorion, or the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, a society for Welsh culture and history.

1896 April 21, Monday, Mr. and Mrs. A. Bourke sent a gift — a "box for miniature" — for the wedding of Lady Angela St. Clair Erskine and James Stewart Forbes.

1896 May 21, Thursday, the Hon. and Mrs. Algernon Bourke attended Mrs. C. H. Wilson's ball in Grosvenor-square, London.

1896 May 26, Tuesday, through 28 May, Thursday, Guendoline Bourke attended the 3-day celebration in honor of the coming of age of her brother, Cyril Sloane Stanley.

1896 June 15, Monday, Guendoline Bourke attended the dance hosted by the Earl and Countess of Huntingdon after their dinner party.

1896 July 13, Monday, Algernon Bourke (listed among the "Honourables") and Mrs. A. Bourke (Listed among the "Honourable Ladies") were invited to the Queen's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

1896 June 29, Monday, the Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke attended the wedding and reception of Lady Sophie Cadogan and Sir Samuel Scott. Algernon Bourke published a letter to the editor of the Daily Telegraph about White's Club — and thus Bourke's — "Summer Club" in Kensington Park, the subject of a little controversy.

1896 July 21, Tuesday, the Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke attended a dinner hosted by Sir Horace and Lady Farquhar in Grosvenor-square.

1896 August 5, Wednesday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended at the wedding of the Hon. Terence Bourke and Miss Eveline Haines and gave the bride an "enamel muff chain."

1896 August 10, Monday, the Morning Leader reported that the Hon. Algernon Bourke, for the Foreign Office, received Li Hung Chang at St. Paul's:

At St. Paul's Li Hung was received by Field-Marshal Simmons, Colonel Lane, the Hon. Algernon Bourke, of the Foreign Office (who made the necessary arrangements for the visit) and Canon Newbolt, on behalf of the Dean and Chapter. A crowd greeted Li with a cheer as he drove up in Lord Lonsdale’s striking equipage, and his Excellency was carried up the steps in an invalid chair by two stalwart constables. He walked through the centre door with his suite, and was immediately conducted by Canon Newbolt to General Gordon’s tomb in the north aisle, where a detachment of boys from the Gordon Home received him as a guard of honor.

Li inspected the monument with marked interest, and drew the attention of his suite to the remarkable likeness to the dead hero. He laid a handsome wreath of royal purple asters, lilies, maidenhair fern, and laurel, tied with a broad band of purple silk, on the tomb.

The visit was not one of inspection of the building, but on passing the middle aisle the interpreter called the attention of His Excellency to the exquisite architecture and decoration of the chancel. Li shook hands in hearty English fashion with Canon Newbolt and the other gentlemen who had received him, and, assisted by his two sons, walked down the steps to his carriage. He returned with his suite to Carlton House-terrace by way of St. Paul’s Churchyard, Cannon-st., Queen Victoria-st., and the Embankment.

1896 August 19, Wednesday, the Edinburgh Evening News reported on the catering that White's Club and Mr Algernon Bourke arranged for the visiting Li Hung Chang:

It is probably not generally known (says the "Chef") that Mr Algernon Bourke, manager of White's Club, London, has undertaken to the whole of the catering for our illustrious visitor front the Flowery Land. Li Hung Chang has five native cooks in his retinue, and the greatest good fellowship exists between them and their English confreres, although considerable difficulty is experienced in conversation in understanding one another's meaning. There are between 40 and 50 to cater for daily, besides a staff about 30; that Mr Lemaire finds his time fully occupied. The dishes for his Excellency are varied and miscellaneous, and from 14 to 20 courses are served at each meal. The bills of fare contain such items as bird's-nest soup, pigs' kidneys stewed in cream, boiled ducks and green ginger, sharks' fins, shrimps and prawns stewed with leeks and muscatel grapes, fat pork saute with peas and kidney beans. The meal usually winds with fruit and sponge cake, and freshly-picked green tea as liqueur.

1896 November 6, Friday, both Algernon and Guendoline Bourke were on the committee for the Prince's Club ice-skating rink, which opened on this day.

1896 November 22, week of, Mrs. Algernon Bourke was part of a shooting party at the Charles Wilsons' Warter Priory, Yorkshire.

1896 November 25, Wednesday, Mr. and Mrs. Algernon Bouke attended Lord and Lady Burton's party for Derby Day.

1896 December 4, Friday, the Orleans Club at Brighton was robbed:

The old building of the Orleans Club at Brighton, which opens its new club house at 33, Brunswick-terrace to-day, was the scene of a very ingenious burglary during the small hours of yesterday morning. The greater portion of the club property had already been removed to the new premises, but Mr Algernon Bourke, his private secretary, and some of the officials of the club, still occupied bed-rooms at the house in the King’s-road. The corner shop of the street front is occupied by Mr. Marx, a jeweller in a large way of business, and upon his manager arriving at nine o'clock he discovered that the place had been entered through hole in the ceiling, and a great part of a very valuable stock of jewelry extracted. An examination of the morning rooms of the club, which runs over Mr. Marx's establishment reveal a singularly neat specimen of the burglar's art. A piece of the flooring about 15in square had been removed by a series of holes bored side by side with a centre-bit, at a spot where access to the lofty shop was rendered easy by a tall showcase which stood convemently near. A massive iron girder had been avoided by a quarter of an inch, and this circumstance and the general finish of the operation point to an artist in his profession, who had acquired an intimate knowledge of the premises. The club doors were all found locked yesterday morning, and the means of egress adopted by the thief are at present a mystery.

1896 December 10, Thursday, Guendoline Bourke was present to help staff a stall at the Irish Industries Exhibition and Sale, Brighton.

1896 December 31, Thursday, Guendoline Bourke hosted a New Year's Eve dance:

Mrs. Algernon Bourke gave a highly satisfactory and enjoyable dance on Thursday night, when the old year was danced out and the new one danced in. Most of the silver gilters at present in to len were to the fore.

1897 January 9, Saturday, Psyche in "The Social Peepshow" says that Algernon Bourke's "cheerful countenance was quite in keeping with the [Christmas] season," seen in London.

1897 January 13, Wednesday – 18, Monday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke were guests of the house party associated with the Warwickshire Hunt Ball at Warwick Castle.

1897 January 30, Saturday, Guendoline Bourke was reported to have been out shopping in London: "Another charming figure was that of Mrs. Algernon Bourke all in chinchilla, with something of pale blue in a smart toque."

1897 May 31, Monday, Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke were present at a House Party at Warwick Castle hosted by the Earl and Countess of Warwick.

1897 June 2, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended the reception at the Foreign Office.

1897 June 12, Saturday, the Gentlewoman reported on Guendoline Bourke's dress and hat at the Duchess of Albany's Bazaar at the Imperial Institute.

1897 June 19, Saturday, Psyche in "The Social Peepshow" column in the Gentlewoman writes that Guendoline Bourke was seen driving in London, "in blue, ... looking as usual very handsome."

1897 June 28, Monday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke were invited to the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, the final official event of the London Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Members of the family of the Earl of Mayo were also among the 5,000–6,000 people invited.

1897 July 2, Friday, the Hon. A. and Mrs. A. Bourke and Mr. and Mrs. Bourke attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House.

1897 July 8, Thursday, 11:00 p.m., Hon. Algernon and Guendoline Bourke were present at the Queen's State Ball at Buckingham Palace. The dancing commenced shortly after 11:00 p.m.

1897 July 11–16, week of, a dog of Guendoline Bourke's won a prize at the Ladies' Kennel Association show in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Regent's Park.

1897 July 23, Friday, both the Hon. Algernon Bourke and Guendoline Bourke attended the Bourke-Curzon cricket match at the Queen's Club, which Algernon Bourke's team lost.

1897 July 23 — or July 30, Friday, Guendoline Bourke attended Lady Burton's party at Chesterfield House.

Far the prettiest women in the room were Lady Henry Bentinck (who looked perfectly lovely in pale yellow, with a Iong blue sash; and Mrs. Algernon Bourke, who was as smart as possible in pink, with pink and white ruchings on her sleeves and a tall pink feather in her hair.

1897 August 2, Monday, Guendoline Bourke attended the Earl and Countess of Warwick's house party for Easton Lodge cricket week.

1897 August 2, Monday, Mrs. Algernon Bourke was listed as among the most beautiful women in England in an article from Vanity Fair that was reprinted elsewhere.

1897 September 25, Saturday, according to the Pall Mall Gazette,

The Dowager-Countess of Mayo is staying with her son, the Hon. Algernon Bourke, at Bramnber, near Brighton.

1897 October 2, Saturday, "Yenatrix" in "Kennel Column" in the Gentlewoman reported that Guendoline Bourke had joined the Ladies' Kennel Association.

1897 October 9, Saturday, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke were at Harrogate, presumably taking the waters and baths. Lady May was on her way to visit Algernon Bourke in Brighton:

The Earl of Mayo is expected to return from Sweden on Saturday next. Lady Mayo leaves Bournemouth on Sarurday for Brighton, where she will pay a two days' visit to her brother-in-law, the Hon. Algernon Bourke. The Earl and Countess will then return to Palmerstown, their seat in County Kildare.

1897 October 30, Saturday, Black and White published J.P.B.'s "The Case of Mrs. Elliott," an odd short short story in which the Honourable Algernon Bourke Herriott is "rude to Mrs. Elliott," presumably having proposed sexual relations while her husband is out. J.P.B. links to the biographical Algernon Bourke's career in the stock market in the description of Mrs. Christine Elliott not even simulating interest in her husband's bicycling: "a soul is a grievous burthen for a stockbroker's wife," suggesting that Mr. Elliott rather than Algernon Bourke Herriott is the stockbroker. The Hon. Algy

was a senior member of several junior clubs. A woman had dubbed him once "a rip with a taste for verses." The description was severe, but not unwarranted. His was a pretty pagan sensualism, though, singing from a wine palate to Church music. For the rest, he had just imagination enough to despise mediocrity.

1897 November 25–26, Thursday–Friday, Guendoline Bourke was in Brighton, helping the Countess of Mayo at the bazaar of the Irish Industries' Association.

1897 December 7, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke attended the 7th annual dinner for the Actors' Benevolent Fund.

1897 December 20, Monday, the week of, Guendoline Bourke's Mousie was the smallest dog in the Ladies' Kennel Association show in Earl's Court.

1897 December 30, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended a country-house party at Blenheim Palace in which people performed tableaux vivants that got reported on, many of whom wearing the costumes from the Duchess of Devonshire's ball. The Irish Independent said Algernon Bourke was "mainly responsible for the living pictures."

1898, Algernon Bourke called a meeting at White's Club about attempting to restock the Thames with salmon. In 1899 he was on a committee led by the Lord Mayor about this topic as well.

1898 February 3, Thursday, Algernon Bourke was among those visiting Monte Carlo according to the Dundee Evening Telegraph.

1898 March 12, Saturday, The World reported on Algernon Bourke's upgrading of the Orleans Club at Brighton:

The Orleans Club at Brighton is flourishing exceedingly, and the new buildings which Mr. Algernon Bourke has just had erected at the back of the comfortable mansion at the corner of Lansdowne-place now provide all that was wanting to make the present habitat of the club all that its members desire. The new billiard-room is rapidly approaching completion, and the coffee-room, excellent and spacious now, was open on Saturday night, when every table was occupied by club diners and their guests, all of whom were enthusiastic over the excellence of this latest addition to the comfort of the house. All interested may be congratulated on what is practically new lease of life to the Orleans Club, than which there is no more comfortable place stay within the four seas.

1898 March 30, Wednesday, Algernon Bourke was charged with assaulting a Mr. Potter, but it is not clear from this account what exactly happened:

The Hon. Algernon H. Bourke, of Bramber, was summoned, at the instance of Mr. Walter John Potter, clerk to Mr. G. A. Flowers, solicitor, of Steyning, for assault, on the 30th March. — Mr. J. Edward Dell supported the case, and Mr. J. C. Buckwell defended, and pleaded not guilty. — The evidence was to the effect that Mr. Potter had occasion go to defendant's house on Wednesday last to serve a writ. He was going to drop the letter into [Col. 5c–6a] defendant's pocket when he turned and struck him a violent blow on the chest, making witness stagger backwards. Witness put up his hands to keep his balance, and defendant then struck him violently across the head with a weeding spud. — Richard Reed, who was at work for Mr. Bourke on the date named, and was working in garden at the time of the alleged assault, gave corroborative evidence. — Defendant, in the witness box, made a similar statement. — The magistrates differed as to whether the assault was committed, and dismissed the case.

1898 April 12, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke was among those visiting Monte Carlo according to the Gentlewoman.

1898 May 25, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke wore pink to Mrs. Hwfa Williams' dinner-dance at the Savoy.

1898 June 7, Tuesday, the Hon. Algernon and Mrs. A. Bourke were invited to and probably attended the State Ball at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

1898 July 4, Thursday afternoon, the Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke were invited to and probably attended the Garden Party at Marlborough House given to the Queen and Shah of Persia.

1898 October 29, Saturday, Algernon Bourke attended a tennis match at Prince's Club, Knightsbridge.

1898 November, Algernon Bourke received a letter from Lord Alfred Douglas and attempted to help Douglas and his father, the Marquis of Queensberry, to reconcile. Bourke met with the Marquis and sent a positive reply to Douglas the next day. (568–569)

1898 November 22, Tuesday, Algernon Bourke was present at a shooting party hosted by Mr. William James.

1898 December 3, Saturday, Hon. Algernon and Mrs. A. Bourke attended the funeral of Lady Connemara in Christ Church, Down street, Piccadilly.

1899 January 10, Tuesday, the Brighton Championship Dog Show opened:

Princess of Wales a Winner at the Ladies’ Kennel Club Show.

[Exclusive to "The Leader.")

The Brighton Championship Dog Show opened in the Dome and Corn Exchange yesterday, and was very well patronised by visitors and exhibitors. Among the latter was H.R.H. the Princess of Wales, who did very well; and others included Princess Sophie Duleep Singh, Countess De Grey, Sir Edgar Boehm, the Hon Mrs. Algernon Bourke, Lady Cathcart, Lady Reid, Mr. Shirley (chairman of the Kennel Club), and the Rev. Hans Hamiiton (president of the Kennel Club).

The entry of bloodhounds is one of the best seen for some time; the Great Danes are another strong lot; deerhounds are a fine entry, all good dogs, and most of the best kennels represented; borzois are another very stylish lot. The bigger dogs are, as usual, in the Corn Exchange and the "toy" dogs in the Dome. To everyone's satsfaction the Princess of Wales carried off two first prizes with Alex in the borzois class.

1899 January 11, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended a luncheon at Stanfield-hall, home of Mr. and Mrs. Basil Montogomery, for Princess Henry of Battenberg, that also included the Countess of Dudley (sister of Mrs. Montgomery), General Oliphant, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Romsey.

1899 January 17–18, Tuesday and Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended the Ladies' Kennel Association in Brighton, where she showed an Italian greyhound named Brenda.

1899 February 7, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke was a member of the very high-ranking committee organizing the Gordon Memorial College Ball at the Hotel Cecil on 7 February 1899. The committee had been planning for the ball, of course, for at least 3 weeks before.

1899 February 22, Wednesday – April, Guendoline Bourke was part of Society in St. Moritz. 1899 March 29, Wednesday, the Dundee Advertiser says that Cyril Sloane-Stanley was spending part of the winter in St. Moritz with his sister Guendoline Bourke.

1899 April 7, Friday, probably, oddly, Algernon and Guendoline Bourke are not reported to have attended the Funeral of the Hon. Charles Bourke, C.B. or even to have sent flowers.

1899 April 8, Saturday, the Gentlewoman reported that Guendoline Bourke had gone to St. Moritz with her brother, Mr. Stanley, who had gotten engaged to Lady Cairns.

1899 April 26, Wednesday, according to "Local and District News" for Totton, Guendoline Bourke was "ill with influenza in Paris, and Mrs. Shelley Bontein, her mother, has gone out to nurse her."

1899 June 1, Thursday, or 2, Friday, the Hon. Algernon and Guendoline Bourke attended the wedding of her brother, Sloane Stanley and Olivia Countess Cairns at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton.

1899 June 8, Thursday, Algernon Bourke's money troubles:

The Hon. Algernon Bourke, son of the Earl of Mayo, has been appearing before the official receivers in connection with a winding-up order made against Willis’ Restaurant, Limited. The companyf [sic] was formed to acquire the well known restaurant from the Hon. H. A. Bourke. The chairman reminded the creditors that on the last occasion the meeting was adjourned because Mr. Bourke said he thought he would be able in the course of a fortnight to obtain an offer for a sum sufficient to satisfy the creditors and debenture holders. He had received a letter from Mr. Bourke to the effect that he had been unable to complete arrangements. Having looked into the affairs of the company more closely, it appeared to him that Mr. Bourke was legally liable to repay the sum of £5,000 which was advanced to White's Club, and the question would arise whether Mr. Bourke was not also liable to repay the sum of £4,000.

1899 July 1, Saturday, Algernon Bourke attended a meeting in London at the Duke of Westminster's Grosvenor House about preserving Killarney as part of the National Trust and seems to have been acting for someone who wanted to purchase the Muckross Estate.

1899 July 5, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended a dance at Devonshire House hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.

1899 July 6, Thursday, Guendoline Bourke attended the wedding of Joan Wilson and Guy Fairfax in St. Mark's, near Grosvenor Square.

1899 July 14, Friday, Guendoline Bourke attended Ernest Beckett's dinner party.

1899 July 18, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke attended a lecture on Impressionism by Ludovici hosted by the Countess of Mayo.

1899 July 28, Friday, White's Club was no longer under Algernon Bourke's management and was reconstituting itself after the possibility that it would have to close.

1889 July 31, Wednesday, the Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke attended a Fete of the Uxbridge Habitation of the Primrose League at Hillingdon Court and hosted by the Hon. Algernon and Lady Mary Mills.

1899 September 9, Saturday, the Eastern Morning News includes Algernon Bourke ("St. James's-street, London, club proprietor") in a list of men "Receiving Orders," which it is reprinting from the London Gazette.

1899 October 19, Thursday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke had a bankruptcy hearing:

The public examination of the Hon. Algernon Bourke was held before Mr Registrar Giffard yesterday, at the London Bankruptcy Court. The debtor, described as proprietor of a St. James's-street club, furnished a statement of affairs showing unsecured debts £13,694 and debts fully secured £12,800, with assets which are estimated at £4,489 [?]. He stated, in reply to the Official Receiver, that he was formerly a member of the Stock Exchange, but had nothing to do with the firm of which he was a member during the last ten years. He severed his connection with the firm in May last, and believed he was indebted to them to the extent of £2,000 or £3,000. He repudiated a claim which they now made for £37,300. In 1889 he became proprietor of White's Club, St. James's-street, and carried it on until January 1st last, when he transferred it to a company called Recreations, Limited. One of the objects of the company was to raise money on debentures. The examination was formally adjourned.

1899 October 20, Friday, the Morning Leader mentions Bourke's bankruptcy:

Mr. Algernon Bourke, whose bankruptcy is much talked about, has been connected with numerous enterprises in clubland. He raised White's from the slough into which it had sunk after the secession of the Prince of Wales. He started the Willis Restaurant, put fresh life into the Orleans Club at Brighton, arranged a big restaurant for the bicyclists in the time of the bicycle parade, and was concerned at first in the smart and short-lived Trafalgar Bicycle Club. At one time his name spelt success. Latterly his luck has left him. He is a brother of Lord Mayo, a son of the peer who was assassinated at the post of duty, and is one of the best known men about town of the day.

1899 November 8, Wednesday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke's bankruptcy case came up again:

At Bankruptcy Court, yesterday, the case the Hon. Algernon Bourke again came on for hearing before Mr. Registrar Giffard, and the examination was concluded. The debtor has at various times been proprietor of White’s Club, St. James’s-street, and the Orleans’ Club, Brighton, and also of Willis's Restaurant, King-street, St. James's. He attributed his failure to losses sustained by the conversion of White’s Club and the Orleans' Club into limited companies, to the payment of excessive Interest on borrowed money, and other causes. The liabilities amount to £26,590, of which £13,694 are stated to be unsecured, and assets £4,409.

1899 December 23, Saturday, "Mr. Algernon Bourke has departed for a tour in Africa, being at present the guest of his brother in Tunis."

1899 December 29, Friday, Guendoline Bourke was at the Christmas Party Hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough.

1899 December 31, the San Francisco newspaper The Wave wrote the following about London society:

The most prominent untitled people in London may be said to be Mr. and Mrs. Hwfa Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Grenfell and Mr. Algy Bourke. That they are passing rich, goes without saying, and that they entertain lavishly, understood — for to be untitled, prominent and successful, argues wealth, hospitality and cleverness.

1900s

1900, Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke had electricity installed in her house.

1900 February 15, Thursday, Daphne Bourke, the four-year-old daughter of the Hon. Algernon and Mrs. Bourke was a bridesmaid in the wedding of Enid Wilson and the Earl of Chesterfield. Guendoline Bourke, "who was in grey, wore a chinchilla toque with violets."

1900 March 10, Saturday, the Weekly Irish Times reprinted society gossip from The World:

Mrs. Algernon Bourke, who has been staying with her husband's uncle, old Connemara, during Mr. Algernon Bourke's absence abroad, has taken a new house near Portman square, and will be settling there before Easter.

1900 July 17, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke took part in the Children's Fete in support of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on the grounds of the Royal Botanic Society. Daphe was 5 at this time, so it seems logical that she would have been there, too.

1900 July 30, Monday, Guendoline Bourke attended The Barber of Seville at Covent Garden.

1890 August 6, Friday, "Beautiful Women," an article in Vanity Fair that was reprinted elsewhere, mentions Guendoline Bourke ("Lady Algernon Bourke") as one of the most beautiful women in England.

1900 August 11, Saturday, Guendoline Bourke got

the pretty little Yorkshire String, an especially tiny mite, weighing only 2¹/₂lb, and carrying a very promising coat, ... at the Aquarium Show.

1900 September 16, the Hon. Algernon Bourke became the heir presumptive to the Earldom of Mayo when his older brother Captain Hon. Sir Maurice Archibald Bourke died.

1900 October 06, Saturday, the Weekly Irish Times says that Mr. Algernon Bourke, now heir presumptive to the earldom of Mayo, "has been for some months lately staying with Mr. Terence Bourke in Morocco."

1901 May 30, Thursday, the Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke attended the fashionable Ladies' Kennel Association Dog Show at the Botanic Garden.

1901 July 2, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke — "pretty Mrs. Algernon Bourke, in a mauve gown and purple tulle toque" — attended a children's party at the Botanic Gardens hosted by the Earl and Countess of Kilmorey.

1901 July 4, Thursday, Guendoline Bourke — dressed "in pale grey, with her pretty little girl," 6-year-old Daphne — attended a children's party hosted by the Countess of Yarborough.

1901 July 4–6, Thursday–Saturday, Guendoline Bourke helped staff the Perthshire stall at the Great County Sale in the Imperial Gardens of the Earl's Court Exhibition.

1901 July 20, Saturday, the Gentlewoman published the Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke's portrait (identified with "Perthshire") in its 3rd series of "The Great County Sale at Earl's Court. Portraits of Stallholders." Their daughter Daphne appears in the portrait as well.

1901 July 23, Tuesday, an "Hon. Mrs. Bourke" was in the party "entertained by Lord and Lady Algernon Gordon Lennox."

1901 September 12, Thursday, Mrs. Guendoline Bourke wanted her name listed as Mrs. Algernon Bourke in the Electoral Register, apparently a frequent complaint:

Mr. Underhill, the Conservative agent, mentioned to the Revising Barrister (Mr. William F. Webster) that the name of the Hon. Mrs. Gwendolen Bourke was on the list in respect of the house, 75, Gloucester-place. The lady had written to him to say that she was the Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke and that she wished that name to appear on the register. In reply to the Revising Barrister, Mr. Underhill said that “Algernon” was the name of the lady’s husband.

Mr. Cooke, the rate-collector, said that Mrs. Bourke had asked to be addressed Mrs. Algernon Bourke, but that the Town Clerk thought the address was not a correct one. The lady signed her cheques Gwendolen.”

Mr. Underhill said the agents frequently had indignant letters from ladies because they were not addressed by their husband’s Christian name.

The Revising Barrister — lf a lady gave me the name of Mrs. John Smith I should say I had not got the voter’s name. The name Gwendolen must remain.

1901 October 26, Friday, Algernon Bourke was on the Men's Committee of the Prince's Club Ice-skating Rink, which had its official opening on his day.

1902 January, Algernon Bourke is mentioned in reminiscences of Eton written by the "Earl of X" as being among those in the "world of letters," and whose brother, later the Earl of Mayo, the Earl of X did not like.

1902 January 25, Saturday, Mrs. Algernon Bourke gave a box to Lady Helen Stewart-Vane-Tempest in honor of Lady Helen's wedding to Giles Fox-Strangways, Lord Stavordale.

1902 April 26, Saturday, Mrs. A. Bourke is listed as being at the Norfolk Hotel in Brighton.

1902 May, End of, Guendoline Bourke attended a party at Blenheim Palace hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough.

1902 June 11, Monday, the Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke had a dog entered in the Ladies' Kennel Association competitions in the Botanic Gardens.

1902 September 4, Thursday, the Daily Express reported that "Mrs. Algernon Bourke is staying with Lord and Lady Alington at Scarborough."

1902 September 22, Monday, Guendoline Bourke was a guest at the large house party hosted by the Earl and Countess of Mar and Kellie.

1902 October 24, Friday, the Hon. Algernon Bourke opened the Prince's ice-skating rink for the season, which he had been doing since 1895.

1902 October 25, Saturday, Algernon Bourke was bequeathed £500 by his uncle Robert Bourke, who had died 3 September 1902.

1902 October 31, Friday, the 7th opening of the Prince's Skating Club. Guendoline Bourke was on the Women's Committee and Algernon Bourke was on the Men's.

1902 November 8, Friday, beginning, perhaps, Guendoline Bourke was part of the Earl and Countess of Warwick's shooting party at Easton Lodge.

1902 December 9, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke attended Lady Eva Wyndham-Quin's "at home," held at the Welch Industrial depot for the sale Welsh-made Christmas gifts and cards. Bourke wore "a fur coat and a black picture hat."

1903, in Boyle's Fashionable Court & Country Guide, and Town Visiting Directory Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke has a flat listed with only her own name at 75 Gloucester-place, Portman-square, W.

1903 February 6, Friday, Hon. Mrs A. Bourke was present at a dinner party Hosted by Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Countess of Dudley.

1903 February 9, Monday, Guendoline Bourke was present at a house party at Dublin Castle hosted by the Lord Lieutenant and Countess of Dudley that began the Viceregal season.

1903 March 17, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke staffed a booth at a sale of the Irish Industries Association on St. Patrick's Day with Lady Mayo, Georgina Lady Dudley and Miss Beresford. A number of other aristocratic women were also present at the sale in other booths, including Lady Londonderry and Lady Lucan.

1903 April, The Connoisseur carried a want ad in the "Connoisseur Register" reporting that some papers loaned to Algernon Bourke were lost:

Lost. — The property of Brooks's Club. A collection of letters and other documents (period, 1760-1820 circa), which were lent to the Hon. Algernon Bourke in the year 1892 in connection with a History of Brooks's, which he was then engaged in compiling. The collection comprises about 120 autograph letters and other documents, including letters of C. J. Fox, Lord Holland, Sheridan, Fitzpatrick, Russell, Robinson, Alvanley, Raikes, etc.; a number of letters concerning Daniel O'Connell, and the following documents: "Report as to Purchase of Club House," "Circular as to Fox's Bust," "Envelope of Memos, as to the mutilation of Betting Book," [Col. 1c–2a] "Origin of Funds of Club," "Copy of Pym's Case, 1776," "Printed Circular as to Arrears," "Seven Coffee Room Books," and Engraved Plate of Ball Ticket. Any communication on the subject should be addressed to the Secretary, Brooks's, St. James's Street. [No. R926. [sic]

1903 June 19, Friday, Guendoline Bourke was invited to the grand ball at Windsor Castle, the end of the Ascot-week festivities.

1903 June 23, Tuesday, Guendoline and Daphne Bourke were invited to a children's party at Buckingham Palace for Prince Eddie's birthday.

1903 July 10, Friday, or so, Guendoline Bourke attended a party hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough.

1904 May 17, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke had agreed to let Daphne appear in the tableaux vivants arranged by Sir Philip Burne-Jones for the Countess of Cadogan's great bazaar. Some mothers had had to decline because of the outbreaks of measles and chicken pox.

1904 May 19, one of the "notes" in Nature says,

The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens during the past week include a Black-eared Marmoset (Hapale penicillata) from South-east Brazil, presented by the Hon Mrs Algernon Bourke [followed by a number of similar donations].

1904 June 30, Thursday, Guendoline and Daphne Bourke attended another birthday party for Prince Eddie at Buckingham Palace, and the Gentlewoman says, "No prettier little girl was to be seen that day than little Miss Daphne Bourke, the daughter of the Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke, with her wonderful Irish eyes and colouring, her pretty white frock being relieved with a rose pink sash."

1904 September 15, Thursday, according to what was at the time called the Irish Daily Independent and Nation, Algernon Bourke was living in Venice and not in the UK at this point:

Algernon Bourke, who usually lives in Venice, has spent some time in England during the present summer, and has now gone on a fishing expedition to Sweden, accompanied by his brother, Lord Mayo. Lady Mayo has been staying meanwhile in Ireland, and has had a visit from her mother, Lady Maria Ponsonby, who is a sister of Lend Obventry.

1904 October 22, Saturday, the Gentlewoman reported that "Mrs. Algernon Bourke is paying a visit to Venice, which Mr. Bourke has made his headquarters for several years past, as he is connected with some very artistic stone and marble works situated near the Grand Canal."

1905 February 17, Friday, the Dundee Evening Post reported that Algernon Bourke "set up a shop in Venice for the sale of art treasures and old furniture."

1905 April 26, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke attended the New Forest United Hunt Ball, as did her brother Captain R. C. H. Sloane Stanley and his wife Olivia Countess Cairns.

1905 June 5, Monday, Algernon Bourke wrote to the Times from Venice that "The Venetian wits have suggested a motto for Admiral Togo, Togo Tenga Tutto (Togo takes the lot)."

1905, last week of July, Guendoline Bourke and daughter Daphne Bourke — who was 10 years old — attended Lady Cadogan's children's party at Chelsea House. Daphne was "One of loveliest little girls present."

1906 March 9, Friday, Guendoline Bourke was a reference for Mr. Frances Burgess, who taught piano, singing, voice production, organ and music theory. Burgess was "Organist and Choirmaster of St. Columbs', North Kensington, Director of the Plainsong and Medieval Music Society's Choir, etc., etc."

1906 December 10, Monday, Guendoline Bourke was seen in the tea room, possibly with Lady Grosvenor, at Lady Dudley's sale of Irish needlework.

1907 May, a "naval signalling incident" caused the Waterford Evening News to recall a similar event that had occurred 20 years earlier, in which Algernon Bourke, as special correspondent for the Times, publicized Lord Charles Beresford's use of his ship's signalling capabilities to send a message to his wife about being late for dinner:

The naval signalling incident is still in the air. It is expected that the matter will not be threshed out until Emperor William leaves England. A story of a former signalling incident in which Lord Charles Beresford was concerned is going the rounds at the moment.

1907 August 24, Saturday, Algernon Bourke was present at Polo Week at Eaton Hall, hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Westminster.

1908 July 30, Thursday, Guendoline Bourke was at Cup Day at the Goodwood races, wearing salmon-pink with a matching hat.

1909 January 30, Saturday, the Motor Car Journal reports,

One of the most successful house dinners held at the Motor Club, in Princes Street, W.C., was that which took place in connection with the British Motor [Boat?] Club last week. Mr. C. Temperley was in the chair, and among those present were Admiral Sir William Kennedy, Col. W. J. Bosworth, the Hon. Algernon Bourke, the Hon. J. W. Taverner, and Hon. C. H. Rason, the two latter gentlemen being the Agents General for Victoria and Western Australia respectively.

1909 April 20, Tuesday, Lady Rosemary Cairns — daughter of Olivia Sloan-Stanley, Countess Cairns and Cyril Sloane-Stanley — and Wyndham Portal were married in St. Margaret's, Westminster. Lavender and Diane Sloane-Stanley were bridesmaids.

1909 May 22, Saturday, Algernon Bourke appears to have been living in Pisa. A columnist for the Queen reported on the Royal School of Art Needlework:

Lady Leconfield [?] was there, also her sister-in-law, the Dowager Lady Mayo, only just back from her winter on the Continent, when she spent most of the time at Pisa, where her son Mr Algernon Bourke has also been staying. The latter is a great connoisseur as regards [art?] notably in what is really good in the way of old Italian sculpture and carving. He and his handsome wife have a place near to Putney, and this winter again Mr Bourke, as the result of his Italian travels, has been sending home such relics of the old Italian palace gardens as as stone and marble carved vases, garden seats, and what-not of the kind — not all for himself and his own gardens by any means, I fancy; but his friends, relying on his knowledge in such matters, get him when abroad to choose for [them?] the adornment of their English terraces and gardens.

1909 September, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was among the many visitors from "England" in Venice in September.

1910s

1910 April 20, Wednesday, the Tatler printed an "open letter" to Geraldine, Countess of Mayo, as part of its "The Searchlight in Society" series and mentioned Algernon Bourke, saying he had been keeping "a curiosity shop at Venice":

The Bourkes have brains, and a good example is afforded by Mr. Algernon Bourke, next brother to Lord Mayo and heir-presumptive to the title. He is a good-looking man who used to be known as Buttons Bourke, and he married well, as his wife was the rich and pretty Miss Guendolen Sloane Stanley. He may be described as a "Jack of all trades," but it is not I who will say that he is a master of none. He was once in the Stock Exchange, then he took White's Club in hand and restored it to much of its former prestige. After that he dabbled in smart hotels and restaurants, and the last thing I heard of him was that he kept a curiosity shop at Venice.

1911 November 21, Tuesday, Guendoline Bourke assisted the Duchess of Marlborough at her at-home that included a sale of work by the wives of prisoners.

1912 September 27, Friday, Guendoline and Daphne Bourke were visiting Mr. and Mrs. Shelley Bontein, her mother and stepfather.

1913 April 23, Wednesday, the Irish Independent reported that Guendoline and Daphne Bourke had arrived in London for the season:

The Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke and Miss Bourke have arrived for the season at 75 Gloucester place, Portman square, London.

1913 May 7, Wednesday, Guendoline Bourke presented her daughter Daphne Bourke at court:

Mrs. Algernon Bourke presented her daughter, and wore blue and gold broché with a gold lace train.

The Pall Mall Gazette has a description of Daphne Bourke's dress, but what exactly "chiffon paniers" means in 1913 is not clear:

Court dressmakers appear to have surpassed all previous records in their efforts to make the dresses for to-night’s Court as beautiful as possible. Noticeable among these is the dainty presentation gown to be worn by Miss Bourke, who will be presented by her mother, the Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke. This has a skirt of soft white satin draped with chiffon paniers and a bodice veiled with chiffon and trimmed with diamanté and crystal embroidery. Miss Bourke’s train, gracefully hung from the shoulders, is of white satin lined with pale rose pink chiffon and embroidered with crystal and diamanté.

The London Evening Standard describes Guendoline and Daphne Bourke the same way except with differences in editing:

Miss Bourke: Presented by her mother, the Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke. Dainty presentation gown of white satin, the skirt draped with chiffon paniers, bodice veiled chiffon and trimmed with diamanté and crystal embroidery. Train gracefully hung from shoulder of white satin embroidered with crystal and diamanté, lined with pale rose pink chiffon.

According to the Lady's Pictorial, Daphne Bourke's dress was designed and constructed by Messrs. Russell and Allen, Old Bond-street, W., and the description is identical (except for a couple of commas).

1914 May 11, Monday, Guendoline and Daphne Bourke attended a dance at the Ritz hosted by Mrs. George Marjoribanks.

1915 January 1, Friday, Algernon Bourke is listed as being on the Executive Committee of the National Food Fund, publicized by the Conservative and Unionist Women's Franchise Review.

1916 August 25, Friday, Daphne Bourke's and John Fortescue's engagement was announced:

A most attractive prospective bride (says the "Star") is Mr. and Mrs. Algernon Bourke's only daughter, Miss Daphne Bourke, whose engagement has just taken place to Mr. Fortescue, of the Coldstream Guards. Miss Bourke is tall, dark, and very beautiful; and Mr. Fortescue is one of the family of Boconoc, Cornwall, and Dropmore, Maidenhead. At the latter place the two families have been neighbours, for Mr. and Mrs. Algernon Bourke have a charming country residence at Taplow, while Dropmore is famous for its magnificent gardens.

1917 June 7, Thursday, Daphne Bourke and John Grenville Fortescue married in the Coldstream Guards' chapel.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

According to both the Morning Post and the Times, the Hon. Algernon Bourke was among the Suite of Men in the "Oriental" procession at the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball. Based on the people the couple were dressed as, however, Guendoline Bourke may have been in this procession but it seems unlikely that Algernon Bourke was.

Alfons Mucha's 1896 lithograph Salammbô.

Hon. Guendoline Bourke

Hon. Guendoline Bourke as Salammbô. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Lafayette's portrait (left) of "Guendoline Irene Emily Bourke (née Sloane-Stanley) as Salammbô" in costume is photogravure #128 in the Album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "The Hon. Mrs. Algernon Bourke as Salammbo."

The Lafayette Archive has negatives for 3 poses, including the one chosen for the Album, all from the same session on 5 July 1897:

1. Same image as the Album photograph but higher resolution than the one that the National Portrait Gallery, London, gives permission to post (Neg. No. GP [L] 1369).
2. Standing with fan behind head, includes close-up of skirt fabric and left hand (Neg. No. GP [L] 1368-444).
3. Odalisque pose, reclining on pillows and furs, includes close-up of face and headdress (Neg. No. GP [L] 1368-442).

Also, the same issue of The Gentlewoman that has the description of Bourke's costume published a line drawing of it on a page with 20 such illustrations. She is on the bottom row, just left of center. Another line drawing of this costume appears in an illustration of the house party at Blenheim Palace in December 1897 – January 1898. Bourke is in the image on the top left. Bourke's costume is not identical in the drawings and the photographs, suggesting that the artist saw it before the design was finalized.

Newspaper Accounts

The Hon. Mrs. A. Bourke was dressed as Salammbo in the Oriental procession in a costume made by Mrs. Mason, according to Russell Harris, although he also says Charles Alias was the "Costume supplier."

Besides the two that mention her presence at the ball — the Morning Post and the Times — only two describe her costume, the London Evening Standard and the Gentlewoman:

• "Mrs. A. Bourke, as an Egyptian Princess, with the Salambo [sic] coiffure, wore a flowing gown of white and silver gauze covered with embroidery of lotus flowers. The top of the gown was ornamented with old green satin embroidered with blue turquoise and gold, and studded with rubies. The train was of old green broché with sides of orange and gold embroidery, and from the ceinture depended long bullion fringe and an embroidered ibis."
• "(Egyptian Princess), drapery gown of white and silver gauze, covered with embroidery of lotus flowers; the top of gown appliqué with old green satin embroidered blue turquoise and gold, studded rubies; train of old green broché."

The description of Bourke's costume at the country-house party suggests she wore the same costume she had worn at the ball and adds a little to what was said back in July:

Mrs. A. Bourke, who, in the first scene, is holding a huge fan over the head of her mistress, looked magnificent in sheeny-green draperies, with a marvellous headdress of scarlet and purple plumes, and a white veil hanging over the hair.

Commentary on Her Costume

Headdress

• The headdress looks light and makes her head look very large, but it was probably very heavy and unbalanced, requiring sophisticated construction and several stabilizers. It is more like a helmet with an open front and structure than a hat or crown. Stabilizers to keep the headdress in place and on top of her head include the delicate-looking beaded mesh necklace, the filet around her forehead and perhaps the long pieces hanging next to her ears from the filet or, more likely, the metal "helmet" structure. The enormous flowers on the headdress contrast with the helmet structure and other military elements in the costume.
• Part of what makes her head look so large is how big her hair is behind her ears and toward the back, some or which may have been an augmentation of some kind to her own hair.
• What makes the headdress look so light are the flowers, which may have been made from paper or a stiffened fabric like organdy. The flowers are large, however, and appear to have jewels in their centers, contributing to the weight of the headdress.
• The placement of the flowers is clearly copied from the headdress worn by Rose Caron in the 1892 Paris production of Ernest Reyer's opera Salammbô. Made by Eugène Lacoste and held by the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, one version of Caron's coiffe — made of metal, textile and pearl — still exists (and can be seen here: https://www.gazette-drouot.com/article/bijoux-d-opera/54941). It seems to have been constructed from metal for the gold framework with the leaf design, from beads attached to hanging metal frameworks (the blue-green beads look like they're covered with fabric or wrapped with thread) and from flowers whose edges have been fringed or pinked and whose color may have darkened in the century that has passed.
• The line drawing of her costume in The Gentlewoman and the later description of her costume at the country-house party include a veil, but she is not wearing a veil, especially a white veil, in any of the Lafayette photos or any description of her costume from the ball itself.

Dress

We cannot tell from the images how this beautiful and complex costume was constructed, so any descriptions of how the effects were achieved are guesswork. For one thing, we cannot tell how the train was attached.

Except for the underlying Victorian silhouette, this costume is not designed to represent any particular time or place. It is not Roman or Carthaginian — or Egyptian, as the newspaper reporters thought. It is placed in an imaginary, fantasy time and place. Military elements — like the bodice suggesting a breastplate, the ceinture under the overskirt suggesting a weapons belt and the fringe on her right shoulder suggesting an epaulette — hint that Bourke saw Salammbô as a warrior.

• This costume has a looser and somewhat transparent overskirt that reveals the fitted (Victorian-style) dress under it. Bourke's posture as she leans uncomfortably in the reclining odalisque pose shows she is wearing a corset (Neg. No. GP [L] 1368-442).
• The translucent overskirt looks like an apron attached under the bust and hanging from the bodice. It gives the costume layers and texture. The 3-dimensionality of this outfit come from the layers and the trim — the embroidery, appliqué, braiding, cording and attached jewels.
• Like the headdress, this costume looks to be very light in weight, but in fact it was probably quite heavy because of the trim. The fullness is controlled on both the overskirt and the underskirt by the weight of the beading, jewels, cord or braid and extensive embroidery.
• Her bodice, which appears to be heavily jeweled, is reminiscent of a breastplate.
• This costume has an interestingly asymmetrical balance. In particular, the decorations at the top differ from side to side: her left side is soft, with fabric at the top edge, and her right side is hard, with a chain-like decoration; the focal points are a metallic jewelled star higher up on her left shoulder and a soft fabric flower placed down on the bodice on her right side. She is wearing a big jewel on the left shoulder and an "epaulette" on the right.
• Under the transparent overskirt she is wearing a wide, heavily patterned ceinture (or belt) below her waist that seems similar in style to the breastplate. With the ceinture as low as it is, her waistline has been left narrow and uncluttered and her hips become a focal point.
• This costume does not have a clear focal point: the heavy floral breastplate bodice is one, the bottom of the skirt is one and the ceinture under the overskirt also draws the eye.
• The focal points are connected by the vertical lines in the dress — the straight vertical lines (which may have been silver) in the fabric of the overskirt and the wavy vertical lines of the lotus-theme trim.
• The underdress is made of a light-colored fabric that may have a pattern woven in it.
• The Lafayette portrait of Bourke resting her fan on the floor (Neg. No. GP [L] 1369), the same image used in the album, shows some light-colored brocade fabric (behind the cloak or train) that seems to hang from behind her. What that brocade is part of, how it's attached and where it is in the layers of the costume are not clear.
• Although the black-and-white photographs cannot show it, the few newspaper accounts say that she was wearing a train of "old green broché," with — somewhat oddly — "sides of orange and gold embroidery." The newspapers call it a train, but what the photographs show Bourke wearing is a high-fashion interpretation of a military cloak.
• The trim on the cloak or train is narrow where it begins on the side below her knee and makes a wide border at the bottom. The train or cloak appears to be made of a different kind of fabric from the dress. It looks like a light-weight silk, contributing to the light, airy look of this costume, with its heavier trim and lining contributing to how heavy it actually was.
• In the odalisque pose, Bourke's right foot is resting on what looks like a pillow, but the trim matches the trim on the cloak or train shown in the standing poses.
• Her shoes are slippers decorated with large real or artificial jewels.
• Russell Harris says the large fan looks more Egyptian than Carthaginian, and the newspapers say she was dressed as an Egyptian princess rather than a Carthaginian priestess.

Jewelry

• Some of the the jewels on Bourke's costume are so large that they are unlikely to be real.
• The jewels on and hanging from the headdress are mounted rather than sewn on.
• The beaded neck treatment may be part of the structure stabilizing the heavy headdress.
• The heavily jewelled "breastplate" bodice looks substantial and metallic, and it has enormous jewel-like decorations, a heavy-looking band at the raised waistline at the bottom of the bodice, a chain-like edge at the top of the bodice and a fringe or "epaulette" on her right shoulder made of thin chains tipped in balls.
• Attached from the widest part of her bust and the band at her raised waist is a necklace-like complex of beaded series of chains and clusters of mounted jewels. Hanging on top of the transparent overskirt, this large "necklace" narrows to a point at her natural waist, mirroring the idealized shape imposed by the Victorian corset.
• Both arms have bracelets at the biceps and forearms. The bracelet wrapping around her right forearm is a snake. On her left arm, fine chains dangle from her bicep to her wrist bracelet.
• She is wearing a number of rings with large jewels.

Salammbô

Salammbô is the fictitious protagonist in Gustave Flaubert's 1862 novel Salammbô, set during the Roman war against Carthage. Salammbô is a Carthaginian priestess of the lunar goddess Tanit. Matho, a Roman mercenary, breaks into Tanit's temple and steals her sacred veil — the spiritual guardian of Carthage. Salammbô sneaks into the enemy encampment to steal the veil back. She meets Matho in his tent, and "believing each other to be divine apparitions," they make love, although it is also a seduction and defilement. Salammbô succceds in getting the veil back, but Matho is tortured and executed, which causes her to die of shock, the effect of both having touched the veil. The plot of the opera is not identical to that of the novel.

What Guendoline Bourke saw in Salammbô as representative of herself is difficult to know, unless the costume itself appealed to her. A production of Ernest Reyer's opera Salammbô, based on Flaubert's novel and published in Paris in 1890, opened at the Paris Opéra on 16 May 1892, starring Madame Rose Caron, with Mademoiselle Lucienne Bréval performing when Caron was on vacation. This production was reviewed and discussed in the papers in the UK, and its production design was notable, especially Caron's costumes, the sets and the very scale of the production. Bourke or her costumier clearly saw the opera or images of the performers or its posters, certainly influencing the design of her costume.

• Rose Caron in her Salammbô costume is here: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/rose-caron-french-soprano-in-costume-in-the-title-role-of-news-photo/1439485238.
• A headshot of Bréval in costume is here: https://books.google.com/books/content?id=_oxRAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA3-PP7&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&bul=1&sig=ACfU3U2Gv8Os_rEmx2gM9SakJkYLJ9hW7g&ci=6%2C1%2C988%2C1371&edge=0.)
• "Salammbo's hair [was] powdered with a violet dust when she first appeared before the eyes of Matho."

Salammbô figured in paintings, sculptures and illustrations of editions of Flaubert's novel before Ernest Reyer's 1890 opera. Translations and illustrated editions of Flaubert's novel had come out steadily beginning in the 1880s. Alfons Mucha's 1896 lithograph of Salammbô (above right) was published the year before the ball. Reyer's opera was first produced in 1890 in Brussels. Both Modest Mussorgsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff had attempted but not completed operas based on the novel as well.

Salammbô is often depicted as nude and highly sexual or sexualized (kissing a huge snake, for example, that she holds aloft). In a very suggestive passage in Flaubert's novel, the serpent's tail flicks her thigh.

Comtesse de Castiglione as Salammbô

Guendoline Bourke's costume and her social life as reported in the newspapers do not suggest that she was a big risk-taker like, for example, la Comtesse de Castiglione, Napoléon III's mistress at the time, who appeared at a fancy-dress ball in a Salammbô costume in 1886, 4 years after Flaubert's novel was first published. Henry Labouchere's Truth says of the Comtesse de Castiglione,

The first time I saw her I did not know who she was. She took my breath away; her beauty was so harmonious, and in all points so faultless. When I was told who she was, I thought of Helen and the Trojans. I also saw her at the fancy ball at the Tuileries, where she was in the transparent costume, lightly fastened together with brooches, à la Salammbô. Comte de Choiseul, son of the notorious Duc de Praelin, with his face blackened to make him resemble a Nubian slave, held up the part of the garment which fell as a gauzy train.

A spectatress I remember of that fancy ball was Mrs. Dayton, wife of the U.S. Minister. When she saw the Countess enter like an Olympian being, her American ideas got the better of diplomatic form, and she said to her daughter, a sweet maidenly young girl, "Annie, dear, you must come away." A French lady (Madame Rouher) who sat next and was rather bourgeois than fast, remonstrated, I remember, in these words: "Mais, Madame, où en est, donc, le mal? Tout est si bien chez la Comtesse!" The triumph of the Comtesse, as she walked down the Galerie des Maréchaux, was about as extraordinary a sight as the Tuileries ever presented. What was so astonishing was that the ladies forgot to be jealous, and the gentlemen to fall in love. The great beauty of the Countess excluded from their minds the idea of sex.

Goldstone describes this rival of Eugénie in The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France, Power and Glamour in the Struggle for Europe:

Virginia [Countess of Castiglione], disdaining both the caged crinoline and the ordinary corset as distracting unnecessarily from her natural assets, opted for a slinkier silhouette. When she entered a ballroom or strolled insouciantly through a crowded assembly, clad only in sheer muslin, the fabric clinging suggestively below her plunging décolletage, many of the male guests were prompted to clamber up on chairs to get a better view. (344 of 909)

The same reporter wrote about her again after her death in 1889. In 1889, on the announcement of la Comtesse de Castiglione's death, the Edinburgh Evening News exaggerates her nudity and doesn't describe the rush in the ballroom to see her, her denial that she was costumed as Salammmbô or the fact that she was Napoléon's mistress, which might go some way to explain the Empress Eugenie's response, but does address the lingering memory:

The late Countess Castiglione, whose death in Paris is recorded yesterday, made her first appearance at the Imperial Court in 1866, where her extraordinary beauty made a great impression on Napoleon III., and eventually led to the Empress Eugenie’s undertaking an unexpected and much-talked-of visit to Scotland. The Countess had a face and complexion which would have enchanted Rubens, and her lovely golden hair touched her feet. Even at the present day Paris has not forgotten her costume, or rather absence of costume as Salammbo, in which character she figured at a certain memorable ball at the Tuileries, wearing her hair, her jewels, and very little else. The Empress Eugenie, when she was presented to her thus lightly arrayed, declared that she must be cold, and insisted upon her there and then donning a mantle. Mme. de Castiglione was never again invited to an entertainment over which the Empress Eugenie presided.

Given how widely this incident was discussed at the time of the death of la Comtesse in 1889, brought up again with the discussions of Reyer's opera, Guendoline Bourke might easily have known about it. Perhaps the sexuality or overt sexuality of Salammbô appealed to her, but she was developing relationships with people like the Princess of Wales and had more leeway than the middle classes but would have been careful.

Scale of the Production of Salammbo

• "In Reyer's opera of 'Salammbo,' lately produced at the Grand Opera in Paris, there were 1,400 persons on the stage in the last act."
• "the battle scene in [Salammbo] requires no less than 3000 square yards of 'decorative surface' [probably canvas]. This establishes a record, the next largest surface being that of the salles des fetes in 'Don Giovanni.'"

Influence of the Production of Salammbo

Rose Caron's productions were influential, including for the costumes she wore. The 1892 Lohengrin she starred in was the source of the costumes worn by Julia Stonor, Marquise of Hautpoul and her brother, Hon. Harry Stonor.

Women's clothing was influenced by the costumes in the opera, particularly those worn by Rose Caron. One color of intense red was called Salammbo. A bonnet was named the Salammbô:

About the smartest thing in bonnets for ordinary complimentary mourning is called the Salammbô, and is copied from a head-dress worn by a leading artiste at one of the Paris theatres. It is made of jet, and has a rose on each side of the front from the centres of which rise two black ospreys.

In a long illustrated article describing the wedding of Princess Marie of Edinburgh, the Lady's Pictorial provides a sketch of "a very pretty [hat] (No. 4) of brown mirror velvet trimmed with mink and a brown velvet bow in front with Salammbo 'fantaisie' [sic]" that is among the bride's millinery.

Shoes appeared:

At Mrs Merritt's, Savile-street, the stock is particularly attractive, there being so many new styles in shoes this season. One of the latest designs is the Salammbo Shoe, glace kid, with one strap, a jet buckle, and very low French heels. This shoe is especially designed for tender feet, as it is very light in weight.

Patterns for making the Tunique Romaine and Corsage Salammbo were for sale just a few months after the opening:

Some of the leading fashionable novelties described in Le Follet de Paris are almost ahead of the season, but they look so well that it will not be long before our provincial dressmakers have them. A revival and modification of the ancient tunic is one item which is transforming the modern gowns of tailor-built tweeds into long clinging draperies, of simple cut but ineffable grace. We have had the Russian blouse with us now for the last couple of months. Now the reign of Tunique Romaine and Corsage Salambo is upon us.

... [including the address to send off for the patterns]

A very successful novelty is the corsage “Salammbo.” In reality, it is more of a blouse and short tunic than a corsage, as there is no attempt at shaping to the figure. In [sic] consists, indeed, of two straight pieces of material cut round on the shoulders, where the back and front are fastened together by clasps. There is no arm-hole, and the two pieces meet at the waist under the arm, and then hang open on to the skirt. There being no dart, the waist is as wide as the shoulders; the fullness is drawn to the centre under a ceinture Russe, or of oxydised silver. The outlines are trimmed with galon or some similar garniture. The "Salammbo” guimpe or corsage are made of flannel or mousseline de laine of bright colour, and are worn with fitting bodices or skirts of serge, or woollen of dark colour. They are very effective, and nothing can be easier to make, while their addition to a frock constitutes a separate costume.

The fitting bodices worn under the guimpes or robes "Salammbo" are very simply made; being round-waisted, they are without side pieces, and only require a seam under each arm; one in the centre of the back, and one or two darts in front, according to the figure. The skirt is mounted on a round waistband, and the ceinture worn over this gives the bodice and skirt the effect of a princess dress.

Stationery even before the opera opened in Paris:

The last fad in fancy stationery is the carte Salammbo, a delightfully smooth surface for writing upon, the envelopes are very small, square, and of the wallet make; the paper folds over once to fit. The newest shades are rose pink, pale English blue, apple green, and the evergreen heliotrope.

Algy — Algernon Henry Bourke — by "Spy," Vanity Fair 20 January 1898

Hon. Algernon Bourke

Hon. Algernon Henry Bourke as Izaak Walton. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Lafayette's portrait (left) of "Hon. Algernon Henry Bourke as Izaak Walton" in costume is photogravure #129 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "The Hon. Algernon Bourke as Izaak Walton."

This portrait is very unusual in the context of the commemorative album: Bourke is not using a photographer's set with theatrical flats and props, certainly not one used by anyone else at the ball itself. One of the Bourkes's residences at this time was St. Mary's House, Bramber, which was originally a Tudor house and which still exists. The Warden's Room (or Monks' Parlour) of St. Mary's House still has a fireplace (or Elizabethan inglenook) that looks like the one used for Bourke's portrait in his costume.

A caricature portrait (right) of the Hon. Algernon Bourke, called "Algy," by Leslie Ward ("Spy") was published in the 20 January 1898 issue of Vanity Fair as Number 702 in its "Men of the Day" series, giving an indication of what he looked like out of costume.

Izaak Walton by Jacob Huysmans, c. 1672, National Portrait Gallery (London)

The Historical Isaak Walton

Isaak Walton (1593–1683) wrote The Compleat Angler. Because of his interests in "the religion of recreation," including fishing, personating Walton seems like a good choice for Bourke to have made.

Walton was a shopkeeper in London, a linen-draper and then a sempster and milliner. He was a Royalist in the Civil War, and his 1672 Jacob Huysmans portrait (left) shows him prosperous after the Restoration in 1660. (This painting is in the National Portrait Gallery, London, now.) Many of his friends were clerics in the Church of England, including John Donne, whose biography was the first of several biographies Walton wrote.

Walton's House in 1888, now a Museum

A cottage Walton lived in and willed to the people of Stafford was photographed in 1888 (right), so its relationship to Walton would have been known in 1897. (Now the Isaak Walton Cottage museum, this cottage still exists.) It looks Tudor like the St. Mary's House in Bramber that Bourke bought in 1890 and refurbished and then used for his portrait of himself as Walton.

Although Bourke would likely have read Walton's book on fly fishing, the entry on Isaak Walton in the 9th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (the edition that would have been available at that time) is interesting because of its tone. The author, William Minto, was on the English faculty at the University of Aberdeen:

WALTON, Izaak (1593–1683), author of The Compleat Angler, hooked a much bigger fish than he angled for when he offered his quaint treatise to the public. There is hardly a name in our literature, even of the first rank, whose immortality is more secure, or whose personality is the subject of a more devoted cult. Not only is he the sacer vates [sacred poet] of a considerable sect in the religion of recreation, but multitudes who have never put a worm on a hook — even on a fly-hook — have been caught and securely held by his picture of the delights of the gentle craft and his easy leisurely transcript of his own simple, peaceable, lovable, and amusing character.

... The last forty years of his long life seem to have been spent in ideal leisure and occupation, the old man travelling here and there, visiting his “eminent clergymen” and other brethren of the angle, compiling the biographies of congenial spirits, and collecting here a little and there a little for the enlargement of his famous treatise.

... The additions made as the work grew were not merely to the didactic part; happy quotations, new turns of phrase, songs, poems, and anecdotes were introduced as if the leisurely author, who wrote it as a recreation, had kept it constantly in his mind and talked it over point by point with his numerous brethren.

Commentary on His Costume

The newspapers list Algernon Bourke as present at the ball, but they do not describe what he wore.

• The portrait of Bourke in costume in the fireplace could be a copy of the Huysmans portrait of Walton (above left), although Walton looks prosperous and Bourke does not. His costume looks cheap and amateurish; it does not flatter him or fit him well. The resolution of the National Portrait Gallery image of Bourke's portrait and the blackness of Bourke's costume do not permit us to see enough details to analyze this costume in depth.
• Because Walton was a royalist, we might expect him to wear the more elaborate cavalier styles associated with followers of Charles II, although he was very discreet and trusted.
• Bourke looks more like a sportsman in his portrait than Walton does in his.
• Bourke's collar and cuffs are wrinkled and look like they're sewn onto the coat rather than representing a shirt beneath it. The collar may be starched, as Walton's would have been, but it has not been pressed, and it is bunched up against the back of his neck.
• Bourke's coat and sleeves are not cut generously. Because he is seated, we cannot tell how long the coat is, which would tell us if he had just put the collar and cuffs on a Victorian jacket, for example, rather than wearing a 17th-century coat with 17th-century collar and cuffs.
• He is wearing knee-breeches, black stockings and patent-leather slippers with a buckle. We cannot tell how full the breeches are, which would tell us more about the date he was using for his imagined version of Walton.
• The hat does not come from the Huysmans portrait. He got that somewhere else. The general shape is right for Walton's time, but it is so undecorated, it could be Cromwellian.

Demographics

The Bourkes

• Nationality: Anglo-Irish
• Occupation: journalist. 1895: restaurant, hotel and club owner and manager

Residences

• Ireland: 1873: Palmerston House, Straffan, Co. Kildare. Not Co. Mayo?
• 1888–1891: 33 Cadogan Terrace, S.W., Kensington and Chelsea, a dwelling house
• 1894: 181 Pavilion Road, Kensington and Chelsea
• 1900: 181 Pavilion Road, Kensington and Chelsea
• 1904: Algernon Bourke was "usually liv[ing] in Venice"
• 1906: 75, Gloucester-place, W.
• Guendoline Bourke
• 1911: 1911 Fulham, London
• 20 Eaton Square, S.W. (in 1897) (London home of the Earl of Mayo)

The Sloane-Stanleys

Residences

• 1871: Chester Street, St George Hanover Square (Census), with 5 servants, including a cook and a footman.
• 1881–1885 [at least]: 14 Halkin Street, W., St. Georges, 14 servants, including a governess, a house steward, an under butler, a footman and a cook.
• 1888: 49, Cadogan-square, St. Luke, Chelsea
• 1899, Roger Cyril Sloane-Stanley: 4 Down St., St George, Hanover Square
• 1911, Roger Cyril Sloane-Stanley: Paultons, Ower, Romsey

Family

• Hon. Algernon Henry Bourke (31 December 1854 – 7 April 1922)
• Guendoline Irene Emily Sloane-Stanley Bourke (c. 1869 – 30 December 1967)

1. Daphne Marjory Bourke (5 April 1895 – 22 May 1962)

Relations

• Hon. Algernon Henry Bourke (the 3rd son of the 6th Earl of Mayo) was the older brother of Lady Florence Bourke.
• Wilfred Blunt was a cousin of Algernon Bourke: Bourke's mother's "mother was one of the Blunts of Crabbet Park, Sussex, which makes them kinswomen of Mr. Alfred Scawen Blunt, poet, Egyptophil and counsel for Arabi Pasha in his trial."
• Lord Alfred Douglas was a cousin of Algernon Bourke.

Other Bourkes

• Hubert Edward Madden Bourke (after 1925, Bourke-Borrowes)
• Lady Eva Constance Aline Bourke, who married Windham Henry Wyndham-Quin on 7 July 1885; he became 5th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl on 14 June 1926.

The Sloane-Stanleys

• Emilie Josephine S Stanley ( 21 December 1848 [baptism] – October 1945)
• Hans T Sloane Stanley (11 May 1840 [baptism] – 15 December 1888)
• James Shell[e?]y Bontein ()
  1. Gwendoline Irene Emily G Stanley (c. 1870 – )
  2. Roger Cyril Hans Sloane Stanley (29 April 1875 – 18 November 1944)

• Olivia Elizabeth Berens, Countess Cairns (c. 1871 – 20 June 1951)
• Arthur William Cairns, 2nd Earl Cairns (21 December 1861 – 14 January 1890)
  1. Lady Louise Rosemary Kathleen Virginia Cairns (10 March 1889 – 17 May 1962)
• Roger Cyril Hans Sloane Stanley (1875 – 18 November 1944)
  1. Lavender Elizabeth (20 May 1900 [baptism] – )
  2. Diane Sloane Stanley (c. 1905 – )

• Lavender Elizabeth (20 May 1900 [baptism] – )
• John Everett ()

• Diane Sloane Stanley (c. 1905 – )
• Elwyn Villiers Rhys ()

Writings, Memoirs, Biographies, Papers

Writings

• Bourke, the Hon. Algernon. The History of White's. London: Algernon Bourke [privately published], 1892.
• Bourke, the Hon. Algernon, ed., "with a brief Memoir." Correspondence of Mr Joseph Jekyll with His Sister-in-Law, Lady Gertrude Sloane Stanley, 1818–1838. John Murray, 1893.
• Bourke, the Hon. Algernon, ed. Correspondence of Mr Joseph Jekyll. John Murray, 1894.

Papers

• Where are the papers for the Earl of Mayo family? Are Algernon and Guendoline Bourke's papers with them?

Notes and Questions

1. The Times lists Hon. A. Bourke (at 325) and Hon. Mrs. A. Bourke (at 236) as members of a the "Oriental" procession, Mr. and Mrs. A. Bourke (in the general list of attendees), and then a small distance down Mr. and Mrs. Bourke. This last couple with no honorifics is also mentioned in the report in the London Evening Standard. The Hon. Algernon Bourke and Mr. Algernon Bourke, depending on the newspaper article, were the same person. Calling him Mr. Bourke in the newspapers, especially when considered as a businessman or (potential) member of Parliament, does not rule out the son of an earl, who would normally be accorded the honorific of Honorable. The newspapers were not perfectly consistent in naming people with their honorifics, even in a single story, especially a very long and detailed one in which people could be named more than once.
2. Three slightly difficult-to-identify men were among the Suite of Men in the "Oriental" procession: Gordon Wood, Arthur B. Portman and Wilfred Wilson. The identification of Gordon Wood and Wilfred Wilson is high because of contemporary newspaper accounts. The Hon. Algernon Bourke, who was also in the Suite of Men, is not difficult to identify at all. Arthur Portman appears in a number of similar newspaper accounts, but none of them mentions his family of origin.
3. The Peerage has no other Algernon Bourkes.
4. The Hon Algernon Bourke is #235 on the list of people who were present; the Hon. Guendoline Bourke is #236; a Mr. Bourke is #703; a Mrs. Bourke is #704.
5. Hans Stanley-Sloane's estate was £33,704 7s. 5d. in the final probate in December 1889, which might lead his widow to consider remarrying.