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DEATH OF JANET LADY CLARKE
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It will be learned with deep sorrow by
the whole community that Janet Lady
Clarke died yesterday morning at her resi-
dence, "Cliveden," East Melbourne. In
1903, when returning from England, she
contracted Maltese fever, and became seri-
ously ill at Colombo. From this attack she
never completely recovered, and about a
year ago, contracting broncho-pneumonia,
she took such a turn as to cause her family
grave anxiety. She was unable to leave
"Cliveden" from that time until her death,
being so weak that she could do no more
than move from her bed and rest a while
on a sofa. Miss Clarke, Miss Ivy Clarke,
Mrs. F. G. Hughes (Janet Lady Clarke's
sister) and two nurses tendered her through
her illness, and medically she was under
the care or Drs. Maudsley, Stawell and
Hamilton Russell. On Tuesday her condi-
tion became very low, and soon after 7 p.m.
her life was despaired of. She died peace-
fully at 1.20 a.m. yesterday. Her step-son,
Sir Rupert Clarke, and several members
of her family were at her bedside before
the end came, and others arrived later.
Her eldest daughter, the Hon. Mrs. Lind-
say, who is on her way from England,
reached Colombo yesterday. Mr. Russell
Clarke, her eldest living son, is in Switzer-
land. The funeral will leave "Clive-
den" to-day for the Melbourne General
Cemetery, and a service will be held
at St. Paul's Cathedral at 3 p.m. We
have been asked to state that the resi-
dent members of Trinity College will join
the funeral procession at the end of the
University-avenue, at the corner of Made-
Iine and Elgin streets.
It is now considerably over a year since
the deceased lady had taken any active part
in public or private affairs. Until that time
she was an apparently untirable worker,
and it is open to question if any woman
in Melbourne took a deeper or more intelli-.
gent interest in public movements of a
philanthropic nature. She gave her best
energies with a generosity which has doubt-
less had much to do with bringing a life of
unusual usefulness to a comparatively early
close.
Janet Lady Clarke has occupied for
many years a unique place in Australian
society. As wife and as widow of the first
Australian baronet she has had control
not merely of a large fortune, but of much
influence. Broad in her sympathies and
generous in her instincts, she has
filled a somewhat difficult position in
a manner that has not merely endeared
her to her friends, but has made a lasting
impression in the history of the commu-
nity. The daughter of the late Peter
Snodgrass, M.L.A., of Victoria, she mar-
ried the late Sir William Clarke in 1873, a
year after the death of his first wife, to
whose children she was governess at
"Rupertswood." Sir William Clarke died in
1897, since which time she has resided
permanently at "Cliveden," East Mel-
bourne. Even before leaving "Ruperts-
wood" she was largely occupied with
metropolitan movements and charities.
She came constantly from Sunbury to
attend meetings in connection with
the Melbourne District Nursing Society
and the Women's Hospital. From
the time of her husband's death she
devoted herself to such an extent to
public work that it was only by reason
of the nicest management that she was
able to discharge her many private duties.
"Cliveden" came to be regarded as the start-
ing point of careers as well as of move-
ments. Numerous young singers and musi-
cians owe their start to Janet Lady Clarke,
and it was at "Cliveden" that the first meet-
ing in connection with the National Council
of Women was held. There, too, was prac-
tically inaugurated the Australian Women's
National League, of which organisation
Janet Lady Clarke was president, in mat-
ters connected with education and the care
of girls and women she has always been
deeply interested. In 1901-1905 she was
mainly instrumental in raising a large sum
to assist the Melbourne University Fund.
It was she who built at a cost of £6000
the Trinity College Hostel. Fully alive to
the fact that a domestic education is essen-
tial to the well-being of any woman, she in-
terested herself wholeheartedly in the Aus-
tralian Institute of Domestic Economy, and
did not rest till the College of Domestic
Economy was fittingly established. The
City Newsboys' Society was under her very
practical patronage, and she furthered to a
great extent the educational work being
carried on nightly as well as daily in the
Newsboys' Hall. The youngsters always
regarded her in the light of a per-
sonal friend, their greetings to her
on all occasions being characterised by
the greatest heartiness. The first meet-
ings of the diocesan festival were invariably
held at "Cliveden," where much other work
in connection with the Anglican Church
was also carried on. An institution that
benefited much by the untiring efforts of
Janet Lady Clarke was the Talbot Colony
for Epileptics, she being one of the origi-
nal movers in its establishment.
Indirectly, the mistress of "Cliveden" did
much to benefit the poor, within their own
homes and in institutions. The sewing
society Time and Talents met frequently
at "Cliveden." This society exists to make
clothing for the poor, and is the means by
which very much charity is distributed.
Apart from the larger charities, the list of
Janet Lady Clarke's smaller efforts
to relieve individual cases was
practically unlimited. It may be
said, without fear of contradiction,
that she never refused either money, time
or influence in a worthy cause. Men,
women and children permanently or tem-
porarily handicapped always found in her a
helper when their case was put before her.
Whenever entertainments were organised to
obtain funds, Janet Lady Clarke's excel-
lent business head and administrative capa-
city were always counted upon, and rarely
indeed did she fail to respond to even the
most extravagant demand on her ener-
gies.
In a semi-social way she accomplished
much excellent work. She was vice-presi-
dent of the Austral Salon, the Dante So-
ciety, the Alliance Francaise, and numerous
friendly societies of a somewhat similar
order. As a social centre "Cliveden" has
occupied for years a very important posi-
tion. Visitors of note from all parts of the
world have been received there with the
greatest hospitality. In a private way
Janet Lady Clarke entertained constantly,
and guests were very rarely absent from
her home.
Her private life was full of interest. Sir
William Clarke's first wife died as the re-
sult of a carriage accident. Miss Snod-
grass and two of the children were in the
carriage at the time, and escaped without
injury. Even before her marriage with
their father there was much attachment
between the children of the first marriage
and herself. As their stepmother this bond
was strengthened, and the relations be-
tween the two families have been of the
warmest. With the exception of her
eldest son and a daughter, who died in in-
fancy, her children all survive her. These
include Mr. Russell Clarke, Miss Mary
Clarke (who married Captain Lindsay,
fourth son of the Earl of Crawford), Mr.
Frank Clarke, Miss Vera Clarke and Miss
Ivy Clarke.
Janet Lady Clarke made numerous trips
to Europe — it was in Naples that Mrs.
Lindsay was born— and she is pro-
bably better known socially than any
Australian in England. Much of her time
during her absences from Australia was
spent in the homes of representative mem-
bors of British society. She had also visited
the East, and had travelled extensively in
Australia itself. Before leaving "Ruperts-
wood" she was able to indulge in riding
and gardening— probably her favorite forms
of recreation. After taking up her resi-
dence in Melbourne. she found her pleasure
in the works with which her name is
likely to be associated for many years to
come. Kindly and unselfish, her womanly
qualities, combined with a masculine capa-
city for management, made her a person-
ality of real importance. Her death removes
a woman who was not only held in high
affection and esteem, but one whose influ-
ence has been great on behalf of sound and
lasting work.
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