Mrs Charles Hunter

The Times January 20, 1933

MRS CHARLES HUNTER - A GREAT HOSTESS

A great number of attached friends will learn with sorrow that Mary, widow of Charles Edward Hunter1, late of Hill Hall, Epping, died on Wednesday at her residence in Ashley Gardens, Westminster.

Mrs Charles Hunter was one of a hearty and turbulent family of six girls and two boys, the offspring of General J.H. Smyth, a finc old soldier of the Indian Army, and a mother who mingled a little French blood and a French education with her English heritage. One of her sisters is Dame Ethel Smyth2, the composer and Brigadier Gencral R.N. Smyth, DSO, is her brother. She was a lady of remarkable beauty and a famous hostess who possessed in a supreme degree the art of hospitality. She was specially a friend of artists, and knew well the most distinguished of them among her contemporaries, who delighted in her parties at Hill Hall. But her immense circle was not limited to any one type of profession, and she was indeed a great social figure who in the commons phrase, knew and was known by "every one." Her special attraction may be hard to define, but it is certain that people of the most varied callings and natures found her irresistible. Her wide interest in literature and the arts as well as in current affairs, was not peculiar to herself, but there was something in the breadth of her sympathies and her personal charm, which seemed to set her apart among the Englishwomen of her generation. She was often painted, and Rodin made a wonderful bust of her. In memory of her great friend, Sargent', she presented the Tate Gallery, through the National Art Collection Fund, his portrait group of the three Misses Hunter, painted in 1922.

The funeral will be held at St. Michael's, Theydon Bois (Mount?) on Monday at 2 o'clock. There will be a memorial service at St Mark's, North Audley Street, at 2.15 the same day,