The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-12

March, 1860. The shock crsated by this sudden
transition from the stage to the highest rank of
society proved somewhat painful TO the notions
of etiquette of certain exalted personages in the
Russian capital and Sir John was. q few months
later at his own request, transferred to the less
important mission of Madrid. Queen Isabellas
notions OF propriety appear to have been some
what less rigid and Lady Champion became one
of the acknowledged bellies of the gay Madrid
court. In the winter of l86364 the Due de
Frias. one of the grandest mobiles in Spain, who
at the present moment is Governor of Madrid,
but at that time was young chamberlain of
twenty-five years of age, returned to Spain after
prolonged absence abroad most of which he
had spent in England. where he was exceedingly
popular. Meeting Lady Champion at the court
ball he fell desperately in love with the fair en-
bassadress, and as the comparison between the
brilliant young Duke and her elderly husband
could only be to the disadvantage of the latter,
poor Sir John soon became aware that he no
longer possessed his wifes affections or even her
gratitude.
The grande passion existing between the en-
bassadress and the Duke became notorious; moth
ing, however, occurred to create ary real scan
dal At length Lady Champion determined to
leave her husband, and going straight to Lon
don, presented a petition for divorce, or rather
for the annulment of her marriage with Sir John,
on the ground that it had never been coIsum-
mated. Aware that he had hopelessly lost the
affection of his wife, Sir John, whose conduct
must be attributed partly to common sense and
partly to an almost Quixotic generosity and gal
lantry. gave kind Of admission of the truth of
his wife's statement and allowed judgment to be
pronounced against himself His conduct was
appreciated by the countrymen Of Cervantes,
and no foreign ambassador has ever enjoyed
similar popularity among the Spaniards Of every
degree, to that of Sir John Champion. He re
manned at Madrid until his retirement from the
diplomatic service In 1869
Immediately after the annulment Of her mar
riage ex-Lady Champion lost no time in marry
ing the Duke de Frias. and with an Incompetent
sible want of delicacy, the newly welded couple
proceeded direct from Paris to Madrid, where
naturally they found every door closed against
them Even asy-going Queen Isabella was out
ragged by the heartlessness and want of gratitude
and delicacy shown by the wly-1edged Ouch
ess, and refused to receive + :. Enraged the
Duke resigned his post of chamberlain, sent
back to the sovereign his grand Gordon of the Or
der of Charles III, and withdrew from Spain.
During the following fifteen years he resided
abroad, mostly at Biarritz, where the villa Fra
is well-known to all American visitors. Not
withstanding the very natural suppositions to
the contrary, the married life of the Duke was
comparatively uneventful, and he is reported to
nave lived happily with his wife until 1870. when
she died. Some time ago he married en- secondes
noces Countess Pignatelli. and has, within the
past few months. reappeared at Madrid for the
first time since 1864.