Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-11-29
rhe Duke of Sutherland.

The Duke Of Sutherland was gres.!y sur
prised in New York Sunday 10 receive Il
cable dispatch announcing the serious i'll
ness of the duchess, who was in comparn
lively good health on the day OF his depart
ure. The duke Immediately arranged TO
return BY the next steamer. a iittie later
in the day he was shocked by he announce.
ment OF her sudden death. HIS was ordered
here from London by bis physician to IS.
cane tie evil effects of the bad weather pre-
vailiug in Great Britain at this season On
medical advice, therefore, he will not now
return 10 London, but spend the wiu!er IN
Florida.
The Duchess Of Sutherland was lady ef
the purest aud highest Christian ohGTaClor,
cultured, charitable, and greatly helcyed by
all who knew her. She wGJ deopiy inter
ested in tho ragged schools Of Loodon, and
gave great deal Of her time and largely Of
ter meaus TO relieve suffering and poverty,
not only in the great metropolis, hut e SC
where in England and Scotland Sue vas
a warm personal friend OF the queen, cad tar
two years was mistress of therobes. AL wLo
came within the circle Of her Influence We're
charmed by the sweetness OF her disposition,
the winning courtesy Of her presence, -
well az by her superior beauty. No mem
ber of tho nobility viii he more sincerely
mourned than the Duchess OF Sutherland
The Duchess Uf Suiheraud's rGme hecame
familiar to American Newspaper readers last
December through the cab!ed account of
tho sensational scsudsl caused by he dukes
infatuaiion for Mrs. Arthu. Blair, VITO
sided at his magnificent Stafordahre Coua-
try seat Vt Trsu.heu. Mrs. Blair is Cc
widow OF Gil E0glish officer, yrd the Guk-
has said, in q tense Of her position IN his
family, that ne had promised the oflicer on
his death BED 10 care for his Wido" She is
not q handsome woman by any means, 5ut
she was admitted into London society Be
fore The scandal Her name has bosn con-
nected with thet OF the duke several years.
In 1885, the duke, while on $ visit 10 this
country, was accompanied By Mrs. Biair,
and they were thu subject CT gocd deal OF
adverse comment. While they wera receit-
ed il few families, the greater pert CT So
ciety drew the lire st Mrs. Blair. TIE duke
Woald not 90 out uGacconpauitd by her,
however, and he viaited very few promi-
nent society people. Ia December, 1887,
the duke became very seriously iii at Trent
ham. The London daily press and society
papers published frequent medical bulletins
Of his condition. Considerable comment
was caussd, however, by the fact that, not
withstarding the dukes dangerous illness,
the duchess aud her daughter persisted in
remaining quietly at Torquay, and even biz
sons. the Marquis Of Stafford and Lord Tor.
bat, Kept away from their fathers sick-bad.
The cause OF This peculiar conduct On the
part OF the ducaI family wss the preeeUce
at the dukes bedside Of Mrs. Blair. who had
been quartered at the country seat for some
time previous TO his illness. She absolutely
refused to leave the dukes residence dur
inc his illness, and in this determination she
was fully supported by his grace, and when
once shs wayered in her determination he
even entreated her 10 remain with him.
Atlength the doctors bulletins announced
that the dukes illness had taken SO critical
q turn that it was very doubtful II he would
be able to live through the following twen-
ty-four hours, and the physicians considered
it 10 be their duty to inform the family OF
tho danger, and 10 make final appeal to
the duchess to visit her husband on what
they considered his death bed. TIE duch'
esq. VINO is one of the proudest ladies OF
England, finally gave way to their entreates
and iourneyed down to Trentham, accom-
panied by her two sons and her daughter,
Lady Alexandra, and her daughter-in.laW,
Lady Stafford Within few hours after
the arrival OF the family, however, the duke
improved so rapidly that ali immediate dan
ger was past A terrible scene then took
place between the injured wife and her
children on the one side and the intrudiDg
lady on the other A vigorous attempt was
made to drive Mrs. Blair from the house
and put au end 10 the scandal, which was
by that time the one subject of gossip all
over the united kingdom. The duke, how
ever, gave his favorite his strongest support,
and she refused to leave the mansion under
any circumstances This was the last straw,
and the proud duchess, accompanied by her
children, left never TO return.
The queen was exceedingly Indignant
over the insult TO which her fcvorite had
been subjected and she at once telegraphed
to Tcrousy 10 her proud "Anuie," as she
sffectionately calls her former mistress OF
the robes, expressing tho deepest sympathy
and coincidence at tbs psiDiul AID distress
ing shock which she had suffered at the
dukes bands. The queen hes frequently
visited the Duchess of Sutherland at her
London residenee, and on me OF these &C
casions she was heard to remark to hev
grace. with refsrence'to the maguitcance OF
Stafford House:
lam coming from my house Bucking-
ham palace. to visit your palace.
A fortnight after the duchess return from
Trentham the duke, although scarcely re.
covered from bis illness, embarked on board
his yacht, accom- anied by Mr5. Blair, and
left England Oh prolonged ocean voyage,
visiting Java and other islands in Australia.
sian waters. The dukes questionable pro
ceedings were very much regretted By the
titled gentry of England, and herculeaa Of
forts we're made to suppress the story OF the
scandal. Happening, as it did, only few
months after the septuagenaEian Duke Of
Tornod hic oho orn,inu cn6 NM