Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-11-18

Something About ih- Gay and Rcek-
less individual.
Special.


less Individual.
Special.
So much interest hss been excited
In the personality OF the Count de
Grammont through the successful pro-
ductioD OF clyde Fltch's new comedy.
His Grnce de Grammont." that his
tory OF this gay and reckless individ-
uals career will be particularly inter
esting at the present time, the more
especially as the play will shortly be
produced here.
De Grammont was born in France
In 1921. lie belonged to a distin-
guished family. He was educated in
Paris, where he lived life devoted
mainly TO pleasure. He distinguished
himself as a soldier under Condo and
Turenno. His yalor. handsome per-
sonallty, his elegance of manner and
his brilliant wit made him Il great
favorlte at the court OF Louis XIV.
He stood In especial favor with proud
monarch until 1862, when he was ban
ished from France for his too ardent
attentions to Madame Houdencouit.
the kings favorlte. He went 10 Lon
don, md was received with great ia
vor by Charles H., who was captivated
by his charming qualities OF mind and
person, He was n leading spirit In
all the diversions OF the pronlgate
court. ard was particularly notable
for the reckless extravaganza, his play,
exceeding richness OF his dress, and
the great number OF his amours. An
thony Hamilton, who Is celebrated in
literature for his Memoirs OF Count de
Grammont" became the warm friend
OF the cheyalier, who was deeply
Hmitten with Miss Hamilton, sister OF
the author Sne was one of the most
brilliant ornaments Of the court of
Charles H., and is described us wo-
man, OF unriYalled beauty ana intelli-
gencc, II 10 said that she had the
distinction Of refusing the duke Of
Richmond, Lord jormyn. nephew Of
the earl OF st. Adams, Henry Howard
nfterward the duke of Norfolk and
Richard Talbot, efterward earl OF Tyr
connel. before she was married to de
Grammont. The manner In which the
wedding took place illustrates the Pc
cullar character and wit OF the count.
The story is told In a letter from
Lord Mulfort to Richard Hamilton
dated In 1859 or 1890. that de Gram
mont beng suddenly recalled TO France
was on the point OF returning without
the young lady. and had actually got
as far as Dover, when he was over
taken by Anthony Hamilton aud his
younger brother George. Both were
armed with pistols, one OF them
hailed the count. Count have you
forgot nothing In London2' The count
appreciated the situation and replied
with the utmost nonchalencc 81 beg
your pardon, l forgot to marry your
sister" He therCupun returned with
them to London. and the marriage
was Immediately solemnlzed The
story " hardly consistent with Ham
llton's statement that IN 1865 dc Gram
montS sister. the Marquise de 81,
Chnumont wrote informing him that
Louis XIV. had consented to his re-
call and that he hurried 90 Paris again
The count and countess on November
20, 1864 certainly LEFT London for
France, where they thenceforth prn-
clpully resided. They paid however.
frequent visits to the English court,
on their return from one OF which,
IN 1863, Charles III. wrote to his sister
the duchess OF orleans. commanding
the countess to her for "as goo da
creature as ever lived"
Evelyn says that he dined In the
counta company In London in 1911
IN 1886 Grammont came rs envoy for
Louis XIV. To congratulate James H.
on the birth OF Il soR and received a
Bralulty. De Grammont delighted In
frlyOlltes til hts death At the age
OF eighty he dictated his famous Me
molrs 10 Anthony Hamilton. chiefly
dealing with his life In England. When
In Grammonts own Interest the CEN
aor or the press, Fonteuelle declined
TO license them. Grammont Indignant
~ appealed to the chancellor. and got
the prohibition removed.
Ho died January 10. 1907, but his
Memoirs were not published until l7iS.
Tho opuntoBs died In l70s. They had
Issue two daughters only-Claude
Charlotte, who married at ST. Ger
mains on April J, 1884, Henry Howard.
earl NJ Stafford and Marie Eilyaboth
VINO became the nbboss OF Sto, Marie
de Poualey In Lorraine. The countess
portrait was printed several times by
Lely with more than usual care. aud
was considered by him to be the best
work, Some OF these pictures are now
at the Windsor Castle. The others
are at Hampton Court, and one Is
In tho National Portrait Gallery.