The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-01-26
A SPORTING DUCHESS.
An Interesting Sketch OF q Pictur-
eeQue English Woman.
She Managed Her own Horses In Person,
Wore Masculine Apparel and Handled
the English Language With
Fluent Reckleesness.

Fluent Recklessness.
Caroline, dowager duchess of Mont
rose, who died recently at the age OF
eighty, was a fine example of that &C.
centricity which only woman of rank
can permit herself without being called
vulgar, says the New York World.
Her. conduct was far removed from
what would be considered proper in
polite American society.
The duchess managed one of the
largest racing stables in England with
much success. Her language on the
race-course was marked by a vigor and
wealth of profanity which were not
surpassed by many racing men.
Although horse-racing was her chief
interest, it did not occupy her undivid-
ed attention. She had engaged ex-
tensively in matrimony, having mar
ried three husbands. This record would
not, of course, be remarkable, but the
duchess has had no divorces. Her first
two husbands died and the last is now
a widower.
During the latter part of her racing
career her horses ran under the name
of Mr.. Manton. For three years they
were in the name of her last husband,
young Henry Miner. but she quarreled
with him and Mr.. Manton's name reap
peared. Recently she had the horses
in the Newmarket races.
"NIr MantOn" has been familiar
figure in the paddock at every great
English race meeting. Next to that of
the venerable Sir John Ashley, it was
probably the best known.
The duchess was tall and straight
and heavily built. In her youth she
had been rather good looking, woman
of a high-bred English type. But when
her youthful charms passed away she
made unfortunate attempts to replace
them. Her harsh and heavily lined
face was painted and her hair was of a
golden hue produced by chemical
agents.
On the race-course she wore tailor
made clothes of very horsey cut, in
cluding check-gowns, covert coats,
white cravats with horseshoe pins and
felt hats. At the theaters and social
functions she did not scruple to appear
in very low-cut evening dress. This,
as Mr. Bill Nye has noted, is quite
we'll established custom among the an
tique Engligh ladies.
The duchess was originally Hon. Car
oline Agnes Beresford, daughter of the
second Lord Decics, and a relative of
the gallant naval officer. Lord Charles
Deresford and of Lord William Beres-
ford, whose engagement to the Amer
lean duchess of Marlborough is report
ed. The second Lord Decies was born
in 1773, and his daughter Caroline made
her first appearance somewhere about
1914.
In 1886 she married James Graham,
fourth duke of Montrose, who was
slso marquis of Montrose. marquis of
and Buchanan, earl Of Mont
rose, earl of Kincardine, Viscount Dun
daft, Lord Graham, Aberuthven, Mug
dock and Fintrie, in Scotland; Earl
and Baron Graham, in England, etc.
The duke was the head of one of the
most historic families in the United
,Zingdom, his ancestor having been
the great marquis of Montrose,
who maintained Charles LIS cause SO
in Scotland, that, but for
the surprise at Phillipsbaugh, the COM
might never have been es-
ta ablished.
The duchess third and eldest surviv-
ing son is now duke. He is forty-four
years of age.
The late duke was a. horse owner and
= sportsman, and his wife associated
herself enthusiastically in his pursuits.
When he died she consoled herself by |
in 1866, MIR. W. S. Stirling
crawfurd, who was even more of a |
.acing man than the duke. He won
he Derby with Seton, in 1878. For
seventeen years they led happy and
active sporting career.
Then Mr.. Crawfurd died and his sta
Die passed entirely under his widows
Mr.. Manton now came
nto existence and became famous.
She was in the habit of bidding for
in public, and of superintend-
ng the stables personally, abusing the
nen in the strongest sort of language
When they did not do their work prop
rly. She had also more than one pub
ic dispute with racing men, in which
Ter expletive force was exhibited,
mong others, with Robert Sherrard,
he well-known trainer and owner on
heath.
The duchess furnished material for
omic opera entitled "The Merry
Duchess" which was produced here
ONE ten years ago.
In 1888, the lamented Mr.. Crawfurd
laving been dead for Ave years, she
carried her third husband, Marcus
Ienry Miner, man now thirty years
+ age. The duchess, it will be per-
eived, was old enough to be his grand
nOther.