The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-04
HISTORY OF DE GRAMMONT.
he Famous Count VIII Soon Be the Cen
tral Figure Of . Play Soon to BE Pro
duceS Here.


So much interest has been excited IN
the personality of the Count DE Gram
mont through the successful production
of CLYDE Fitch'S new comedy, HIS
Grace De Grammont," that history or
this CAV and reckless individuars career
will be particularly interesting at the
present time, the more especially, as the
play will shortly be produced here by
Otis Skinner.
De Grammont was born in France In
1921; he belonged to distinguished
family. He was educated in Paris,
where he lived a life devoted mainly to
pleasure. He distinguished himself as
a soldier under Conde and Turnne. His
yalor, handsome personality, MS ele-
gance of manner and his brilliant wit
made him great favOrite at the court
of Louis XIV. He stood in especial
favor with the French monarch until
1922 when he was banished from
France for his too ardent advances to
Madame Houdencourt, the kings favor
lite
He went to London and was received
with great favor by Charles ii, VINO
was captivated by his charming quail
ties of mind and person. He was lead
ing spirit in all the diversions OF that
prohlgate court and was particularly
notable for the reckless extravaganza
of his entertainments, his play, exceed
ing richness of his dress and the varied
number Of his amours. Anthony Ham
ilton, who is celebrated in iiterature
for his memoirs of Count De Gram
mont" became the warm friend of the
chevalier. who was deeply smitten with
Miss Hamilton, sister of the author
She was one of the most brilliant
ornaments OF the court of Charles ii,
and Is described as a woman of un-
riyaled beauty and intelligence. 1t is
said that she had the distinction of re-
fusing the Duke of Richmond Lord
Jermyn, nephew of the Earl of st. AL
bana, Henry Howard, afterward Duke
of Norfolk, and Richard Talbot, after
wards Earl of Tyrconnel, before she
was married to De Grammont. The
manner in which this marriage took
place illustrates the peculiar character
and wit of the count,
The story is told in a letter from Lord
Hofort to Richard Hamilton, dated in
| 1859 or 1890, that De Grammont being
suddenly recalled to France, was on
the point of. returning without the
Young lady and mad actually got as far
as Dover, when he was overtaken by
Anthony and his elder brother, George;
both were armed with pistols. One of
them hailed the Count: count, have
YOU forgotten nothing at London?'
| The Count, appreciatlng the situation,
replied with the utmost nonchalance:
"I beg your pardon, ! forgot to marry
your sister" He thereupon returned
| with them to London and the marriage
was at once solemnized. The count
and countess on Nov. g. 1864, left Lon
| don for France, where they thenceforth
principally resided. They paid how
ever, frequent visits to the English
court.
De Grammont delighted In frlvollties
till his death. AT the age of so he die
tated his famous memoirs to Anthony
Hamilton, chiefly dealing with his life
in England. When in Grammonts own
interest the censer of the press, Fonta-
nellie, declined to license them, Gram
mont Indignantly appealed to the chan
cellor and got the prohibition removed.
He died Jan. 10, 1907, but his memoirs
We're not published until 1913. The
countess died in 1908. The countess
portrait was painted several times by
Lely, with more than usual care. and
was considered by him to be his best
work. Some of these pictures are now
at Windsor Castle, others are at Hamp-
ton Court. and one is in the National
Portrait gallery.
SALT RHEUM often appears in cold
weather, attacking the palms of the hands
| and other parts of the body. Hoods Sar-
saparllln. the great blood purifier, cures
| salt rheum. o-t
HOODS PILLS are the best after-din-
| ner pills, nssist digestion, cure head
ache. &c.
Have used DR.. Thomas Eclectric OIL for
Group and colds. and declare 1t q posi-
tive cure. Contributed by VIM. Kay, 57O
Plymouth Ave, Buffalo, N. Y. a