Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-04
WHO WAS LORD oGlLVIE,

a Mysterious Scotch ChArhcter III new
York Early In tho Century.
Helen Evertson Smith contributes
to The Century chatty papu
about "A Group Of American Chris
Early In the Century" Aft0r ~
scribing Chancellor Livingston
beautiful home, Clermont, the az
thoress says:
To add to the pleasantness of this
room, both the orangery and the
conservatory opened into it, and II
was in these surroundings that the
young sons and daughters of Cap
tain Livingston and some of Their
cousins had many lesson in lltera
tire. elocution and singing from the
cifted and eccentric but courtly and
kindly Scottish gentleman known as
Lord Ogilvie, who, without money
or price, devoted himself for many
years to the instruction Of young
gentlemen and ladies in this new
country, knowing that it could yet
afford but few opportunities, and
generously wishing that the scions
of the young republic should lack
none of the graces Of polite educa
ton.
a strange men he was in many
ways, said my grandmother, but
gifted beyond any have ever
known in his own favorite lines. y
He was always welcomed at Cler-
mont and made it his headquarters
for several years going and coming
as he willed, sometimes appearing
at breakfast, after an absence of
months, as unceremoniously as if he
had been only few hours away,
and disappearing again after months
of .sojourn as silently as an Indian
brave. "Odd enough he was, but a
most rare and lovable man, and,
though plain of face, endowed with
remarkable manly beauty of form
and grace Of manner.
1t is to be wished that we could
gather more information in regard
to this gentleman. Mrs. Smith
thought it probable that his title OF
lord" was bestowed upon him in
this country either through mis-.
understanding of the Scottish desig-
nation Of laird" in sort of half
tender, half ironical courtesy. AT
any rate, he always accepted it with
grave politeness, as if it were his
right, and it may have been. If his
antecedents were known to his host,
the confidence was sacredly kept
My friend, Miss Susan Hayes
Ward Of Newark, n. j., tells me
that her grandmother, Mrs. William
A. Hayes of South Berwick, Me-,
when Miss Susan Lord, heard Lord
Ogilvie read the then new poem of
"Marmion" in Portsmouth. She was
enraptured with the poem, and the
next morning fastened to the book
store to buy copy. Here she was
heard by the reader of the previous
evening, who, in grateful apprecia-
ton of her enthusiasm, begged TO
present her with a copy of the book.
A little later than this Lord Ogil
vie took great pains to instruct Miss
Lord, who was fine musician for
the place and time, in the proper
pronunciation Of the Scotch songs
which she sung. Mrs Hayes always
loved to recall anecdotes concerning
her voluntary tutor. Miss Ward has
heard that Lord Ogilvie was at one
time in Virginia and Kentucky, pur-
suing his original but highly valua-
bic kind of educational mission
work. Surely there should be more
traces left of this remarkable man.
Who was he2 What led him here
How long was he in Americal What
became of him2 At the time of his
stays at Clermont he was, in my
grandmother estimation, quite an
elderly man., " but she was then 80
young that man Of 40 would have
seemed old to her.
He may have been the heir of the
Lord Ogilvie who, with his "clan
regiment Of 800 men from Strath
more and Airlie, was "out in for
ty-hve, at Prestonpans. In that
case his estates would have been
confiscated. He was certainly VIC.
lently opposed to the house of Han
over and endued his pupils with an
exaggerated love of the "mrtyred"
queen of Scots and Charles I, while
his affection for his country seemed
to be rather on account Of the hui
initiation it had inflicted upon Eng
land than for any sympathy with
republican ideas.