The age-herald., 1898-03-10
THE DUCHESS OF GORDON.
How an English Regiment Was Raised b,
 Kisses.

Mrs Armytage in the Pail Mall Magazine.
 The somewhat romantic interest in this beautiful and romantic woman (Jean Duchess of Gordon) has been lately re- vived when the brave deeds of the Gordon Highlanders have been so nsp.cuously brought before the not'ce of the public; for it was entirely owing to the Duchess of Gordon's loyal activity that this regi- ment was originally raised in Aberdeen shire : The writer Gas one of her great grandchildren may perhaps be pardoned for the feeling of pride in being permitted to recall many of the personal incidents and traditions surrounding those first re- cruits for this most popular regiment, which now bears upon it's colors the his toric names of almost every battlefield where British troops have fought and con- quered
 Married to Alexander, Duke of Gordon in 1767, Duchess Jean fairly took London by storm and at once became one of the great leaders in society Her reputation for wit and energy was almost proverbial, and had been we'll established during the first twen- ty years of her married life; so it was not surprising that the first rumors of pos sibIe French invasion quickly reached the duchess, and were apparently discussed in royal circles for it is said that when the prince regent spoke of the imperative necessity of increasing very largely the number of his majesty's forces, the duch- ess joined in the discussion, and made wager with the prince regent that she would raise a regiment before his royal highuess though she did not disclose the special manner in which she proposed to gain the victory.
 At this time the duchess must have been over forty years of age. and apparently still as irresstibly charming as in the ear- ofb bar certainly her energy was unabated, as in this very year the gossiping diaries of Miss Berry relate that this lady spent sixteen hours out of the twenty-four in a constant round of amusement; relating that upon one day just then "she had begun by attending uandel's music at Westminster Abbey, then to Hastings trial, a. dinner and a play, Lady Lucan's assembly, Ranelaugh and Mrs Hobarts farse, and herself gave a ball in the evening before that morning in which she must have got a good way, before setting out for Scotland" Prob ably that ball was the occasion on which the bet was made, by her own letters the regent and his brothers, the Dukes or York and Sussex, were frequent guests at her house. But we must picture the duch- ess and her son. Lord -Huntley, f1ne-look- ing young man of twenty-four years old starting off on their long journey to Scot land in the spring of the year 1I9f; and we know that an official sanction was sent to the Duke of Gordon to raise regi- nent for the kings service. and was dated Feb. 10. 1794 Lord Huntley. by her side, no doubt spoke eloquently of the glories of a soldiers life. and his mother urged each stalwart Highlander to accept the kings shilling with her sweet smiles and winning ways; and when at last all other persuasions failed. tradition, well founded on fact. tells that just kiss from the beautiful duchess completed the conquest so no doubt all her charms had outlived her youthful days, for the authorities at the war office in London were very quick iy informed that the regiment was com S,cted and thousand strong.