Arizona republican., 1898-03-01
A REGIMENT RAISED BY KISSES
The Story of Jean, Duche=s of Go don
 and the Gordon Highlanders

The somewhat romantic interest in this beautiful and romantic woman Uean, Duchess of Gol don) has been lately revived, when the brave deeds of the Gordon Highlanders have been so conspfcuously brought before the notice of the public; for it was entirely owing to the Duchess of Gordon loyal activity that this regiment was origi- nally raised in Aberdeenshire. The writer, Gas one of her great grandchil- dren) may perhaps be pardoned for the feeling of pride in being permitted to recall many of the personal incidents and traditions surrounding those first recruits for this most popu ar regi- ment, which now bears upon it's col ors the historic names of almost every battle field where British troops have fought and conquered.
 Married to Alexander, Duke of Cor don, 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 al most proverbial, and had been we'll established during the first twenty years of her married life; so it was no. surprising that the first rumors of possible French invasion quickly reached the Duchess, and were appar- ently 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 duchess join ed in the discussion, and made a wa ger with the prince regent that she would raise regiment before his royal highness, though she did not dis close 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 sti as lrresiStibly charming as in the ear Her days of her life; while most cer- tainly 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 constant round of amuse- ment; relating that upon one day just then, "she had begun by attending Handel's music at Westminster Ab- bey, then to Hastings trial, a dinner and a play, Lady Lucan's assembly, Ranelaugh, and Mrs. Hobart's 'farse, and herself gave ball in the even ing before that morning in which she must have got good way, before set ting out for Scotland" Probably that ball was the occasion on which the bet was made, as by her own letters the prince regent and his brothers, the dukes of York and Sussex, were ire l qrant guests at her house. But we must picture the duchess and her son Lord Huntley, a fine looking young man of "A years old. starting off on their long journey to Scotland in the spring of the year 1794; and we know that an official sanction was sent to the duke of Gordon to raise regi- ment for the kings service, and was dated February 10th, 1794. Lord Hunt ley, by her side, no doubt spoke elo- quently of the glories of soldiers life, and his mother urged each stal- wart Highlander to accept the kings shilling with her sweet smiles and Whining ways; and when at last all other persuasions failed. tradition
 well founded on fact, tells that just a kiss from the beautiful duchess com pleted the conquest; so no doubt all her charms had outlived her youthful days, for the authorities at the war office in London were very quickly informed that the regiment was com plete and thousand strong Hon Mrs. Armytage, in the March Pall Mall Magazine.