Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1898-09-23
ODD RECRUITING.
AN ENGLISH REGIMENT THAT WAS
RAISED BY KISSES.

Romantic Way i'm Which Jonn, tho Beauti-
full Duchess of Gordon, Persuaded tho
Gallant Scotch IIIghianders to Accept
tho oneen's Shilling.
The somewhat romantic interest In
this beautiful and romantic woman
(Jean, Duchess of Gordon) has been
lately revived, when the brave deeds
of the Gordon Highlanders have been
so conspicuously brought before the
notice of the public; for it was entire
ly owing to the Duchess of Gordon's
loyal activity that this regiment was
originally raised in Aberdeenshire.
The writer (as one of her great-grand-
children) may perhaps be pardoned
for the feeling of pride in being per-
mitted to recall many of the personal
incidents and traditions surrounding
those first recruits for this most popu-
lar regiment, which now bears upon
Its colors the historic names of al
most every battlefield where British
troops have fought and conquered.
Married to Alexander, Duke of Cor
don, in 1867, Duchess Jean fairly took
London by storm, and at once became
one of the great leaders in society.
Her reputation for with and energy
was almost proverbial, and had been
well established during the first twenty
years of her married life; so it was
not surprising that the first rumors OF
possible French invasion quickly
reached the duchess, and were appar-
emily 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
wager with the prince regent that she
would raise regiment before his roy
al 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 ap-
parently still as irresistibly charming
as in the earlier days of her life:
while most 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 at
tending Handel's music at Westmin-
ster Abbey, then to Hastings trial, a
dinner and play, Lady Ducan's as
sembly, Ranelaugh, and Mrs. Hobart's
farse,' and herself gave ball in the
evening before that morning in which
she must have got good way, before
setting out for Scotland" Probably
that ball was the occasion on which
the bet was made, as by her own let
tiers the prince regent and his broth
ers, the Dukes of York and Sussex.
were frequent guests at her house.
But we must picture the duchess and
her son, Lord Huntley, a fine-lookine
young man OF twenty-four years old.
starting off on their long journey TO
scotland in the spring of the year
1894; and we know that an official
sanction was sent to the Duke of Cor
don to raise regiment for the kings
service, and was dated February 10.
1874 Lord Huntley, by her side. no
doubt spoke eloqrently of the gIories
OF soldiers life, and his mother
urged each stalwart Highlander to ac-
cept the kings shilling with her sweet
smiles and winning ways; and when
at last all other persuasions failed.
tradition, we'll founded on fact, tells
that just kiss from the beautiful
duchess completed the conquest; so no
doubt all her charms had outliyed her
youthful days. for the authorities at
the war Office in London were very
quickly informed that the regiment
was complete and a thousand strong.