New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-30
DUCIESSES HUMBLY BORN
afe4ories Of an Oldti,ne Romance
Recalled by q Scotch L.ascsuit.

Recalled 6y Scotch Lascsuit,
,.sled by a suit which has Just been instituted
!, the Scotch courts by man OF the name OF
r,omss Biyth. who. IN spite 81 his being a work
sgnzn. earning his bread a carter is neverthe-
is the Erancpephsw OF the Duchess OF Gordon
be fourth Duke o. Gordon was twice married His
rst wife WAS that famous Duchess Jean OF Cor
Ten, the patroness OF Burns. and who so large
y Instrumental IN raising the splendid regiment
Q. Gordon tIghlanaers by Offering recruits a kiss
IL addition TO the customary chilling. Volumes OF
stories could re written about this fascinating
woman. who played important e role in the
foitical and social life OF Scotland, and also OF
England toward the end Of the eighteenth century
ana n the early part of the nineteenth century
After her death the duke consoled himself for her
loss by marrying his housekeeper a woman Of the
name OF Jane Christie. She predeceased her hus-
band. who. though she had borne him children.
nsvertheless made handsome provision for her
heirs. her nephews snd nieces, in the shape of
uuities. charged upon his estate. These annuities
were psid by his son. the fifth and last Duke OF
Gordon. who d1ed toward the middle OF the last
century. leaving all his Scotch estates his
.suhew. the late Duke Of Richmond, whom Queen
Victoria subsequently created English Duke of
cordou. for the Crown is debarred by the terms OF
The constitution from creating any Scotch peer
sF.s.
The late Duke OF Richmond declined to charge
.ae estates any longer with the annuties to the
compromised them for a lump This money
was divided among all the original, annuitants and
their descendants. pro rata Thomas Blyth insists
that mother did not receive her fair share that
chs was defrauded by her brothers and sisters and
has now instituted proceedings against his cousins.
with the result that all the old story OF the mar
rage OF the Duke Of Gordon 10 his peasant-oorn
housekeeper. who had graduated from the Kitchen,
has been dragged once more into the light OF day
While Jane Christie constitutes. believe, the only
instance on record Of a ktchenmaid becoming a
British duchess there are other cases OF women
-vho have followed humble cangs in life attaining
duoal rank. Thus. the wife OF the late Duke de la
RocheroucauId was prior TO her marriage a laun-
dress as was also the first Duchess of Montebello,
the first wife Of the eccentric Prince Joseph SUI
kowski. Duks OF Bielitz. who. by-the-hye was porn
IN this country under the American nag. and as
an American citizen, married the pretty nurse OF
his Young sister with the ayowed purpose Of max
ing his father angry. He succeeded. for the ola
gentleman promptly succumbed TO ht OF apopexy'
whereupon the prince. duke, should say, having
accomplished his flial object, negotiated by means
of cash a divorce from his wife and not long af-
teryv-t.s married q woman of the name OF Ida
Jaege.. Of the humblest parentage, and who when
she attracted his attention was figuring nishtly III
e circus as a lion and tiger tanner.
As soon as ever she noticed that he was getting
tired of her she took the precaution Of having him
committed to lunatic asylum near Vienna which
81 view Of his extravagancies and eccentricties
was not a matter OF very great difficulty. subse-
Iuently he escaped and fed to Germany. where ne
secured 3 decree from the Prussian courts dec!ar-
ing him to be sane. though the Austrian tribunal
insists 70 this day that he was crazy. Ever sinoe
re been engaged in litigation with his Wife who
continues to retain her hold upon his property n
Austria Hungary. where he figures in the eye Of the
law as lunatic whereas in Prussia he occupies
seat in the House Of Lords an hereditary legis-
iator IN full possession OF his mental faculties
Nor must I omit in this list OF plebeian born
6uchesses the wife OF the ninth Duke OF St Adams
Harriet Mellon. q woman Of the humhlest origin.
xho first of all. married Thomas Coutts, the Ia
nous banker and then the Duke Of st. Adams She
gas known as the Melon duchess. and at her
death bequeathed her wealth. not 20 the rela-
tTes of her second husband but TO the niece OF ner
FIRST husband-namely, TO her particular faVorite'
Angela Burdett, the nonogenarian Baroness
BuTdett-Coutts.
SCION OF A SPORTING FAMILY HERE
Captain Claude Champion de Crespgny. who ar
rived here yesterday from England on board the
Cedric has been, ike Lord Suffolk. one OF the
aides-de-camp OF Lord curzon, and enjoys the
distinction OF having been on no less than TWO
occasions recommended for the Victoria Cross for
deeds Of conspicuous gallantry. being obliged now
ever to content himself with the Distinguished
Service Order and with the knowledge that
very widespread feeling prevails in the army and
among the public in general that he should have
received the Victoria Cross asked for him by LORD
Roberts during the South African War.
Though Of old French descent. as indicated by
doughty Sir Claude Champion de CTespisny. is
British sportsman TO the core, and only last year
father and son rode against each other in steeple
chase the captain coming terrific eropper and
smashing his arm which, OF course. enabled Sir
Claude 70 get past the winning post first. The cap
tain holds a commission In the "a Regiment
q Life Guards, and at his fathers death will in
he-it his baronetcy as well as his estates. In
Sussex.
Sir Claude the intimate friend and crony Of
Lord Charles EeTesford, is wonderful character
f. mis- way. He is one OF those Brftons who may
he said TO have done everything and to have been
everywhere IN his day. He served in the navy as
e midshipman with Lord Charles. has held
mission IN the army. has acted war correspond
eat 10 q great London daily, has crossed from
numerous medals for saving life from drowning, is
the champion amateur boxer Of the United King
dom. has achieved fame explorer. we'll az
z fine shot in the pursuit OF big game, and last
but not least when High Sheriff OF Essex took his
responsibilities as such seriously to heart that
he insisted upon being present the scafold and
personally supervising the hanging OF q murderer
sentenced 10 capital punishment by the Assizes Of
his county. may add that he has been badly
bitten by a poisonous snake in India. amos:
crushed 70 death by boa constructor in South
america. and has broken welinigh every bone in
his body while out hunting.
LADY CANTELUPE'S ENGAGEMENT.
Lady Cantelupe's engagement TO Captain E D.
DefLfeys. q the Cirenader Guards. recall