New-York tribune., 1910-12-10
LADY VIOLET TO WE'D
Duke of RutIand's Daughter a
Future Countess of WemySS.


the Duke and Duchess OF Rutland. has just
been announced. spent several years In the
T-Dited States as one Of the secretaries Of
-1e F2rirish Embassy at Washington. and
during his stav there was visited by his
-,orf,e- Lady Echo, and by his sister, Miss
CYNTHIA Charters. who has since married
Premier Asoufth's second son. Herbert
Hugo Charters IS the eldest son of Lord
rlcho- who in turn is the eldest son and
heir Of that wonderful old Scotch grand
seiene11r. the Earl Of wemyss and March
-,ou in his ninety-third year, who. when
sjzf7tv-two. tempted matrirnony for a sec
,,-d time by leading to the altar Miss Grace
Blackburn. niece of the late Lord Black
burn
Hugo Charters and his grandfather. Lord
Ueu1vss (vhose name should be pro-
rofInced ~1eernz'l, are descended from
that Sir David wen1yss who. in the
thirteenth century. was one of the Scotch
roacnates chosen 10 convey Queen Mar
faret The Maid of Norway. from Scandi-
uavia 70 Scotland, on her accession in her
mothers right 70 the Scottish throne; and
At Wernyss Castle there still exists q curl
osls Norwegian bowl presented by the King
of Norway 70 this Sir David Wenyss. The
territory or shire OF Ierlyss is situated on
-Fe north shore of the Firth of Forth and
K said TO derive its name from the caves in
irs rocky coast. the walls OF which are
eculptured with the work of early Christian
missionaries 70 whom they furnished shell
fer
The first member Of the Wenyss family
- hear the title of earl was Sir John
Teravss who was created Earl Of WeTnyss
snd Baron Elcho by Charles l. in spite Of
--hich he sided with the Parliannentarians
against his reral master. The fourth earl
vas Queen Anne's Lord High Admiral Of
Scotland. and one Of the commissioners for
concluding the treaty Of union between
England and Scotland
The fifth earl married the daughter and
rei-ess of Colonel Francis Cnarteris Of
Ar,isfeld. and from tnat time forth the
v-enavsses have always borne the name of
Cherteris. usually II conjunction with their
former pa-rcnyrnic- II seems 4 pity that SO
,Il7s--foy,s and So historic a house should
have seen III to assume the name OF Char
1e-is. and thus 10 perpetuate the connec-
-ion Of their family with so Infamous a
creature as the Colonel Francis Charters
IN question whose misdeeds are familiar TO
al students OF the works Of Pope and Of
TIogarth-
The sixth Earl Of Wemyss having been
involved in The Jacobite rising Of 1'45. his
f7onors were attainted by Parliament; but
on his death without issue, in 14S5. they
were revived in favor of his brother
The present earl is the tenth. and his
son Lord Eiclo. is married TO one OF the
three daughters Of the Hon Percy Nynd-
ham. Of Clouds in Wiltshire, Lady Elcho
s,a;ur familiar 70 many people in this
country through one OF John s Sargent
--ssrzrpieces. the painting in question rep
-esenrins her and her two sisters. Lady
Tenant and Mrs Charles Adeane- The
picture was one. Of the features OF the
Pozs1 Academy exhibition of some four
-aau years ago. where il was designated
by King Edward. then Prince Of wales,
ss the Three Graces." a title well mer-
rcd and which has stuck TO Lady Eicho
md 70 her fascinating and gifted SISTERS
ever since.
Lord Wen7yss entered Parliament soI11e
serenity vesrs ago as representative OF
Fast Glouccstersffre In the House OF
Commons. and Is 50 far as / am aware
-hA oldest legislator IT point of service
81 Westminster In the House of Com
mons he was famous as a clever and most
aggressive debater whose arguments were
eluavs pointed and usually popular, ana
II IS difficult to realize that TINS peer
who during the last summer has been at
tracing attention ir the House of Lords
nv his championship and defence OF lis
r.rsrogstives. Was in the House Of Com
mons conspicuous supporter Of the great
Sir Rober, Peel and Lord of the Treas
,.-v fl -re Aberdeen administration, which
vas in Office the time of the Crlrnean
vsr As Lord Flcho the old earl may be
.aid - pc the father of the rife competi-
ZION movement and likewise of the volun-
Ter force which in spite OF fbe excellent
account -hich II vas able 70 give OF itself
during the Po=r ar has been iegislated
out of existence by The present admins
1rarioa- In fact. the name 0f Lord ELcho'
ty which he vas then known will aloays
be Identified with the history Of the volun-
reer army of Great Britain.
When transferred by the death Of his
sa1ner 10 the House Of Lords, he brought
70 rhA gilaed chamber an atmosphere or
hreeziness rC which Il was unaccustomed,
.nd Introduced there an element Of pug
szaci1y and general aggTessiveness, ana
may be said 10 have capped the climax
- hen OF q notable occasion, IN perorating
or ire volunteer question. he IN one OF
his finest periods brought down his right
arm and hand in . delunciaIory sweep
S-ill or the hat of the late King Edward,
rhen Prince Of Wales. who. as usual with
The members Of both houses Of Parna-
-77ent. wss sitting with his high silk hat
O. MS head or the cross benches just IL
front Of him. The hat. badly damaged and
r=EtteneC. was knocked down on the heir
Rpparenr's nose TO his intense astonish-
fnent-
Lord Henyss has number OF country
seats including Elcho Castle. in Perth
shire. Neidpath Castle. in County PEBBLES,
and ArlisTeld and t5osford. in Hadclngton-
shire wenlyss Castle. the ancestral home
of the family is. however, in the possession
q Michael John Wer1yss- The reason for
fne castle belonging 10 him is owing 70 the
+ar- that the eldest son of the fifth earl
sided with the Stnarts in the Jacobite re-
he1or7. and was in consequence thereof at
tainted by Parliament and that the estates
snsfead OF being confiscated 70 the crown,
yer. transferred 10 his younger brother
James Member of Parliament for Sufher-
land who had espoUsed the Hanoverlan
cause II Is from this younger brother.
.Esfnee TEernyss that Michael Wennyss. the
present owner CT wemyss Castle, Is de-
soended-
20 holds il however. subject 10 certain
conditions. for his father, the late Ran
dolpb Gordon Erskine Wemyss. stipulated
s. MS viii that his eldest son should 1ofteil
ms lfa interest in Wemyss Castle and in
TO- extensive estates associated thereWlth
= be permitted his mother. Lady LiIhan
I,-z cf-slEd