New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-18
Earl of Stair as High Commissioner.

The curse of Glencoe Sc familiar 10
evs-v reader of Scottish history and Scot
tish romance, viii be recalled wildly TO
Ininc bv the announcement that the Earl
Of Stair has consented at the last moment
20 take the place of Lord kinnaird as
high commissioner to the Scottish Assem-
biv ~ Edinburgh and to hold viceregal
eeu-r this month At the palace Of Holy
1000 in his stead. Lord Kinnaird was pre-
vented from undertaking the duties by the
fllness Of LADY Kinnaird. and as the gov
eminent could not find a Liberal peer or
sufficient wealth and Scottish affiliations
10 accept the post il was much relieved
when Lord Stair, although unionist' Of
sered 10 help Il out Of the difficulty.
The present Lord stair, who owns very
extensive estates in Scotland. who formerly
commanded the Royal Horse Guards and is
now entitled TO wear the picturesque uni
form Of brigadier Of the Kings Royal
Ecotcl Eodyguard of Archers, is not, as
nsny people believe, descended from the
se-cslled Glencoe" Earl Of Stair. but from
the latter's younger brother. The Glencoe
earl was thus described on account of his
bsving been the principal instigator Of the
terrible massacre Of Glencoe, and in his
case as IL that OF al the other perpetra-
tors and lustigators Of the deed Of blood
n question. the curse Of Glencoe TO the
eject that May their wives ever be child
less was fulfilled. King William III, who
signed the decree for the massacre, died
caildless. and the name and family Of
Campbell of GIenlyon. commander Of the
hand which perpetrated the massacre, be
came utterly extinct soon after his own
Death. No fewer than six out Of seven sue
csssive esrls Of stair died without issue,
and On the death of the seventh earl, in $40,
Ice posterity of the Glencoe earl was en-
areiy extinguished and the honors and
Estates passed 10 the descendants OF the
s'ieRcoe earI's younger brother.
Bird. Of Lannn.rn1oor" OF His Family.
lhe Glencoe eari's eldest sister, the Hon.
ssast Dalryrnple. was the heroine Of Sir
Walter SCOTS popular novel, 'The Bride Of
nneTTnoor.~ and, according TO Sir Robert
gnple Elphinstone's letter. printed in
ne Edinburgh Evening Post" and dated
I'saber Z, 1929, apro2os Of the then re-
publication of the novel In question, had
a forced by her mother. Niscountess
Nr 70 reIinquish Lord rutherford. 10
WON she had solernnly plighted her trott,
10 wed instead. against her viii, David
@soar. eldest son Of Sir David Dunbar, OF
laoon- Z Is on this account that the
teine OF the story had always been known
NE family annals OF the house OF Dal-
-sAp-e not the Bride of Lammer1nooF,
Is TIE Bride Of Balloon"
'F Robert ElphinstOne declares that the
l OF this marriage was nearly, II not
,-y, as related by Sir Walter Scott n
novel On the marriage night a fright
turmoil and screams were heard 10 pro
- ron the bridal chamber. and when tlfe
vas forced open the bridegroom was
Al o. the Aoor weltering IN his blood
Dee II a dozen different places, while
pl'ae had become a Taving maniac
- condition continued until her DEATH
Ilsn month afterword The bride
$50, - Balloon, eventually recovered. a5-
y refused 10 give any explanation Of
Tragedy, and was killed by a fall from
~ loIse within the precincts Of the palace
0iyrood. al Edinburgh, few years
'folng 10 some Of the stories current
1sne, Dunbar was stabbed by his
while according 70 othe-s-and IL IS
-. any that Sir Robert Eiphinstone,
iancnepheW Of the "Bride Of Bal
ihellnes 10 this opinion IN his let
me injuries were inflicted by Lord
moro, who. with the conntvance of
servant, had managed TO secrete
IN the bridal chamber. and who
f1i5ed himself on Dunbar as soon a.
a. '-ler entered the room Certain It -
'rs'9 Rutherford DISAPPEARED from