The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-09
WILL BE DESCRIBED
AS "ULSTER'S DUKE"

the late Duke OF Fife.
The Duke OF Abercorn IN the early
nineties visited south Africa az the
president OF the company. Naturally
enough. he went TO Pretoria to see
Paul Kruger The visit took place In
the early morning at the president
house. The duke was astounded by
the simplicity OF Kruger's manners
and the want of ceremony with which
he was received. Kruger's grandson.
Young Elon. acted az interpreter.
when he told the president in the Taal.
Or Boer patois his visitors name, the
duke interrupted him with:
please say that my father was the
Niceroy of Ireland" Eloff translated
the title fairly, but Kruger took no
notice beyond a grunt
please explain to him." the duke
insisted again. that the Niceroy is the
representative OF the monarch"
Eloff did this too. as well as the
unoouth dialect would let him.
.rhe reiteration seemed 10 annoy
Kruger Staring hxedly at his visitor
with his small eyes. he srowled. Tell
him that my father was a shepherd.
Naturally. the interview did not lead
to friendly relations.
: The late duke was one OF the leaders
ter of the Irish Freemasons. and il is
probable that his son. who is both an
Orangeman and Precursor. will take
as conspicuous part IN the activi-
ties OF these two organizations as did
his father. The late duke was one OF
the survivors OF one OF the greatest
railroad catastrophes OF the nineteenth
century. The irish Mail. by which he
was travelling from London TO Holy
head. en- route 10 Dublin. where his
father was then "reigning' as Nlceroy,
collided at Abergele, in DenbiShshire,
with a freight train laden with petro-
leum. The fire from the engine isnit-
ed the oil. and the entire mall tram
was quickly in a blaze. the majority
OF the passengers perishing in the
flames the late duke. with his mother
and his sister (now Marchioness OF
I.ansdowne) being among the very
few who managed to escape. thanks
largely TO his presence of mind.
The Duke OF Abercorn, as IS itting
for a leading nobleman of Ulster, is
MS much Scotch as Irish. and is the
acknowledged chieftain OF the Scot
tish house Of Hamilton. He is also
Duke of Chattellerault. In France. this
dukedom having been bestowed upon
James Hamilton. who was Regent OF
Scotland in 1913 This dukedom was
confirmed in favor of the Abercorn
Hamiltons. as the senior descendants
IN the male line direct from the Regent
James Hamilton OF Scotland. by an
edict of King Louis XIV, dated from
Marty in I'LL. in the course or which
the Grand Monarque took occasion to
emphasize the fact that French duke
doms descend only in the male line
D
wise ordered by patent.
Napoleon Ill. who without any yes
tiCe OF right bestowed the ancient and
historic Dukedom OF Montmorency on
the efreminate Adalbert de Talleyrand
Perigord. brother of the late Duke
d. Talleyrand Ell Sagan, in the same
| wav and in an equally unwarranted
| manner conferred an entirely ne"
Dukedom of Chattellerault upon MS
kinsman. the eleventh Duke OF Hamii-
! TON. who had married his. that is Ma
/ poleon's. cousin. Princess Marie OF
: BADEN. although the Dukes or hamli'
! ton are not Hamiltons. but DouGlases
/ This Napoleonic dukedom became ex-
! tlnct on the death of the late and
twelfth Duke of Hamilton but the an
! cient. sixteenth century French Duke
! don, NJ ChatteIlerault still belongs TO
ADerCOfn
heen Inherited by the new Duke OF
! Abercorn.
| Unlike most OF the great British
! nohles Of his rank. the Duke of Aber-
corn has but two country seats: small
one. known as Duddington House. near
/ portobeIlo. in County Edinburgh. and
! Raron's Court. in County Tyrone.
Baron's Court is magnificent place
surrounded by A park and grounds
some 5000 acres in extent. the trees
. hundreds of years old. the park FORM
ing part OF an estate of near 100 ,oo
acres. embracing prosperous towns anu
MANY villages. IL nestles among tpe
| heather-clad Tyrone hills. one or wnlch
- SIN known as the Sneezing HILL
bsraus. lanes II is recorded to nave
had a ut of sneezing there at the ti"ie
ubap he was fighting for his crown
The two other principal hills are KNOWN
as the Bessie Bell and the Mary Gray
respe ctiveiy: Bessie Bell being not 'hr
! name Of A woman. but corruption OF
"Baase BaaT' tThe Rites OF naap' '"e
summit of the hin having been an
go, ,;r,as ,he scene OF the worship
of Baal. or Moloch-
-rha ss,ate includes several ruined
c,stIes owing to the fact that the
cor,.-vside was in olden times the
favorite battle ground of the O'Neiiis
and the O'Donnells. They used 10
usually wind up their perpetual war.
, rings BY the sackinC or burning OF
the Cathedral and Convent OF Arns.r@
legend has II that when 81 fatr'cN
visited II he found the good nuns not
a. their vigils. but asleep. and ina,
consequently in his wrath he cursed
tho placc. with the result thst Aru-
straw has never prospered since
,x--.-, rfan,il.onS by James l. in
tst, IN return FOR the military assis-
/ enc which they rendered him IN
Soldinr the country. the Original
s-r,ntee being bound by the KING 70
maintain a baroniai court; nenoe w
nsnc Of the place. The present csstis
90 I'll. about two centuries ago.
~. has been added 10 by every sue
,ccpvriEht. 1918. BY the Brentwood