The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-22
Blight Supposed to Affect Pur-
chasers and Even Tenants
of Such Abodes.
by LA MARaUIsE DE FoNTENoY.

ny LA MARQUIsE DE FONTENOY.
HAT curses, pronounced against
castles and old manor houses. arc
not restricted 10 the families
which owned them at ;ne time.
but extend to and affect the
subsequent purchasers and even ten
ants of abodes thus blighted is a mat
ter OF almost universal belief in Scot
land, belief which deserves the at.
tention OF people on this side OF the
Atlantic who are every year becoming
more accustomed to renting country
! houses in the northern kingdom oS
George V.
Thus. when Alexander Forbes Leith
formerly lieutenant OF the royal
navy. after acquiring fortune as an
iron master in the United States, and
being raised to the peerage as Lord
Leith. took UP his residence in Scot
land with his American wife. daugh
ter OF Derrick a January, of ST Louie
Mo-. and purchased Fyvic Castle. in
Abcrdecnshre. there were many Scots
who deprecated his choice Of res!
dence For they recalled the fact that
Fyvic Castle had for hundreds of years
been burdcned with n curse, to thf
effect that the cwnership OF tho place
should never pass from father 10 son
Lord and Lady Lcith had an only son
at the time. When the war broke out
in South Africa he left for the front
as lieutenant OF the First Dragons.
and lost his life while fighting against
the Beers. leaving no issue.
4 similar blight rests uron Enroll
Castle in Perthshire. which has Just
been recalled through the death OF its
latest owner, Sir William Ogilvy-
Dalgleish, without maio issue. Enroll
Castle and the extensive estates con-
nected herewith were originally the
home OF the Earls OF Enroll. hereditary
lords high constable and Knights
m5rischal OF Scotland as which they
enjoy precedence over all other peers
OF the northern kingdom. The prop
crty was bestowed upon their family
by King William the Lion.
The connection OF the Earls Of Enroll
with Enroll Castle and the lands OF
Frroll. terminated with the ninth peer
OF that iils, who. haYing acted as lord
high constable at the coronation of
Charles l. in 1888. became involved in
such financial iiiiculties that his es-
tates had TO be sold greatly TO the dis
tress OF his kinsmeu and tenants. The
new purchaser. man OF the name
of Lindsay, excited their indignation
by his harshn.ss. and his cruelty to
an old widow with n crippled son, in
causing her cottage TO be burned over
her head in order TO recover pos
session of her holding, led To her lay
ing curse upon him. to the effect that
rs long rs Enroll was not returned to
the Earls Of Enroll. it should never
descend from father tn son. and that
Lindsay would leave no heir. AS his
three sons predeceased him without
male Issue, the curse may DO said TO
have borne fruit in his case.
At his death Enroll was purchu sed
by one Of the Carnegics. son of the
Earl of Southeast. But he too lost his
only boy, and passed away sonless
Early in the eighteenth century Il West
Indian sugar planter bought the place.
lie. again. was prcdeceased by his son;
and then 1t was bought by man. who
on learning a year later OF the curse
with which 1t was bliEhtcd disposed
OF IL as quickly as possible TO a Major
Allan. He was succeeded by his SIS
ter Then ii was bought by Hugh
Tenant, Il West country brewer, who
had three sons His sons survived him
But as they all fell TO quarreling about
his will, and could not come to any
agreement. the courts ordered the
property to be Sold SO that none OF
them succeeded 20 1t.
The new purchaser was Francis
Mollson of Dundee. He caused con.
looked forward to spending the re-
mainder Of his days there But on
the night when the alterations were
completed, the castle took fire. and was
partly destroyed by the flames. He
restored it at great expense but mover
lived to inhalit It. For on the day
when he was to have resumed the oc-
cupation thereof he suddenly died.