Evening star., 1923-07-09
Scotland to Have Great National
Library Established at Edinburgh

Scotland by gifts OF money and OF
literary treasures.
Michael willoughby Gordon Cum
ming of the royal navy. who served
as a midshipman and sub-lieutenant
at sea throughout the great war, and
whose marriage TO Miss Anstruther
Thomson has just taken place at Pit
tenweem in County Fife, is half
American and we'll off, being in pos
session of share of the very large
fortune left by his mother, who was
Florence, one of the daughters and
heiresses Of William Garner of New
York, commodore OF the New York
Yacht Club. The young officer has.
therefore, number of American rela-
tives.
His mother, who died only last year.
contracted in the summer of 1891 a
most romantic marriage in the face
of the opposition of all her relatives
and friends. For, moved TO indigna
tion by the relentless persecution and
pitiless social ostracism TO which Sir
William Gordon Cumming had been
subjected in connection with the
memorable baccarat scandal of Tran
by Croft, and firmly convinced of Sir
Williams innocence, she offered him
both her hand and her fortune, and
gave him her heart at the time when
nearly all other hearts were turned
against him. It may be recalled thai
Sir William. who had seen a consid-
cradle amount of active and distin
guished service as a lieutenant colonel
of the Scots Guards. was charged by
his hostess, a Mrs. Wilson, with un
fair play at baccarat at a house party
Prince of Wales, greatly TO his subse
quent regret, had at the very las
moment been reluctantly induced 10
attend. Sir William hotly resented
the imputation of Mrs. Wilson, which
was indorsed by her children. But,
owing TO the uncertainty of the gull
and TO the presence of the Prince Of
Wales, ii was determined to hush the
entire affair, every one being bound
in the most solemn manner TO secrecy.
The secrecy was not preserved
Feminine tongues, as usual, wagged
The story became a subject of London
club gossip and Sir William had no
alternative but to bring suit for libel
against Mrs. Wilson. a jury of petty
London tradesmen, who knew nothing
about baccarat and who regarded all
card playing a horrible vice of the
aristocracy. declined to accord the
colonel any damages against Mrs
Wilson, and as a natural result the
colonel, having thus failed to Obtain
any satisfaction or redress through
court of law. was compelled to re
sign his commission in the army and
the membership of all his clubs. II
was then when he was completely
deserted and abandoned, save by his
devoted sister and brother-in-law.
the late Lord and Lady Middleton.
who both died last year, that Florence
Garner of New York hastened to his
side, and offering her hand-he had
no need of her large fortune. for ne
was very well off-became his wife
and the mother of his children, the
eldest son having been badly wounded
and awarded several distinctions fol
his gallantry as captain of the
Cameron Highlanders in the great
war.
Sir William had a brother OF the
name of Alastair Gordon Cumming
l'who, after marrying a daughter of
Charles Eemes, formerly United
States minister in Venezuela, set
tied in Virginia on place which
he had acquired there and was wont
to spend the winters with his wife
and daughter in Washington. where
he was known as one of the pillars
and most popular members OF the
Metropolitan Club, which owed to his
taste and experienced palate the pos
session of the wonderful brand of
Scotch whisky for which in happier
days the club was so celebrated, and
who was one Of the closest friends
and chums of the late President
Theodore Roosevelt.