KISS OF A DUCHESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18571, 1 December 1923, Page 2 (Supplement)

KISS OF A DUCHESS.

LORD HAMILTON'S MEMOIRS. GLAMIS CASTLE MYSTERIES. ; INTIMATE DESCRIPTIONS. : '.: ; Lord Ernest Hamilton, a son of a former Duke pf < Abercorn, has followed tip; his successful book, ;-,V Forty Years On," by. another dealing .-with different phases of society— Old Days and New." He begins with" two chapters describing respectively his • great-grandmother the beautiful Duchess of ' Gordon, and his great-grandfather/ the princely Marquis of Abercorn, who was taown as Don Magniijco. ■"'lt' ; was the Duchess of Gordon who, with the aid of her daughters, raised the regiment called the Gordon Highlanders. "When all other .arts of persuasion failed, it is said that both the duchess and Lady Madeline placed guineas between their lips and challenged the stand-off lads in the market-place to come and take them from their lips. Many accepted the challenge, but, to their honour 1 be it recorded, that, in the majority of cases, they threw the guinea to the crowd, saying that a kiss from the duchess or one of her daughters was quite reward enough by itself." The Marquis of Abercorn, extravagant and reprehensible as his v life had been, died game: "He suffered from an internal complaint under which he wasted away until he was but a shadow of his former self.

' How long have I got to live?' he asked his physician peremptorily. ' Well, my lord,' was the reply, 'you might live for several years if you would abstain from driving out.' The old marquis immediately ordered his carriage, drove out as usual, came home, and died like. a gentleman." Lord Ernest gives intimate descriptions of life in thre\ great country houses— Glamis, Eaton, apd Wilton/ He frequently tried, by sleeping in various haunted rooms to catch sight of the ghosty inhabitants of Glamis, but he never succeeded and be is frakly sceptical of their existence. But he admits that the house is highly suitable for ghosts:

" The old twelve-foot : walls are full of little stairways and passages—many of them known to the ; present generation; many others, rid doubt unlcndwn. People used to talk much of a auppbsed secret room at Glamis. Why, there are probably a score of secret rooms, or more, blocked up perhaps centuries ago, and hidden away for ever (until the castle crumbles to ruins) in those vast, mysterious walls. ; It would be odd indeed if eerie ■ tales; did riot* circle tumultuously round such* a house."

Lord Ernest .gives many reminiscences of society in Victorian England. : He seems to feel, that that life, in; its glory has passed for ever. » - ' * \