RIVAL DUKES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1636, 8 July 1903, Page 10

RIVAL DUKES

Here i® a true story (says M.A.P’ ) of a Duke of ancient lineage, who is not a very wealthy man notwithstanding his immense territorial possessions. For this and other more patriotic reasons he has landablv lived all his life "among his ain people," and has, perhaps in consequence, never much dared to find himself in company .where he is not the biggest man present. I remember( (writes -'X ) an amusing illustration of this - The scene was a great Scottish castle in the Highlands, where a big houseparty was gathered to celebrate the coining ©f age of the young chieftain of his clan. Among many northern notables assembled was the Duke in question, who rather amused the company by persistently appearing at dinner (although the party was an entirely private one) weariixg the green ribfocm of the Thistle, and comporting himself with a dignity that seemed perhaps, in the circumstance®, a little too dignified. Now it chanced that another ducal guest arrived at the castle in the midst of the festivities.. an Englishman, and, it so happened, of higher degre© than th© head of the house of -, who thus found himself of necessity relegated to the second place of honour, a position in which, as already hinted, he is _ never whoJlv at his ease. To add to his dis_ comfiture, when he cam© down in. the evening, be-thistled as was liis wont, he found himself confronted with his English brother duke, wearing across his breast the broad blue ribbon of the Garter. The latter was. and is, the most unpretending of great peers, and it was the young daughters o<f the house, his near relatives, who hod persuaded him to deck himself with the Most Noble Order. The spectacle was too much for the feelings of poor duke No. 1, who cut short visit, and left the castle next day.