Gordon book

The Due of the Duchess 27
I sat up a whole night pasting cartridge paper and noses on the wig blocks
of our citizen and barber. As our models were not very elegant, a great deal was
left to the taste of the artists. I had the luck of making one so grotesque that it
was selected by my chief for the character of a French cook, which his Grace
personated with great humour, after having appeared as the Baronet of
Birkenbog without being detected. The Duke had borrowed Sir Robert's hat
and wig, of a very particular cut, as well as a suit of his apparel, and was so
admirably disguised that, as he walked from the Inn to the scene of action, a
few hundred yards, the populace, who had turned out to see the procession,
actually believed they saw the knight in propria persona, and exclaimed — "Look
at our ain Sir Robert, he does'na fash wi' a Sedan, honest man ! " The Duchess
was first a flower girl, and changed her costume before supper for a superb court
dress ; she was unmasked, and glittering in diamonds. ... I was permitted
to assist at the ball, and played my part as well as I could in the character of a
country lad looking for a footboy's place. I even ventured to address the
Duchess as a candidate, and she gave me half-a-crown for arles. Everyone, both
young and old, exerted themselves to keep up the spirit of the party, and it went
off with great good humour, producing laughter, hilarity, and sallies of wit and
repartee. I have heard the Duchess since say that she never passed a happier
evening. When people are determined to be pleased, the task is very easy.
In March, 1899, Lady Clementine Hay appeared at Lady Tweed-
mouth's ball in Edinburgh, got up as her ancestress, the Duchess of
Gordon, with the historic red feather bonnet in which her Grace is
said to have raised the Gordon Highlanders.
The Duchess made every place she visited ring with her vivacity.
Thus, when she was in Aberdeen in October, 1789, as recorded in
TurraR' s A7itiqna7'iaii Gleanings, there were great doings.
The Duchess in Th t wn was f jj f „ nob ;i; ty and gentry," and the
Aberdeen. J & / >
lively Duchess "at the head of the whole company, who
pay their devoirs to her."
Every day the company have been engaged in the Links at wicket — the
Duchess of Gordon and Lady Charlotte Lennox all the time from twelve o'clock
till five in the afternoon ; many ladies in their coaches, besides gentlemen on
horseback leaping over a five-barred gate. I suppose a great sum will be spent.
At the public fare and for private lodgings I never remember such a full town
before. Colonel Lennox is a genteel man, and Lady Charlotte Lennox looks
very well. The Duchess has a cheerful countenance and full of vivacity.