A LONDON SENSATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1798, 4 October 1888, Page 4

A LONDON SENSATION.

The Loudon correspondent of a contemporary says : —The great sensation (now, however, talked out) has been the marriage of the Dowager Empress of Montrose to Mr Milner. Everyone in Loudon knows of “ Mr Manton,”as the Duchess desires to be known in her racing capacity, but hardly anyone was prepared for the startling announcement that an old lady of seventy, however eccentric, had married a young man of twenty-four, however foolish. Young Milner is of good family himself, his grandfather being a baronet of the name, and he is connected with a city firm, the head of which, in fact, “ gave away ’’ the bride, fle is said to be fairly well off (being known as “ Millions ” by his affable clerks), so that it is not probable that the marriage has been the result of careful financial discretion. It is presumed that not even the most captious will quarrel with me for assuming that it is not a love-match, and so the solution seems to be that a craving for distinction has actuated the foolish yduth, while her well-known eccentricity has, as usual, guided the lady. The Duchess of Montrose is the mother of the present Dake (who is some twelve years older than his step-father), and was a daughter of the second Lord Decies. Eor many years she has kept a large training stable, under the name of “Mr Mantou,” and only last year one of her horses won the Derby. On the turf she is familiarly known as “ Bob,” and, though possibly feared in 8om« quarters, is certainly not respected. She was married after the death of the Duke to Sir Stirling Crawford, who died a few years ago. Her present and third marriage would not have been known had it not been for the accidental presence of an amateur organic in the church, who saw from an organ-loft, and went away teeming with excitement. The Duchess has settled £3OOO a year on her husband, and in case of her death allows £6000; so possibly after all there is a financial aspect to the matter.