South Bend News-Times, Volume 34, Number 364, South Bend, St. Joseph County, 30 December 1917 — Page 23

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The Marquis of Blandford, the Duchess's Elder Son, Who lias Left College to Go to the War. CopyrlKht by .Lafayette.

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'The Duke Had Converted the Beautiful Lawns and Gardens of Blenheim Palace, the One Thing That He Always Cherished, Into a Farm to Help His Country. This Touched the Duchess Deeply."

Duchess of Marlborounh, Popularly Known as "Our American Duchess." Copyright bv E. 0. Uopoe.

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AVTVAl ten years o complete separation, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Durhess of Marlborough, popularly knovn as "Our American Duchess," has forgiven her errinjr Duke. In format ion received from London proves that it was onl'.' by extraordinary proofs of moral reform that the Duke won the forgiveness of Iiis hik-pirited American wife. Not the. least of these marks of reform was his selfsacrifiee in turning Ids ancestral park at Blenheim Palace into a farm for the ood of Ins country. Since tin Duchess first refused to live with her husband on account of his conduct, her whole life has been devoted to noble public works and charities, while his career during the earlier period was one of cynical self-indulgence. She refused all appeals to condone his offences and it was only when he convinced her of a complete change of heart that ghe forgave him. For many years the Duchess has represented the finest type of American society woman, beautiful, high spirited and independent, yet charming, sympathetic and gen-r-rons. Her marriage to the Duke of Marlborough at St. Thomas's Church, New York, on November G, ISOj, was one of the most spectacular events in American social history. The young Duke, descendant of England's most famous soldier, held a position that was almost royal indeed, among his minor titles, which he did not flaunt, was that of "Prince of the Holy Roman Empire," a dignity conferred by the German Emperor upon the first Duke. Little was known about the young Duke's character, but his ancestral estates were in considerable need of fresh :apital, chiefly owing to his deceased father' extravagances. There were long conferences between the Duke's lawyers and tho Vanderbilt representatives. It was understood that W. K. Vanderbilt gave his daughter a dowry of $10,000,000 and settled an annuity of $100,000 a year for life upon the Duke. Their early years in English society seemed happy and brilliant. The Duchess won great social popularity by her grace, charm and amiability. The lat King Edward V1L, Then Prince of Wales, bestowed his approval on her. She was one of the distinguished figures at the court. The Duchess expended immense, sums on her social career in England. The Marlboroughs had lost their original town house, which had become the property of the royal family during the eighteenth century. The Duchess decided that the Marlboroughs should have a town house worthy of their historic title and set about the building of Sunderland House, the finest house in May fair, the fashionable residential quarter of London. Upon this project she eventually expended about $5,000.000. Two sons were born to the Duchess, the older of whom is known as the Marquis of Blandford and is destined to inherit th" dukedom, while, the other is Lord Ivor Spencer Churchill. While the second boy, bom in 1S93, was still a

baby, society became aware that the Dike and Duchess were drifting apart, lie was seen enjoying himself in Paris, Monte Carlo and other gay resorts, while the Duchess was occupied with her children in England. The Duke has a cold, haughty, sneering air, and his conduct at this period was entirely in keeping with his appearance. Society heard many stories of Iiis heartlessncss toward his charming and amiable wife. She suffered for some time from an affection of one ear that caused her considerable pain and slight deafness. The Duke, it was credibly reported, shouted at her harshly and referred unfeelingly to this ailment. It was also stated that he spoke disparagingly of her father and mother, and of all the Vanderbilt family. The climax of tho Duke's behavior occurred when he began to pay marked attention to a beautiful American girl, a former friend of the Duchess, who led a life of Bohemian independence in Paris. Such conduct is often cynically condoned in the European aristocracy, but the Duchess, with the independence and pelf-rcspeet of the typical American girl, refused to have anything to do with her offending husband. The late King Edward and Queen Alexandra appealed to the Duchess not to create a scandal by formally separating from the Duke, but she declined to accept their views. "Mind your own business" was, in effect, the proud American girl's message to the King. In 1907 a deed of separation betwn the Duke and Duchess was drawn up. In this it was provided that he should retain control of Blenheim Palace, while the children were to divide their time equally between their two parents. Sunderland House was the Duchess's exclusive property. After the shipwreck of her married life the I)uches3 threw herself more and more into philanthropic and charitable work. So great have been her efforts in this direction thr.t an English newspaper recently referred to her ts "tho most charitable duchess in all history." She is president oi the National Association of Women's Lodging Houses, head of the Women's League of Service, a member of the Finance Committee of the London School of Medicine for Women, organizer of the Homes for Prisoners' Wives, member of the American Women's War Relief Committee, which maintains 200 beds for wounded soldiers, and a leading member of many other organizations. One illustration will show how practical is her interest in these undertakings. The National Association of Women's Lodging Houses, of which she is president, is a body that aims to provide respectable lodgings for poor women in all parts of the country. The Duchess took out a license for herself as keeper of a lodging house in King's Cross-road, a poor quarter of London, in order that she might give her personal service. The present King and Queen renewed King Edward's efforts to brine: about a reconciliation between the Duke

and Duchess, but she refused once more to permit any interference with her private affairs. And what was the Duke doing while his neglected wife was making herself universally beloved? In the earlier years of their separation he did little but pursue pleasure and self-indulgence. The least selfish sentiment which he displayed was a strong devotion to his ancestral home and estate, Blenheim Palace. It was to maintain this famous place that he and his family planned his marriage to an American heiress. A large share of Consuelo Vanderbilt s millions went toward the restoration of the palace. Blenheim Palace is a huge pile of stone, a place of crushing dignity, designed by the Dutch architect, Sir John Vanb.ugh. It was given to the first Duke of Marlborough by Queen Anne in gratitude for his famous victory - at Blenheim. The estate on which it stands ; : had been a royal possession for centuries, and ; the Duke still holds it nominally as a tenant of , the Crown. It was on this historic manor that "Fair Rosamond" had her "bower" in the days of King Henry II.. and it was here that Queen Eleanor pursued her and put her to death in 117G, according to an ancient legend. The ornamental park in "which Blenheim Palace stands is twelve miles in circumference and contains temples, fountains and beautiful gardens. It was until recently well stocked with deer. The entire estate surrounding it is about 20,000 acres. Whatever Marlborough's faults may have been, he was always intensely interested in the preservation and beautifying of Blenheim Palace, and this continued to be his most serious interest down to the outbreak of the war. During the first year of the war he went to France as an officer on the staff of General French. His record was perfectly creditable, but he is not robust or suited for military service, and lie returned homo after a brief period. The Duchess, upon the outbreak of the great conflict, naturally turned her philanthropic energies largely in the direction of war work. She organized societies that eared for the families of thousands of soldiers and nursed manv wounded men. She has an interest in what happens on the Blenheim estate, for much of her monpy has been invented t. One day she was amazed to hear that the Duke w; "4 -Thing up his beloved ornamental gardens and conv-: . : j- them into a farm. On his return trom the war he decided tiiat the best way of being of service to Iiis country was to grow as much fod as possible and thus ks-en the growing submarine menace. Therefore he sacrificed the beautif il ornamental gardens, which had bf-n the pride of the family for centuries.

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CDi'rllit. 1317. by the S;r Cornciar. Crat Uritain Fltst-rvei.

The Dnke of Marlborough Whose War Sacrifices Have Won for Him His Wife's Forgiveness.

The Duke has grown wheat, barley, rye and oati on various parts of his park. The deer were driven into an enclosure because tln-v were wasteful, and trradually killed for food purpose,-. Th' Duke made a "'ientific study of the best us.'s to which the various kinds o' soil in his park were fitted. Where the gras was i ie'.i ti e ground was reserved as pasture for cattle and shef-p. A considerable part of the great Jawn in front of the palace was dug up and planted with hom- ly cabbages and potatoes. In the second year of Ins exp -riment ihe Duke i miiJ to liave obtained as large a crop of wheat, barley and oatfrom his park as any farm of similar -ie in England (ould rdiow. Not eontejit with t!:i contribution to tl.e eeonomie we";, fare of his country th Duke turned Blenheim Palae into a convalescent home fr wounded soldiers. He reserve. J for himself only small living quarters. The use of the interior of the palace for the soldiers required the co-operation of tin? Duchess, and this brought the estranged couple into enrnmunichti'-n .'.gain. TL Duchess then realized that her husband had carried on patriotic and philanthropic work equalling any in which she was interest d. The Duchess had always refused to f.ecept tie suggestion of outsiders, even though they were the King and Queen, that she should he;o:ii reconciled to h"r husband for the sake of appearances, because she knew that he had not repented of Lis unpardonable condm-t. but now she saw evidences of a real change of heart and she wa-i deeply touched. On the Duke" forty-sixth birthday sh.- met him amid the wrecks of war wh :u l.e had shelb-red at Blenheim Palace. There follow. -d an interview in tl.e Dnke's jrivat apartment and the Wi.rld now knows that tlit. Duches Uien said : ' ' 1 forgive vou full v. Thus the great war hi.s worked another of i.s miracles I