Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-11-27
An Unhappy Duchess.

An Unhappy Duchess.
Tue following paragraph, recently repub'
lisbed from a provincial journe! il Que q
tho London papers brings into public 80 ice
again certain prominent people whose
names had for the time been forgotten, and
has caused considerable sensation ia Lon
don society. 1t is as follows
at tho meeting OF the Ruric Canal Chapter at
Oxford the venerable Archdea9on Palmer pro.
siding, the following resolution was adopted
THAT the clergy OF the rural deanery OF Ok
ford, recognizing the extrcmo danger TO pubic
morals caused by the relaxation OF sanctions OF
marriage in many countries at the present time,
and accepting gratefully the resolutions of The
bishops lately assembled at Lambeth Palace on
this fub;ec., do hereby express their sympathy
with tho Rev. Arthur Msjendic, Ia toT o! the
narish of Woodstock, in the difficult position in
which he has been placed by his conspicuous pro-
test in the recent case within his own parish
That protest could only mean 0:.e thing,
to wit public snub TO the Duke Of Mari
borough and TO his American Duchess.
The New York W0rtd correspondent went
10 Woodstock in order to tud out what it
meant. The little parish is one oftbe quaint
est of all quaint English toTUs. Il is re-.
mote from the railroad, and THE Dews, which
reached the outside world through gath
etiug OF country c!orgylae,:. ia bat Inc echo
Of the social explosion which took place at
Woodstock On the day when the Duke took
his American bride to his historical Palace
of Blenheim. When LORD Randolph Church.
hill brought his American wife to BleEben
some years ago Woodstock gave him pub
lie r. cepton. 1t is not the custom TO fire
cannon on such occasion as do he Ameri-
cans, but TO ring the church bells Tbs
chimes rang ont merrily for Lord Randolph
and all the people in town turned oui 10
hear the Mayor read aD address oil welcome.
A few weeks ago when the Duke brought
home the new Duhcess the present Mayer
and municipal officers wanted 10 arrange q
similar demonstration of welcome. But they
encountered the most determined opposition
on the part Of all the EpscopGans, the rec
tor of the parish church positively refusing
to allow the chimes to be ruDg. The Mayor
snd all the corporate officers demonstrated
with him. They urged that the late Duke
had presented him with the living and that
the present Duke was patron thereof; that
the church itself was OF the ducal estate
and that it was mis- duty to do honor to
the present Duke. But the rector was OBJ
stinate.
The church chimes, be declared, could net
be ruug without his permission, and he was
going TO take no part liz welcoming d!'
ycrced man, whose !ife wsa notorious!y
against the teachings of the church. The
rector's congregation supported him, and
the projected public reception fell through.
The Duke snd his bride drove to their
splendid home amid solemn silence. When
the Duke asked what it oil meant, the May
or apologized and said it was oil the fault of
the rector for refusing to permit the church
bells to BIO rung. The Duke was very an
gry, but under the English laws cannot take
tbs living away from the rector who has Of
Tended him. Il belongs to thu Rev. MIR.
Maiendie for life. But few days after
wards the Rev. Mr.. Majendie received form.
al notice from the Dukes agent notifying
him that he would not be allowed to drive
through Benheim Park in future. This not
only deprives him and his family of the af-
ternoon's drive enjoyed for years, but forces
him to 20 miles out OF his way when be
wishes to drive to the station to take the
train TO Oxford or London.
The correspondent called on ths Rev. Mr..
Maiendie. II refused to ring the chimes to
welcome the Duke home," he said, "be-
cause my creed and my church pro.
test against such marriage. My
PRINCIPLES do not permit ne to do such 8
thing and l resolutely refused to listen to
the appeals from the Mayor and from 9th.
ers who urged me to participate in the pub
lie reception"
SIS it true" the correspondent asked,
sthat the Duke has prohibited you from
driving in Blenheim Park, and that he will.
not allow you to enter the school at Ba-
den 2" "Yes, have received notices from
his agent to that effect. have bad no per
sonsi interview with the Duke or with his
wife either. From all hear she is charm
ing lady. But my action is influenced by
principle, not personalities. 1t is the same
principle that made the Episcopal clergy
man in America refuse 10 marry them: and
singularly enough one of the cergymen
who refused to perform the ceremony in
America was the Rev. Ri. Burnett, OF
Southboro, Mass, who used to be curate
with me here"
It required scarcely any inquiry among
the people at Woodstock to convincs the
correspondent that the American Duchess
has been very unhappy since the Duke took
her to Benheim from London. All the peo-
ple of that quiet town know the affairs at
Blenheim thoroughly from the servants and
laborers who work on the estate during
tho day, aud who bring the news to
Woodstock at night. So far as she has been
among her tenants the American Duchess
On the day Lady Colin Campbell arrived
at BleDheim On visit, month ago, Ihe
Woodstock folks began to look for trouble.
AS matter of course the invitation came
from the Duchess, but It's said after dis
tinct understanding with the Duke that be
should not be alone with her. Lady Co!iu
arrived on Saturday. On Sunday she rode
several hours with the Duke. and the Ouch
ess was not asked to come. That evening the
Dnchess did not appear at dinner, nor, SO