Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-07-08
A RESTORED CASTLE,
THE ENGLISH tOME OF THE OUCH
Ess OF MARLBOROUGH.
What American Wealth Has Done for
One of EnsIanI's Historic Mansions.
How an Americ IN Woman Has Beauti-
fed and Improved an Old Estate.

sea" her father having been a commodore
OF the United States navy. As Miss Lillian
Price, when only a young girl her beauty
| attracted admiration, not only in her ma
| tive town of Troy, \. Y, but in the wider
| circles of Washington diplomatic life. The
duchess, after the death of her first hus-
band, Mr.. Louis Hammersley, of New
York, came over to England, on her second
marriage, and since then her energy has
Hone not little to restore Blenheim that
magnificent memorial to the founder of
the family's fortunes, to something of its
former beauty and grandeur.
No. 3 Carlton House Terrace was for
many years before it came into the posses
sion of the Duchess of Marlborough the
residence of the late Lady Brownlow-
whose hospitality there is still very pleas
antly remembereC-and it is one of the
largest of those large mansions that form
the terrace. The hall and vestibule are
softly carpeted-not a footstep breaks the
silence-and warmly colored, and against
the dull crimson of the wall interesting
trophies of arms and weapons are artistic
ally arranged. The wide staircase is
broken half way hy broad landing, and
In Lady Brownlow's time the second short
flight gave immediate access to the morn
ing room, but the duchess has altered this
somewhat inconvenient arrangement by
making the old boudoir into a large. square
antechamber, divided from the staircase
by six handsome columns of verde antique
marble.
Opening from this, down two or three
steps, is new room built by the duchess
specially for her own sanctum, and easily
shut off when desired by portieres and
glass doors. Its proportions are lofty and
pleasing, the walls are hung in brocade of
soft, brilliant yet pale green shade, and it
is filled with a thousand interesting and
historic souvenirs. Its one broad window
gives access to a miniature conservatory.
with palms and tropical fetns made CAV
with choice flowers. Orchids are her
grace's favorite exotic, and those who are
familiar with the "Blenheim" selections
can at once realize the gorgeous effect that
can be attained.
In this little salon the duchess is never
disturbed, and bright though it is, it is not
too large to be comfortable and cozy The
decorations are Louis XVI in STYLE the
marble chlmneyp zee being particularly
fine example of French workmanship of
that period, and showing evidences of Eng
lish influence in design and execution The
central jamb was taken from one of the
original mantelpieces of Blenheim palace.
The wide hearth is tiled in marble. and o.
it burns an old, we'll seasoned oak fire.
Above the narrow mantelshelf is a beauti-
full portrait, by Joshua Reynolds, of one of
the Churchill ancestresses, and on the
walls hang few rare and valuable pic
lures of Reynolds and others, and three
valued on account of belonging to the EN-
press Eugene, with whom they We're spe-
cial favorites in happier days.
no fl,oy.
of rooms opening one from the other The
proportions are very striking and the lofti-
ness of the ceilings, finished in half cone,
are very elaborate in design, being a re-
plea of one of the ceilings of Versailles of
Louis XVI period. The work was exc
cuted by skilled French workmen brought
from Paris specially for the purpose In
the front drawing room the walls are hung
with rich satin danask of the shade known
as 'bouton dor" and on this back ground
are excellent old Flemish tapestries SUD-
plemented here and there by some artistic
gem in bronze or some veritable old master
sent from the gallery at Blenheim A
very superior work of art, standing in a
corner on slender marble pedestal, is a
fine bust in green bronze of Louis XIV
and large mirror of old French work
manship hangs over the mautelshelf-in
itself an exceptional specimen of the
Eighteenth century stone carving-with
massive candelabra on either side
That the duchess has inherited her ma
TONS love for flowers is amply testified,
for they hold undisputed sway on all sides,
adjoining the tables, growing in pots or
thrown carelessly into antique vases and
great crystal bowls.
The second drawing room, with its three
windows opening out on st. James park,
is room full of curiosities over which one
might linger for hours. The walls and
draperies are of a bright flame colored
damask, the color and design being Blen-
helm heirlocms, and its resuscitation is
due to the duke having accidentally dis
covered an old cl air, u torn fragment of
the original which so pleased him that he
had the pattern fabric copied and repro
duced. The pictures of this inner drawing
room are for the most part original Ru-
benses brought from the Blenheim collec-
ton.
Whatever may be the attractions of
Carlton house terrace to the duchess
Blenheim, nevertheless, is the home of her
choice, and on the rehabilitation of that
historic spot she has lavished her wealth
unsparingly. This palace, besides being
from its size and magnifcence and its his
markable country homes of England, is
most charmingly situated, and there is
hardly another place which conveys such
perfect feeling OF English country seen
cry as the gentle, undulating hills, the
beautiful woods, and the winding lake
which form the setting of the gem-the
mansion itself
The palace dates back only to the begin
ming of last century, when, by special act
Of parliament, the Royal manor, of Wood
stock, was settled on the first duke and his
heirs forever, with pension of 5000 in
perpetuity as a national recognition and
reward for his services as captain general
of the queens forces.
The duke and duchess spend the greater
part of the year here, coming to town only
a few months in The season, and here, on
every hand-in the splendid orchid houses.
extensive conservstories, the roseres and
flower gardens, as well as in the interior
arrangements of the great establishments
the hand of the young duchess is plainly