The morning call., 1892-11-11
MARLBOROUGH DEAD.

The excitement over the election has pro-
badly so far subsidized that people are willing
TO hear something else besides election re-
turns. Some may take little Interest in
the death of man who has occupied no
little attention both in this country and in
Great Brtain--the Duke of Marlborough.
he was not remarkable for his talents, for
they were imperceptible, nor for his virtues,
for be had none, nor for his achievements,
for they were of the kind in which Love-
lace was his equal and Don Juan his SUI
perlor; he was simply an object Of attention
because he was the bearer of high title
which he dragged into the dirt
George Charles Spencer Churchill, seventh
Duke Of Marlborough, was the lineal de-
scendant Of that John Churchill who won
rank, title and fortune by a display of the
most extraordinary combination Of brilliant
qualities which any public man ever pos
sessed. He was a most consummste general,
an adrot diplomat, a mastery statesman;
his fascinationS won the hearts of two
women who both loved him without
Jealousy; his smile was so serene and lofty
that when he rode along the lines of re-
treating army. the men faced about and re-
newed the fight. This man, dying hun
dred and seventy years ago, left to his sue
cessors splendid fortune, the title of duke,
and the baronial estate OF Blenheim.
He was succeeded by five dukes in success
sion, not one of whom increased his posses
SionS or made any mark in the world. The
last of them lived by selling cabbage, pota-
toes and flowers from the gardens of BIen-
helm. To him succeeded the seventh duke,
who at twenty-five married the most beauti-
ful woman in the peerage, Alberta of Aber-
corn. His reputation was bad bnt the fair
Alberta hoped to reform him. She sue
ceeded so well that five years after the
marriage his relations with Lady AylesfOrd
became notorious. and shortly afterward he
eloped with her. Two divorces followed
Lord Aylesford from bis wife. Lady Bland
ford from her husband. When Lord Bland
ford succeeded to the title Of Duke of
Marlborough, he improved upon his father
by selling the pictures as well as the pOta-
toes at Blenbeim. and led life which
shocked even the King Of Holland. When
the doctors prescribed sureease of diSsipa-
ton, he came to this country to recruit
To the credit of the four hundred many
OF them refused 10 receive him. But others
did not; among these were Lily Warren,
the widow of the millionaire Hammersley,
whose income compared with that of the
NaDderbllts. She was not a young woman !;
she had never been wise; the temptation of
becoming duchess and OF bearing an his
toric name was more than she could with
stand; she married the battered old roue.
with all his imperfections on HIS head. and
went to live with him al Blenheim House.
She set herself The task of putting the build
ing and its owner into complete repair. The
former was a matter Of money and the
American Lady Marlborough spent ii with
lavish hand. so th at the old palace is now
more beautiful than iteyer was. The latter
overtasked her resources. She succeeded
in persuading the Duke to lead the quiet
life OF country gentleman on his estate.
She even induced him to devote his mind to
a new telephone instrument, which was a
more wholesome object of contemplation
than the ladies of the ballet. But the
change Of life seems to have been more
than the eDfeebled constitution of the Duke
could stand. He was only IS, but life of
dissipation had done its work. and when his
valet entered his room to wake him on
Wednesday morning he found him dead in
his bed
Lady Marlborough will return TO her
American home, having had brief and it
is feared a not wholly agreeable experience
as member of the British aristocracy.
The experience would have been even more
painful but for the kindly patronage she re-
ceived at the hands OF her sister-in-law,
Lady Randolph Churchill.