The National tribune., 1895-10-03
THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MATCH.

THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS MATCH.
The main objection to the Marlboro Wander
bils match is that il gives our snoboeraey
real, tangible connection with the European
aristocracy of birth and privilege. and may
furnish basis for the development Of an
odious form of aristocracy in this country. So
far the marriages of our heresses with Eu-
ropean aristocrats have had little effect on orr
society. The men they married were general
ly titled nobodies. usually bankrupt in purse
and character. and compelled to marry in order
to get support but in too bad odor at home
to be able TO market their titles advantageous
~. Take, for example. tho who out
ranked them all-the Prince of Colouna-
whom Miss Macksy married. and whom she
has just gotten rid OF by paying him 1000
month to keep away from her. Seversi hun
dred years ago the Colonnas were among the
bowling swells of Italy. They were right in
with the Boreias, Orsiuis, and other names
familiar in opera and romance as stabbers.
PRISONERS, robbers, murdsrers, conspirators. be-
trayers, and the similar pursuits followed by
the Italian gentlemen OF the day. But for
centuries the Colonnas have been a sadly
down lot, without money, brains or character
The last one who did anything worthy of
record died in 1650-2l5 years ago His
achievement was to write a book on botany
All the Colonnas with any ginger in them
passed off the stage about the time the whites
began settling this country. On the other
hand, the Msrboros are very live. present
day crowd, counting for more than a acre lot
full of Italian mobiles. The real founder of the
w nod
ArabelIa Churchill. She managed her cards so
adroitIy that she became mistress to James H.,
and SO got place at Court and commission
in the army for her young brother, John
Churchill. John was the sharpest politician Of
his day, and also a soldier of high ability. He
married Sarah Jennings, woman entirely
worthy of him, and together they shaped the
destinies of England for the greater period Of
Queen Anne's reign. John commanded the
armies of England abroad, and won the great
victories of Bienheim, Oudenarde Families and
Maiplaquet, and Sarah managed Queen Anne,
and took care that the political current ran
their way. OF course, John and Sarah did rot
neglect to provide for their own household.
John was created Duke OF Marlboro, aud made
one of the weaIthiess men in Europe The
descendants of this remarkable couple have
ranked quite high for intellectually, and taken
all together they have been considerably above
the average British noble for character aud
ability. The marriage OF Miss Vanderbilt to
the young Duke of Marlboro will place her
about as near the head of the British aristocracy
it Is possible TO get. Dukes are the highest
rank of the nobility, and stand next TO the men,
bers of the Royal family. In the order of pre-
cedence only the Archbshops of Canterbury
and York stand between them and the Sovereign
and her sons. All of Queen Victoriss sons are
Dukes, except the eldest, who is Prince of
Wales. There % non-royal Dukes in Eng
land, aud these take precedence among them |
selves in tie order of the creation of their |
ancestors as Dakes. The following is the list |
in order of creation: