The morning times., 1895-10-13

light falling through ruby glass and q
long seat cushioned with rich velvet. At
its sides hang religious tapestries 1t
is small prize dieu adjoining the regular
chapel, and TO reach it the Duchess need
not travel through the big, stony room
which is the chapel proper OF Blenhejm.
On Sundays and church Gays the chapel
is thrown open. 1t is in the north wing.
The chime of bells rings out melodies,
and the servants of Blenheim and the
tow nspeople of Woodstock attend. The
chapel is exquisitely furnished, and in
IL there are the tombs, magnificent marble
structures, of the cead and gone dukes.
Like playground, like a fairy home,
is much of Bienheim. Through the
grounds run a stream, not far from the
palace, and over the stream there is
great bridge built. famous old archi-
tect. Sir John Vanbrugh, had the plan
ming of this bridge, and it was his
dream to make IL a fac-simile of Lon
don Bridge. But when he came TO erect
it he found he could improve upon London
Bridge, in his own estimation, at least.
He constructed a very massive arch under
the bridge, and in the arch he built small
summer rooms. They are set in the stone
structure, and must be reached by stair
way going up under the bridge. There are
thiriy-two of these rooms, eight at each
corner of the bridge, and from sixteen of
the rooms person can lean out of the win
dows and look up at the carriages driving
over the top of the bridge. This greatly
pleased the first Duchess, who felt the
heat OF summer and-loved her ''stone
house,
THE STONY ROOM
Now, the lowest of the rooms upon one
end of the bridge is submerged with water,
as the stream has grown i'll the last hun
dred years, but the upper ones are as
beautiful and cool as ever. One of the
bridge rooms has been furnished like a
boudoir with a couch, chairs, rugs and
curtains. There are rough frescoes upon
the walls, and, going into it, one would
not suspect that one was under the road
way of great stone bridge. The room is
prettier than many of the darkened ones
of the castle, and when it is flooded with
the sun from the south il is cool, ro-
mantle and fascinating.
Last spring Miss Vanderbilt greatly en-
joyed spending an hour in the morning here,
when she and her mother were Marl-
borough's guests, and extra furnishings
were carried there for her. As a great Con-
cession to modern convenience, Lily, the
former duchess, had a telephone connec-
tion made from the house with the bridge
rooms. so there could be communication If
anything was needed. Often tea or lunch
was served there, and from its windows
hung vines almost to the water below.
A true love spot is the conservatory
And, as everything about Blenheim "
peculiar, the conservatory does not escape
the adjective. 1t is as unlike n modern con-
servatory as possible. This room was
planned by Sarah Jennings, the first
duchess, and was to be 1.-THE most pleasant
sitting room in the house and not a maga-
zine for parcel of foolish plants"
The conservatory of Blenheim to-day
is the family sitting room. II is reached
from above by. winding stair, set with
palms, and it is as full of hooks as The
angle Of castle canbe. In the hooks and
on shelves stand the plants. Below arecasy
chairs, many of them modern now.
In one of the nuoks is great English
courting chair, which was n birthday pres
ent from Queen Anne to the first duke and