Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-09-27
DUKES OF MARLBOROUGH.
Fortunes and Adventures of the
Family of the ChurChills.

Few people in this country appreciate the
overwhelming so .ial importance OF an Eng
lish dukedom. At one time il was title ar
rogated solely by royalty. At later period
so rarely was the title conferred that 1t had
actually died out in England. This was dur
ing the reign Of Queen Elizabeth. At the
beginning of her reign the only living duke
was Thomas Howard, Duke OF Norfolk, On
his attainder and execution the title was non
existent in England until James conterredit
uDOn two of his favOrites, one OF them already
a Scottish duke. Charles II bestowed duke
doms on four of his natural sons, aud under
William Ill Anne and George | few holders
of lower dignities in the peerage were raised
to this exalted rank. At the present time. eX-
elusive of princes ofthe royal bloodthere are
only twenty-five dukes in the entire peerage
of the United Kingdom.
Among these dukcdOmS that of Marlbor-
ough though one of the more recent, Is cer-
tainly one Of the most distinguished and in
terestng not so much by right OF blood as
bv the character of the men who have held
the title, and of their immediate relatives.
Even when they failed to be great they have
often succeeded in being picturesque. They
have in one way or another shown that they
Inherited some of the qualities of the founder
Of the family fortunes, John Churchill. the
first and greatest Duke OF Marlborough-an
epitome Of all that was good and great as
well as all that was bad and low in the
Churchill characteristics.
The apogee of the Marlborough fortunes
was reached after the great campaign in
France which eliminated in the battle of
Blenheim August. 1T04. The result of this
decisive battle stamped Marlborough as the
greatest general of his age. Parliament be-
slowed upon him the estate of Woodstock,
and the queen caused Blenheim Park to be-
built for him. She had already, in 1902,
raised him to a dukedom.
In the years between 1905 and I'LL. further
victories over the French crowned Marlbor-
ough's arms. But his enforced absence from
England had released his hold upon the royal
affections. Queen Anne at last tired Of the
despotism exercised over her by the Duchess
of Marlborough. She shook off the yoke,
dismissed her Ministers. Godolphin and Suth-
erland, and paved the way for the return of
the tories.
Charges OF embezzling the public money
were preferred against Marlborough Al
though they were not legally proven. they
have left an ugly stain on his memory
Worse than that perhaps in his own view
they caused him to be stripped of all his off,
ces. 1t was not until the accession of
George l. that he was restored TO favor. He
died on June 16, 1922 having for some years
survived his mental faculties.
As he left no male issue. he was succeeded
by his daughter Henrietta. BIenheim is
5000 acres in extent. and does full Justice to
its surroundings. Its grand north front
stands back, with arcades sweeping down to
the two courts which open out from the
, main entrance. At its feet lies the great
bridge across the lake and it faces on the
opposite height the Column of Victory, backed
by the avenue stretching to the northern
entrance of the park. two miles away. The
yellow buildings stand out agains; the grass
and trees and pale the English sky with
something Of a Roman stataIiuess. 1t must
have been partly from Italy that Sir John
Nanbrugh, the architect, drew his inspira-
tion. With enough that is tlorid and faulty,
| there is yet real dignity in this, his MASTER
piece
Blenheim Park is a beautiful place. The
view from the south on the garden front is
superb. Stretching before US lies the lawn,
bordered to right and left with pleasure
grounds thickly wooded. The little river
GLyme flows through the park, and over it
had been thrown-when the place was built
grand bridge on the northern side, Il hand
! some work, which needed nothing in the
world but a reasonable amount of water to
bestride. The Glyme, however, was alto
| gether unequal to the occasion and its narrow
J stream trickled udicrously enough under the
great arch. -.