Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-15

of the happy date in the artistic decora- tions and appointments, and a bountiful collation. completed an afternoon of great pleasure to the little folks.
 
 Yesterday was the Sth birthday also of Miss Winona Hill, daughter of MT. and, Mrs. George T. Hill, and she entertained a few intimate friends and neighborhood playmates with a charming entertain ment in the afternoon at the home of her parents.
 Since the announcement several weeks ago of the probable engagement of Lady Randolph Churchill and MT. William Waldorf Astor much that is compli- mentary of Lady Churchill has been published in the different newspapers of the country. She is said to be woman of much more than ordinary mental at tainments, with a genius for politics and a wonderful capacity for making herself popular with the masses. To her is at tributed much of the political success of her late husband, although, manlike, he resented any suggestions to that effect. Lord Churchill was a man of irritable temper and i'll regulated speech at times, and he made many enemies by his un- fortunate manner Lady ChurchilPs suavity, grace and charm did away with much that was disagreeable in the inn pression produced by her husbands childishness. Lady Churchill was a de- voted and loyal wife, bearing patiently with her husbands peculiarities. one of which was to fly into a fit of jealous rage when he heard that his prominence in politics was somewhat due to his wife, and also when he heard that her talents and beauty aroused honorable and nat ural admiration. On one occasion he felt so aggrieved at these things that he went to Africa for a sojourn of six months, but soon realized how unjust and unmanly he had been to his brilliant wife and granted her the privilege CD in return for his childish bad temper of nursing him through his tedious and protracted last illness Lord Churchlls estate proved not to be in very satisfac- tory condition after his death. If his widow really does marry MT. Astor she will not only become woman of inn mense wealth, but will be of great as- sistance to MT. Astor in advancing any political aspirations he may have. The probable marriage of these two Ameri- cans who live in England is apparently greatly approved by the public on both sides of the Atlantic. There is poss- bilty of Lady Churchilrs eldest son, Winston, becoming heir to the title and estates of the Duke of Marlborough, his cousin, and it Is thought that this poss-
  ill in considering MT. Astor and a second marriage. Thie Chicago Tribune, in dis cussing this marriage of MT. Astor and Lady Churchill says:
 Lady Randolph is not a ladyto hide her light under a bushel or be content with mediocrity. As long as her husband was well off she prided herself on having the most perfectly appointed house in London. Everything in the Randolph Churchill establishment in Connaugh place was of the superlative order.
 "All things were arranged on prince ly scale, and the house was one of the first in London to be fitted with electric light.
 "Lady Randolph's salon was as cele- brated as her table, and it was a terri ble blow to her when, owing to Lord Randelph's financial reverses, she was compelled to give up housekeeping and to reside with her mother-in-law, the oldsDuchess of Marlborough. There is no one that better understands how to spend nuney to the best advantage than Lady Randolph, and, moreover she may yet require a great deal of it for the sake of her son, Winston.
 When the Dukedom of Marlborough was created the victor of the battle of Blenheim had son. But the latter died of smallpox at Oxford, and thereupon the crown altered the patent of the dukes peerage in such a manner as to enable 1t to descend to his daughters, of whom he had two, and 1t Is the descend ants of the younger of these two girls who now hold the title and estates. The peerage, therefore, in the opinion of the most eminent genealogists and heraldic descends from the father not to the eldest son, but to the eldest child, no matter whether boy or girl. Lady Wimborne, whose Christian name is Cornelia, and who is, perhaps, the most influential and powerful of the great ladies in London society, was born after the late Duke of Marlborough, but before Lord Randolph, and in the event of the present duke dying without issue the dukedom, the entailed estates and the perpetual pension of $20,000 per an- mum would pass not to Winston Church. i'll. Lord Randolph's eldest son, but to Lady Wimborne, who would become Duchess of Marlborough In her own right, MT. Ivor Guest assuming the title of Marquis of Blandford until his moth- er's demise.
 Lord Wimborne is one of the veal thiest peers in Great Britain, and thus his wife and son would have not only the entirety of London society and royalty to back up their pretenslons, but also unlimited resources with which to defray legal expenses. Money is everything in such cases as this, and, should she have the support of MT. As- tors millions Lady Randolph could be relied upon to make a gallant fight in be- half of her son."
 | It Is very gratifying to hear of the success that comes to women in the and various fields of endeavor which they have entered, when they have brought all their energy, good sense and good taste to their assistance. There Is no reason women should not succeed in any sphere If they have the brains, health and perseverance; all prejudice aginst their labor is rapidly disappear ing among the intelligent men of today. An exchange tells of what has been &C., by two brave Cincinnati wo- men of position, who were confronted with their dire necessities and dire pover- ty at the same time, and who determined not to be overcome in the unequal strug gle of daily existence:
 "The city of Cincinati possesses a strik- ing example of what can be done by wo- mans pluck when accompanied by prac- tica1 common sense Twelve years ago the Misses Stewart, three young women who had been reared in wealth, were, by business failures, thrown upon their own resources. They secured a room In business block and established lunch room, where they made a speciality of x-