The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-27
THE VANDERBILT DUCHESS.
Notes on Her English Experiences.
(Julian Ralph in New York Journal.)

(Julian Ralph in New York Journal)
The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough
are at present the lions of the London
season. They are entertained and fetcd
by princes and the highest statesmen in
the land. 1t was only q few days ago
that they were entertained in grand style
by the prime minister, and among the
guests were the highest ana noblest in
Guiding the Prince OF Wales. The papers
chronicle their every movement, and
everything about the new American
duchess is read with almost as much in
terest as was the coronation of the Gar,
or the stopping of the big Ferris wheel
at the earl's court exhibition. / sent
reporter to Bleinheim when they ran
down there to spend the end Of the week
in well earned rest at their old palace,
thinking it an opportunity not to be
missed for telling the Journals readers
of their home life-their public life be-
ing too we'll known to need telling.
Woodstock was dressed in it's best,
ready for their arrival. 1t was Saturday,
but the towns people had put on their
Sunday CLOTHES, the station master hal
gotten himself up as smart as a court
turnkey, the station was swept and new
ly sanded, and tho porters were i'll such
state Of suppressed excitment that they
dropped trunks in more reckless fashion
than usual, and bundled passengers out
of the station with as much attention
and civility as they would bestow on II
lot of personally conducted tourists, so
much were they on the loookut for the
Special containing "their graces.
The local policemen were still and on
their dignity, with white gloves and
their buttons shining like silver. and the
shopkeepers -Blenheim is composed of
shops and shopkeepers-weres standing at
their doors waiting to courtesy to the
duke and duchess as they passed in their
carriage on their way to the castle. The
reporter questioned one shopkeeper as to
whether they would make long stay.
sob, no, SIR" said he; they will only
stay until Monday morning, and maybe
will go away on Sunday. They only
visits here for day or two now, but
we are always pleased to see them." He
could spare no more time for conv ersn-
tion-he was in too much of hurry to
resume his vigil at the door, on the
lookout for the expected Saturday-to-
Monday exoursionsists. OF
The journal man cleaned that their
graoes are both liked immensely in the
little village. He was told that they did
not put on any great airs and are not
too naughty to sp eak or nod at any one
who does the same to them. The duke
it appears, spends lot of his time when
at Blenheim strolling about the grounds
Watching the dredging operations which
are going on in front of the castle for
the purpose of charging and deepening
the lake there.and restoring 1T to Its an
cient grandeur. A local contractor has
undertaken to carry out this work at
maximum cost of e21, 600. but he says
he does not expect to make much, if any
thing, ont of the deal. The duke and
duchess, about fortnight ago, were
neutrality-suspicious. to entertain some of
their friends at the castle, and, in order
that the guests should enjoy some good
boating if they desired, ordered that all
the water there was in the lake should
be drawn off in one corner and held
done A dam was built, and the water
run through pipes into that part of
the lake facing the castle. But it was
not high enough to suit his lordship.
He said he wanted the water at certain
height, and meant to have it there.
The workmen obeyed him to the best Of
their ability. They shifted the dam high
err up just In front of the little bridge
that spans the lake, and his lordship
was well pleased with their efforts. He
returned to the castle, told tho duchess
all that had been done, and then went
to see how it looked from the window.
When, crash Away went the dam and
away went the water and spread itself
In every direction, and away went the
prospects Of boating for the coming
guests.
The quiet unassuming ways of the
duchess seem to have won the villagers
entirely. She walks about like any one
else would, but one of the natives, who
was spoken to, seemed surprised that she
walked about at all, aud said he was
quite unable to account for her going
about without gloves. She walks through
the village unattended by any of her
humorous servants, making email pur-
chases at the different shops; but if it is
known before hand that her grace is
coming. the shopkeepers polish up their
windows and dust the stock that is on
exhibition, for they know she will be
attracted by the smartest and cleanest
looking shop, no Iuatter what the good