The age-herald., 1897-09-22
BY MRS. GEORGE c. BALL
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There is a great fuss and feathers business going on in the columns of the New York press over the recent arrival of at the Spencer House--the Duke of Marlborough's London home-of a young son, heir to his American mothers mill lions and his English fathers titles and claims to distinction. This event in a remote way touches Alabama as the Murray Smith family--from which the youthful duchess comes, on her mater nal side-at one time lived and four ished at Mobile. This fact is not men, tioned among the minute details fur nished by the London and New York telegrams. Columns are employed in enterprising daily journals to tell of this everyday occurrence, which has just happened at the house of Manbor- ough We are informed what vast wealth awaits the new baby, on one side; what ducal glory on the other, and every Alabama mother takes fresh hope when she hears what has befallen the daughter of the former Miss Ava Smith, who campsd in childish abandon not so very many years ago under the magnolas and oleanders of old Mobile. To be sure, this Alabama girl and her parents wearied long ago of the limited field afforded their financial and matri- nlonial talents in the provincial city Of the gulf; so they found their way to other climes, and there is no indication that they bear any recollection of ever having sojourned in any portion of this benigihted CD land. The former Miss Alva Smith has been, as everybody knows, Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt, and is now Mrs o. H. r. Belmont, and she is apparently as indifferent to numer- ous and embarrassing matrimonial en- tanglements as she is to the place of her early residence. The telegrams in- form us that Mrs. Belmont and MT. Vanderbilt were both the guests of their daughter the Duchess of Marlborough, at the same time a few days ago, in London town. No mention was made of MT Belmont's whereabouts no the oc- casion. But these small insignificant facts count for nothing so long as list is given of the monies and titles which await the young grandson of Mrs. Bel mont and MT. Vanderbilt. The little English baby, who has an Alabama connection, according to the most ac- curate information, was born the Mar quis of Blandford, but beside this he is heir apparent to the titles of Duke of Marlborough, Earl of Sunderland, Baron Spencer of Wormleighton, Baron Churchill of Sandridge, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire and Prince of Min delheim, in Suabia.
 The Marlborough hsir will come into a. fortune from his mother alone of at least $25,000000 By further development this fortune may reach $7O,OOO,OO0 Tn addition to this, the heir of the Marl boroughs is in line to succeed to a share in properties in this country valued at $12,000,000 and the Marlborough estates, including the hereditary income of S20,0O0 a year.
 The first Duke of Marlborough was John Churchill; the new heir will be the tenth, if he survives his father
 The Duke and Duchess of Marlborough were married at St. Thomas church in New York city November G, 1885 The wedding was one of the most magnifi- gently appointed ever witnessed in the metropolis. The dowry given by MT. Vanderbilt to his daughter was $10000.- GOO. The principal was to be he'd in trust for her children. The Duke of Marlborough gave her the maximum reyenus from the Marlborough estates. The Prince of Wales will probably act as one of the godfathers to the little son of the Duke and Duchess of Marlbor- ough. The social triumph of Mrs Van derbilt-Beimont is complete.
 of her trip to California. from Los Am geles:
 We were invited to join the Wheeling. w Va. party in Washington D. C., on the 18th of August, for the purpose of presenting th= battleship "Wheeling" with silver service. cut glass and china, presented by the people of Wheel ing. The second consideration was to tour California. There are about sixty in our party, including a half doz=n congressman and their wives Some of these are on the river and harbor com mittee. The party has received a per feet ovation from the t;ms we entered the state. We were met at Sacramento by a delegation from San Francisco with flowers and fruits and cordial handshaking of welcome. We were