The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-05

I lives. so to speak. at the foot Of the royal
| throne
She is the recognized head OF a thou
sand tenantry, all Of whose women coma
| TO her for advice. She IS the Head OF
! the Church" IN way. for the old GUS
tom Of throwing open the Chapel at Blen-
helm for morning service has been re-
| yiyed. and every morning tho little Duch-
/ ess. sometimes with her liege Lord fol-
| lowing. goes through the long stone cor
| ridors leading to the stairs that lead down
into the sunny end Of the castle, where
on a level with the spreading country
the chapel is placed The journey through
the corridors is a long one and Consuelo,
| before she opens the castle door leading
into the ducal pew has time to collect
her thought.
NEW YEAR GIFTS.
These are now all OF new year. The
coming year will bring forth a great
deal for her. And she feels deeply its
responsibilities. But with that peculiar
sweetness and inconsistencies which is
a gift from neither Of her parents she
goes on thinking of others as she has
always done.
The Duchess has been busy making
little holiday gifts for friends at home.
Her own circle is such a wealthy one
that il would be impossible to make them
gifts which they would prize for their
intrinsic value. so the value of the gift
must lie ia the sweetness that goes with
II.
And so the Duchess has been getting
up little remembrances gathered as much
as possible from her English life.
For months past ever since she ar
ri af
have been writing to her to tell them
about her new home. Is Blenhelm the
wonderful place 1t is pictured In his
tory? Is it that great spreading castle
that the king planned because II would
afford space and training quarters for
the whole English army? II is pleas
ant or is it like Croome Court, where
tho Countess Of Craven lves-a dark,
dingy place. elegant only in It's vastness?
TO these the Duchess has written long
letters. for she is the promptest little
correspondent in the world telling them
OF the glories OF Woodstock its falling
leaves. Its great trees. its stone bridge
with the rooms underneath almost touch
ing the water. or the cavalry OF Wood
stock which calls her husband Colonel.
In the New Year gifts the Duchess has
striven to carry to her friends the eIories
OF Woodstock One set of presents has
been pine cones gathered together in
fanciful shapes to form very large.
handsome scrap receptacle The cones
are tied with ribbons upon gold wire
franc In the form OF basket. IJpon one
side there Is bit OF birch bark enamel
led with the monogram of the Duchess
The edges OF the bark curl and are touch
ed with gold The wires OF the basket ara
solid gold. so the little gift has such In
trinsic value that none could accuse the
little Duchess of pennriousness
To her closest friends the Duchess is
sending pictures OF herself. These are
lately taken in London and show the
full face. They are only bust deep.
Around the head is the same wonderful
aureole OF hair that looks curiously like
a halo In some lights.
These pictures are mounted upon panel
cards made OF water color paper. Upon
the top OF the panel is the Marlborough
crest: underneath is the autograph.
Around the frame there is a vine OF How
ers. These are copied from the garden OF
the Duchess. One flower that grows close
10 the sun dial Is a flaming little pOppy
that turns with the sun. II is small but
lovely. II furnished the only brilliant |
coloring to tha immense bridal bouquet |
which the Duke had sent from Blenhelm |
20 New York year ago. Out OF the |
great. mighty mass certain flowers were !
selected for the bride TO carry, but the |
little poppies bloomed upon her table an |
the week. These are on every painted |
card she sends away.
Many OF the New Year gifts are little |
paintings, for the Duchess has consid-
cradle talent with the brush She comics
small scenes around Blenhelm and francs
them with broad gold bands thai set them
Off. admirably atoning for their faults.