The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-11
Che Duchess and
Der Deirlccfn
How the Little American Grace of
Marlborough Is Providing a
Princely Treasure For the Ducal
Family to Which She Belongs.

!
The Duchess of Marlborough has two
very pronounced tastes-fine jewels and
rare lace. This fondness which hei
grace displays was doubtless inherited
from her mother. Mrs. o. H. p. Bel
mont, who is eXtravagantly fond OF
costly lace, and from the time little
Consuelo, the present duchess, was
born, Mrs. Belmont was collecting rare
lace for her daughters trousseau.
The lace which her mother collected
for her and which the duchess took 10
Blenheim was valued at over 100000
and since then her grace has more than
doubled her collection and it's value.
Once she possesses a piece of lace
nothing will tempt her to part with 1T,
and it is said she frequently looks over
and fondles her treasures as miser
| does his gold.
| Here is an instance to the point. The
Princess of Wales is great friend of
the little American duchess, and they
are intimate and informal in their rela-
lions. The princess is also devoted to
old lace, and the duchess spent an en-
tire afternoon once showing her treas
ures to the princess.
In the lot was one very rare and Won
derful piece of old Italian lace, which
had once been part of pope's or high
priests robe. The duchess bought it
when she was in Rome on her wedding
journey, and paid an enormous sum for
the piece. The lace is exquisitely
wrought of finest thread in a design of
flowers and scrolls, and the princess
was greatly taken with it. She asked
the duchess if she could be tempted
to part with it to any one, and the
duchess replied: NO, to no one"
The princess said no more at the
time, but the next day her royal high
ness sent her equerry to state that the
princess would be willing to give the
duchess exactly double the price she
paid for the lace, and asked if her
grace would let her have it as a per-
Sonal favor.
The duchess has a good deal of the
old commodore in her composition. with
any amount of American Independence,
and where any other peerless of the
kingdom would have sent the lace post
haste and deemed it an honor to be
allowed to do so, the American duchess
returned a note. saying that nothing
could make her change her mind, not
even were Marlborough house to be Of
fered in return.
The Heirloom to Be.
The duchess late investment in lace
makes it doubtful whether so costly
and ambitious an order was ever given
before, unless, perhaps. by some
French queens of long ago.
The lace in question is being made by
the most accomplished French weav-
ers, and is in nine pieces. 1t is not to
wear but consists of six curtains. two
bed draperieS and counterpart, or
bed covering. When the lace is fin
ished. which will be soon, it will fetch
all together the pretty figure of $4,000.
The bed curtains will cost $1,000, the
window curtains $1,000 each, and the
counterpart the sum of $1,000.
The lacemakerS employed have
worked on these pieces night and day
for three years, and twelve more
months will be required to complete the
order.
The designs for the lace were all sug-
gested by the duchess herself, who has
had them carried cut after her own
ideas. Every year when she goes to
Paris to order her wardrobe she ex-
amines the work that has been done,
and it has pleased her greatly as il
has progressed.
The designs for the window curtains
are elaborate scenes from the chase,
carried out in the minutest detail the
faces, the figures. the landscape and all
being as clear and fine as the needle
can possibly make them.
These scenes are all wrought out on
groundwork of illusion so sheer and fine
and delicate that it looks as if the lace
pictures were resting against the clear |
glass of the window instead of on net. |
These curtains by the way, are not in !
tended to drape back, but to hang |
down over each window, so
that the exquisite pattern shows off |
clearly.
Around these plain lace centers with !
the design is a border of most marvel |
Gus work in flowers and fruit crowded |
richly together. The scenes on each |
curtain are different and all are sug-
gestive of Blenheim and Woodstock.
There are the familiar landscapes of |
the place, and in nearly all of the
scenes some view of the castle ap-
pears.
One scene represents stag hunting.
another the shooting of birds, one fox
hunting in full cry, another the start (
md a third the finish. The sixth cur
ain has a scene representing falcon
lying, and in this one the duchess is i'm
he center holding a hooded hawk on
Ter wrist.
A Noval Idea.
All THESE scenes are distinctly the
3lenheim of today and modern in every
letail. The costumes are such as are
worm at the chase. and the figures of
he duke and duchess wherever they
ppear are perfect portraits as far as
UGH small figures can be made por-
rats with a needle. The little Blen-
Ieim spaniels appear in several of the
Genes and are perfectly executed.
The two bed draperies have the same
'order of crowded fruit and flowers as
he window curtains, but the center
esign is simple. the Marlborough arms
arried out in perfect detail with the
rest at the top and all the quarter ,
1gs.
The counterpart is quite as elaborate,
owevers as the window curtains. and
he center represents the finest view of ,
'lenheim palace. with the grounds i'm ,
rent. This is wrought beautifully. and ,
'ill be spread over some pale color to
isplay the design to its fullest beauty.
The duchess ordered these elaborate
ice pieces unknown to the duke, who
Tas only let into the secret about six
ionths ago. He was inclined to look |