The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17


die, which is perhaps the most beautiful
and costly thing of its kind in me world,
the present little Marquis of Btandford
was placed on his christening day. wnen
he had been given the name OF Jonn AloerI
Edward william Churchill. The little heir
by the way, is named for three weh-knoWn
pers0ns-John, for the great Duke; Albert
Edward, for the Prince OF Wales, one OF
his gOdfathers, and william, for his grand
father and godfather. William x. Wander
bit.
Falconry is a hobby which the young
Duchess mas recently taken up with great
enthusiasm. She is also spending mucn OF
her time with riding lessons, and BIDS faT
10 become as good a nOrsewoman as any
Of her English women visitors. In taking
her riding lessons she is usually foilOWed
about the paths by one Of her pet Bich-
helm spaniels, Dorothy and hiossle. Lake
her predecessor the American LILY Duen-
ess, - she is always referred to inN Wood
stock, COnsUelO Duchess has taken great
fancy to the particular breed Of dogs
known as Blenheim spanieis, OF which
there can always be seen great NUMBER
about the palace ana grounds. IL Is re-
lated that the first Blenheim spaniel was
brought to England by the great Duke, 1t
having followed him through the battle
OF Blenheim unhurt Afterward two OF
three more were brought to Woodstock.
and since then great attention has been
paid to their breeding by the keepers of
the Blenheim kennels.
One of the most interesting Of the In
mates of the palace is Mahomet, the black
Egyptian boy purchased in Egypt by the
Duke and Duchess when they were on
their wedding tour. On show days Ma
homet sits In a great chair at the door
of the entrance hail, reading an English
novel. He wears a gorgeous gown of red
and gold, and has the air of an Oriental
potentate.
Woodstock, quaint, ancient and quiet, as
IL is known 10 be- is always kept in a mild
state of liveliness and gossip by the pal
ace servants, who number about 200, all
told, and are continually passing in and
out of the shops and queer little inns Of
the village Great was the amusement
| among the townspeople when, shortly aft
| er the arrival of the young American
| duchess at the palace. it became noised
| abroad that thereafter all the house SER
| wants must be smooth-shaven and show
| forth only clean-cut classic features. The
| village BARRIERS had harvest. Whiskers
| and mustaches, which had been carefully
cultivated and tended during the regime
| of Lily Duchess, were ruthlessly shaved
| away amid the Sroans and deprecatlons
| of the retalners of the house of MARI
| borough.
| The palace. servants are just now great
| ly excited with the discovery of a haunt
! ed room, known as Dean Jones' room. p"
| This is a room in which cosnmoners are
| put to sleep when they visit the Duchess.
| 1t Is a very comfortable room and luxu-
| riously furnished.
| A long time ago 1t was occupied by Dean
| Jones, a chaplain to a former Duke, who
| was thought by some to have killed him
| self. Recently an American lady staying
| at the palace was put to sleep in this
| room. The next morning she appeared
| pale and haggard and for some unac-
l., g,.kg. g
/ returning home Immediately. Among the
| servants it was whispered that the unfor-
| tunate countrywoman of the Duchess had
| "seen Dean Jones" and now another room
| has had to be fitted up where ordinary
visitors may sleep.
Members Of the royal family, many of
| whom have visited Blenheim Palace, are
! never relegated 10 ''Dean Jones' room"
On such occasions the state bed room,
| with the state bedstead, is brought into
requisition. The state bedstead is said to
have belonged TO the first Duchess, Sarah.
| 1t is handsomely carved, and over it, let
| into the wall, Is a painting of one of the
| battles fought by the first Duke.
These battles of the first Duke are COM
memorated in various and most interesting
ways. In one part of the park the trees
are set out in the same position as stood
the soldiers when they fought the battle of
| Blenheim, and throughout the palace, in
| tapestry, painting anu SN4hHeulNs INC W.
| tories of the great man are celebrated.
The private grounds of the palace are
| divided up into variously named gardens,
the most beautiful of which is known as
| the italian Garden. In it are laid out the
! choicest flowers and foliage from Naly.
| There is also an American garden made up
of plants from the native land of the
| Duchess and near this is rosary cover
ing about three acres. Then comes the
cascade. the most beautiful bit of scenery
of its kind in England
The Duchess time is not as much given
| IN TO society as had been that of some OF
| her predecessors. She is devoted to chari-
liable works, and the villagers never tire
of repeating tales of her grace's goodness.
No one form of charity commands her at
| tention more than another unless 1t may
he her work among the children of the
| Blenheim tenantry and those of the neigh
boring villages. Many are the treats
and picnics they receive at her expense
on Sunday the Duke and the Duchess
usually attend the little woodstock church
one of the Oldest and most historical build
ings in the village. Occasionally they at
tend service in their own chapel in the
palace. where the chaplain preaches from
an alabastar pulpit Under the marble
floor of the chapel are buried all the dukes
and Duchesses of Marlborough.