Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-12
TOO FORMAL TO BE FUN.
An American Girls stupid Visit TO
the Duchess of MnrlbOrongh.

An American NiNlN w
the Duchess of Marlborough.
An American girl who has been a guest at
the duchess OF Marlborough's country resi-
dence for two whole weeks thus tells about
1t in a letter to the Pittsburg Dispatch:
"a turn in the road brought the palace
into view 1t stands on rising ground and
my first impression was OF Its enormously
long facade. The building appeared to me,
with its towers and coonnades, more vast
than Versailles, and began to feel lost and
the old nervousness came back, and I'm sure
was goose flesh all over.
"If Consuelo had met me at the station, as
any Of us would have met her in America,
would have been at my ease from the first
moment, but the great difference in the
English and American way made Itself felt
from the first moment A brougham with
two men on the box and q third pompous
Individual with mutton chop whiskers, who
inquired Of my maid in regard to our lug
gage had been sent to Woodstock for us,
and in this way we landed on the portico OF
the palace, which s so very like the entrance
20 the Madeleine in Paris that l felt like l
were going in to attend funeral.
"a great creature with powdered hair and
fat legs with red silk stockings threw open
the doors and I trotted into the great hall.
which was just the height OF the building.
Imagine IT, The first thing my eyes took
IN was colossal picture Of John, the first
duke OF Marlborough in a blue toga, being
crowned by an angel Then l binked again
and saw whole regiment OF redliveried
footmen and saw that other guests were ar
rlving-pink and white English women, tall
and angular, and with the inevitable frizzes
and bath bun style OF hair, and short heavy,
red-faced men, and these all being con-
Quoted in the direction in which they were to
room. My suite was at the top OF great
marble staircase, which thought stretched
within mile of heaven.
Pretty Little BOudOir.
my little boudor was hung in most ar
tistic cretonne and furnished in wicker. The
tea table was laid with buttered toast cakes
and tea. l was hungry as a bear, but
couldn't stop for bite until / had taken a
peep from my window, and it was then l
realized my old schoolmate had been
thoughtful in assigning me this room, even
II English or royal etiquette had prevented
her coming out to meet me. From my win
dow l could see the ruins of fair Rosamond's S
bower, and far beyond anything had ever
read of or fancied was this grand park.
After my tea and little rest Il was too
excited to nap), at ten minutes of the time
! was expected to descend to the drawing
room, l stood ready, wearing what maid
and l decide was my most becoming gown,
and you know if there is anything that can
put a woman at her ease and make her feel
she can work miracles it is to feel perfectly
satisfied with her toilet
'On reaching the main hall two of the
scarlet footmen conducted me through the
entire state suite to the green drawing
room. where a part of the dinner company
was already assembled. Assembled is the
right term, for it was all SO ceremonious,
so almost sanctimonious. was announced
and Immediately received by the duchess,
and much in the same way l would have
expected to be had been living near by and
In the habit of running in. No one could
have guessed that the duchess and / had
romped together over trifles in days gone
by. 1t was so coldly formal 1t send the
shivers down my spine.
The Costume of COnsueIO.
"Consuelo stood near the door. with her
short little duke by her side. She wore a
light blue satin frock and the pearls her
mother had given her when she married.
Really, they are as large cranberries !
was introduced to the man who was to take
mo out to dinner-and, by the way, he was
the only person | was introduced to, that
day or since. Being under the same roof
at Blenheim, or anywhere in England, goes
for an Introduction, you know.
'."Dinner was announced precisely at s, then