Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17
Keeping His Vow that He Would Never
Visit This Country Again.
SEVEN YEARS F' , INTEREST TO HER
Lead. Quiet s at Famou. Old Palace
; 5lsnheim.
CATERS OF so MOST EXCLUSIVE SET
Duke NJ ie Most Pleasant Person
in u WOrld-PerpetuaIIy Dis
contes-ed and Has Great idea
of His own Importance.

! Copyright, 1902. by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON. Aug. 16.-(New York World
| Cablegram - Special Telegram.) - The
duchess Of Marlboroughs visit has been
| changed to last Ave weeks. The fact that
she Is going unaccompanied by the duke
| shows that he is keeping his vow never to
set foot in the United States again. This
will be the duchess FIRST return to her old
| home in New York since her marriage in
! 1895. The intervening seven years have
been full Of strange and interesting ex-
periences for her
In the year following her marriage she
was presented at a queens drawing room,
! when she was literally mobbed by the
great ladies present, causing her the
greatest embarrassment and confusion.
Her dress was dead white to match the
| flowers she wore, and she had on her IA
nous collar of pearls. One of the strands
came undone and some of the pearls were
lost and never recovered. Mrs. Wander
bilt gave her daughter pearls Of great
value. Gossips estimate them worth
900. and she also had a great collec-
tion of pink and black pearls which she
seldom II ever wears.
In the autumn Of the same year she
gave her first royal party at Blenhem
for the then prince and princess of Wales,
| NuOW mig EuWhTu ana queen D.
A few days after the royal guests arrived
the news came Of the death Of the duchess
grandmother, but on receiving a cable dis
patch from her father making no objection,
the party went on as had been arranged,
the duchess, however, dressing in simple
| black and white. The party on the whole
was not successful, as everything was ar
| ranged to go of like clock work. the COM
petite plans Of the visit being written out
| each day by the duke and hung up In one
of the private sitting rooms. The duchess
was exceedingly shy in those days and the
| personifcation of stiffness, 30 that the
then princess of Wales found It impossible
to be in the least friendly with her un-
bending hostess.
Leads n simple Life.
The duchess. life at Blenheim has been
Of the simplest sort. /, She seldom has a
big party staying there. except members OF
the Churchill family, Mrs. George Corn
| wallis West and Lord Randolph Churchill
being invariably asked.
At Christmas theatricals and tableaux
are generally the order OF the evening.
with music.
Although the duchess never will be an
expert rider to hounds she looks particu-
larly well on horseback, principally on ac-
count Of her neat figure. She is genuinely
fond Of all kinds of sport, which the duke
is devoted too. He was noted as a rider
at Cambridge, where he was master of
university drag. Some one once remarked
that his boots and breeches are a dream.
Contrary to expectations. the duchess
has not taken position in society among
what is known as the smart" young mar
ried women's set, her inclinations leading
| in the direction OF the more exclusive set
Classed with the duchesses of Portland
Westminster, Buccleuch and others, she is
seldom seen at anything which is not OF
the very best. although she never has been
known to refuse an invitation savoring OF
politics.
1t is only at the very big royal parties
that she wears her magnificent pearl and
diamond crown, preferring instead a small
teweled ornament. In the day time her
costumes are OF the simplest and neatest
description, except when attending the
races. then her dresses are more gor-
geous than anybody's. and she will either
wear gowns Of the ripest old lace or with
knot Of pink or mauve flowers at the
bodice and mass OF wonderful embroid-
cries. One cloak which she wore all
through the season was a wrap of sapphire
blue velvet, with trimmings Of Russian
sable.
Not in American Set.
Like some other Americans in England
she does not care to be classed among the
American set, although she attends the
United States ambassadors Independence
day reception.
1t is kind OF mild craze with her al
ways to have some young girl staying in
her house One time It was VirRinia
Fair. who was continually with the OUCH
ess. Later Miss Deacon was her constant
companion. both at Blenheim palace ana
Farwick house, where the duchess is stay-
ing this season.
The duke Of Marlborough is clever and
ambitious, but habitually diseontented and
not the most agreeable Of helpmates. He
has an overweaning sense OF his own inn
portanee and thinks he should take a high
political position by mere virtue OF his
rank and ancestry. He Is devoid of per
sonal genialty or charm. or too selfish To
bother himself with political entertaining
while the duchess has little taste in that
direction. His being passed over for the
Irish viceroyalty was a great blow 70 him