New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-17

ence and quicken her ma1esty's decision with
the exclamation. Lord. madam, IL must be SOP.
There is an amusing story concerning Scot
fish gentleman who coming to court to present
some business to the Queen, was banished from
the room with one glance Of Sarahs command
ing eye"
When MarIborough's campaigns on the Conti-
nent brought him unfadng glory the two women
rejoiced together. BIenheim. Families, Dude
narde were victories that filed England with
pride and made the gift by Queen and Parlia-
ment to the great captain OF the property to be
named Blenheim a highly popular thing. Sir
John Vanbrugh designed the palace. and the
duchess. who had for long periods left the Queen
to other ministrations while she attended to
family affairs. now undertook the superintend-
ence Of the building. Her neglect Of the Queen
was unwise, well as wrong less imperious
and crafty woman took her place in the
person Of her own cousin. Mrs Masham, one
whom Sarah had recommended to the Queen
and whose family had been pensioners on her
bounty. 1t the end OF the friendship OF
Mrs Morley" and Mrs. Freeman" Harley was
concerned in the intrigue to discredit and de-
pose the Marlborough. and the Jacobites began
to see a chance for their prince The angry
Sarah dashed the meek. quiet, rather sneak1ng
Masham with very strong language; she sought
the presence Of the Queen. scoded. wept I'M
pIOred that she might hear all that her majesty
had against her. All that Anne would say was
| a continually reiterated sentence: You desired
no answer and shall have none II was
strange scene One can imagine Anne Ike
rock. with the sullen Obstinacy of a weak nat
ure repeating that one cold phrase. and beating
against that grim stoniness. the passionate rag
ing Of women who had been used 10 dominate
all with whom she had had to do 1t was ina
last occasion on which the two had any talk
The break might have been foreseen BY any
one with a knowledge OF human nature Mrs
Masham soothed and made comfortable her
sef-indulgent. dull. half invaded mistress; the
rule of the once loved tyrant had become Htts
too heavy. Mrs. Colville says with truth:
| Queen Anne's behavior resembIed THAT OF the
man in the fable. The north wind blew hard and
could not force him to part With MS Go5A wnen
sun appeared no persuasion was required to maze
and and Suee Ms SrS red an their Authority to make
| the princess part with Lady Marlborough this only
by battery sr and gentle words Mrs Mss6am poisoned
the Queens mind against her former favorite her
The Queen. having discovered through MS
ess. fet She co1d never M ssiE endure such fs
tiers. but in reality she was as much governed as
in her service. for Mrs Masham. and possibly
sarah. with ali her faults. had the Queens wei
fare and that OF the country at heart
The duchess herself is quoted saying that
her constant combating the Queens inclination
to the Tories proved the ruin Of her credit with
her majesty. story went about the Continent
to the effect that she had been overheard speak
ing cOntemptuOUsly OF Anne as that disagree
able woman" Whatever the cause. the result
was impIacabIe severance. and the duchess re-
tired to private life. TO quarrelling with her
children and her architects and to making Blen-
helm the magnificent place it remains to-day.
Here she found n new enjoyment IN books
Books" said she in the days Of her impetuous
!, youth, ''prythee don't talk to about bOoks'
the only books know men and cards. BuI
whatever her knowledge OF books in her glri-
hood. it must be conceded that she had native
powers of mind and keen wit She was an
uncOmmOnly clever woman Of business anu
added largely in her buying and selling OF prop
erty to her husbands estate We need not envy
those with whom she dealt Il could not maAs
out sir. who she was" said the clerk OF a bar
rister whom she had failed TO find at his ROOMS
"for she would not tell me her name. but sns
swore so dreadfully that sure she must %
lady OF quality There was general oehet
that she the most penurious OF women
WalpOe records that II said Of "old Saran
that "she never put dots her rs TO save
ink" Many Instances. however. OF the nooies
generosity in her here chronicled-let them
be remembered to the credit OF one who once IN
all humbleness wrote: Il not so partia u
myself not to know that have many imperfeo-
! tons