The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-28
Duke and Duchess Of Marble
rough May Have Separated
NEITHER PRINCIPALS TALK
The Duchess Has Made Herself Quite
Popular With All Classes During
Her Eleven Years Resi-
dence In England.

London. October 2I-The afternoon
papers here quote the Manchester
Guardian as saying that deed of sep
aration between the Duke and Duchess
of Marlborough has been signed on the
ground of lncompatibillty of temper, by
the provisions of which the Duchess
keeps Sunderland house. London, and
her own dowery, but is preeluded from
going to Blenheim. The document, 1t
is added, was signed October %.
The Duke is now at Blenhem and
the Duchess is staying at Sunderland
house.
Although the principals concerned
maintain absolute silence and decline
to furnish any information, all indi-
cations tend to corroboration of the
stories that a climax has been reached
in the domestic affairs of the ducsl
house of Marlborough Both London
and provincial papers give circumstan-
tial details, saying that the deed of
separation between the Duke and
Duchess has been signed.
The Duke and Duchess have been
invited to confirm or deny the report,
but they are both mute, the Duchess
sending word that she has nothing to
say on the subject of the reports,
while the Duke thus far has not an
swered the kilograms addressed to him
at Blenheim, where he is at present
rusticating, in company with Winston
Spencer Churchill and other relatives.
The mystery with which the prin
cipals are thus shrouding the affair
has been further deepened by state
ment made by the Dukes regular law
yers, who say they are entirely ignor-
ant of the existence of deed OF sep
aration, and that if separation has
been accomplished it must have hten
carried through by other atorneys}
Affair Is Discussed.
The people of Blenheim castle estate
are freely discussing the affair, and 1t
| the place Will be closed as the jonke
will find difficulty in keeping II Up. y
is said that he Will take up hiS res
idenee at Woodstock house. small
place on the estate.
The Duchess remains in close seclu-
sion ,et Sunderland house. on Curzon
stred this city. Her father, W Is.
Vanderbilt was with her untfl three
days ago. when lie left London either
for Paris or New York.
The report of the separation OF the
Duke and duchess hardly comes as
surprise Rumors of their disagreemehts
have been circulating for several years
and recently became more positive and
despite the desperate efforts of friends
of the family to keep their dinrences
from the public gossip has been BUSY
There are uneonhrmed reports that as
late as last week final efforts were made
by Mr.. Wander blt for a reconciliation for
the sake of the children.
People intimately acquainted with the
Marlborough household intimate that the
friction became more acute owing to the
sighting unsympathetic attitude oil the
! Duke since the Duchess deafness be-
came more pronounced. She made frequent
visits to specialists on the continent Tor
treatment, and the Duke habitually re-
mained behind, enjoying the gay nc OF
the metropolis.
According to Reynolds newspaper the
Duke. in the opinion of the Duchess,
paid greater attention than necessary 10
young girl friend of his wife.
The Duchess has the warmest sympathy
of everyone in London conVeTsant with
the situation.
Duchess Is Popular.
Since .her arrival here as a bride, eleven
years ago, she has made herself most
popular. She has been an active supporter
OF rndrllleS, "a ldTQ WI hci iOi iliS DehS-
fit of the tenants on the Blenheim es-
tate. and a general favorite in society her
wealth enabling her to revive the splen-
dors of the somewhat neglected palace OF
Blenheim. Only last year she completed
Sunderland house, splendid, but Ill
placed mansion fronting on Curzon street
and looking back over mean slums ana
a shabby market place. When the Duke
was in South Africa the Duchess was
foremost among the great DANES who
helped to equip field hospitals and at
the coronation OF King Edward, she was
one of the Duchesses who carried the
silver supports holding the canopy over
the Queens head At court the Duchess
ia favorite with both King and Queen.
II Is stated that the Duchess Will nave
charge of her two sons, Lord Blanford
and Lord Ivor Spencer Churchill until
they are old enough to go to school, after
which they will divide their time with