The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-10-30

House-Frcquent Efforts To- Restore
Peace Have Been OF No Avail
London, October 27.-The afternoon
papers here quote the Manchester
Guardian as saying that a deed OF sep
aration between the duke and duchess
Of Marlborough has been signed, on the
ground of incompatibility OF temper,
by the provisions OF which the duchess
keeps Sunderland house, London and
her own dowry, but is precluded from
going to Blenheirl. The document, it
is added was signed October %.
The duke is now at Blenheim, and
the duchess keeps Sunderland house.
Although the principals concerned
maintain absolute silence and decline
to furnish any information. all indi-
cations tend to confederation OF the
stories that climax has been reached
in the domestic affairs of the Ducal
House of Marlborough. Both the Lon
don and Provincial papers give cir
cumstantial details, saying that the
deed of separation between the duke
anu Has Deen SlSueu. f3OIn
the duke and duchess have been invi-
ted to confirm or deny the report, but
they are both mute, the duchess send
ing word that she has nothing To say
on the subject of the reports, while the
duke thus far, has not answered the
kilograms addressed to him at Blen-
helm where he is at present rusticat-
ing in company with Winston Spencer
Churchill and other relatives. The
mystery with which the principals are
thus shrouding the affair has been
further deepened by a statement made
by the dukes regular lawyers, who say
they are ignorant of the existence of a
! deed of separation, and that If sepa-
ration has been accomplished IL must
have been carried through by other at
torneys.
The people on the Blenheim castle
estate are freely discussing the affair,
and 1t appears TO be the general un-
derstanding that the magnificent pal
ace Will be closed. as the duke will find
| difficulty in keeping it up 1t is said
he will take up his residence at Wood
stock house, a small place on the es-
tate. The duchess remains in close
seclusion at Sunderland house, on
CurZon street this city
Her father w. K. Vanderbilt was
with her until three days ago when he
left London for Paris or New York.
The report of the separation Of the
duke ~and duchess hardly comes as a
surprise. Runcrs Of their disagree
| ments have BEEN circulating for sew
| eral years md recently became more
~ 80
| forts OF frien's Of the family to keep
their differences from ne public, Cos
sip has been busy There are uncon-
! firmed reportT that as late as last
week final efforts were made by Mr..
Vanderbilt for reconciliation for the
I sake Of the children.
People intimately acquainted with
| the Marlborough household intimate
that the friction became more acute
owing TO the sighting unsympathetic
attitude Of the duke since the duchess
deafness became more pronounced.
She made frequent visits TO specialists
on the continent for treatment and the
, duke habituAlly remained behind, en-
! joying the gay life Of the metropolis.
4, According TO Reynolds newspaper,
+. the duke in the opinion OF the duchess.
! paid greater attention than necessary
TO young girl friend OF his wife.
! The duchess has the varnest syn
| pathy OF every one in London CONVEX
SAINT with the situation. Since her ar
/ rival here as bride eleven wears aso,
she has made herself most popular.
She has been an active supporter ol
! charities. a hard worker for the ben
EFT OF the tenants on the Elenheim e.
tate. and general favorite I'm society,
her wealth enabling her TO revive the
splendore OF the somewhat neglected
palace OF Dlenheim.
/; Only last year she completed Sunder-
/. land house, a splendid, mt il-piaced
mansion. fronting on "1~Z n street
and !ooking bacF over mean s1urns and
a shabby rnarsst oiace. Wien the
duke was in South A<-ica, tfe fuche~s
i was forem~-t anon tfa @-est danes
who helDed 70 e-ui1 feTf b ~snitals.
and az the coronation cf King Edward.
she was one of The duchcese7 VIII car
ried the silver supports holding tho
canopy over the queens head. At
court tho duchess Is a favorite with
both the king and queen.