The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-01
MARLBOROUGH,S MARRIAGE.


The publication of a story from
London of the reported estrangement
Of the duke and duchess of Marlbor-
ough, which may lead to permanent
separation. has caused no end of talk
In the circles in which Consuelo Van
derbilt moved before her marriage to
the duke.
The wedding of Consuelo Wander
bilt, daughter of w. X. Vanderbilt by
his first wife, now Mrs. o. II. P. Bel
mont, to the young duke of Marlbor-
ough in st. Thomas church on No.
vember S, 1895, was New York So
cietys greatest event. Never had SO
many of its most prominent repre-
sentatives given their presence to any
event as at the uniting of one of the
proudest names of the Old World to
one of the richest of the New World.
For months nothing else had been
talked of. The plans for the wedding
filled columns in the newspapers,
both in America and in London. The
wedding. according to the English
view, assured the rehabilitation of the
Marlboroughs. and in America it gave
the greatest possible social distinc-
ton to a young woman who had not
yet made her formal debut.
Dreams of Political Power.
Miss Vanderbilt was given a dowry
of 100000 by her father, and there
was every prospect that if she sur
vived her parents she would come in
for the larger part of the vast estate
of her father, William K Vanderbilt.
His wedding to Mrs. Rutherford a few
years ago is said to have been one of
the main causes of trouble between
the duke and the duchess. The duke
confidently expected that he would
one day control the Vanderbilt mil
lions, and with that idea in mind had
built castles in the air. He wanted
to go into politics, land a viceroyship
If possible and excel Lord Curzon, the
other bright young Englisman whom
the American millions Of the Letters
had pushed to the forefront.
Not only had the duke planned
brilliant future for himself as
statesman, but he expected with the
millions of his wife's father to buy
the old estates of the Marlborough.
Blenheim palace was again to be put
upon plane with other places of it's
kind. The duke wanted town house,
and he even tried to get possession of
the famous Marlborough House in
London, now in thI possession of the
British government and the residence
of the Prince of Wales
Happy Life Predicted.
The marriage over, the first few
days of the honeymoon were spent at
the beautiful Long Island home of w.
X. Vanderbilt; "Oakdale." Ten days
after their marriage the duke carried
his bride to England. Meanwhile
Blenheim palace was being put in con-
dition to receive it's new mistress. For
lack of money it had fallen into bad
repair, and the duke, by selling paint.
ings, books and statuary, had raised
enough to pay the painters, decorators
and plumbers to make the dark,
gloomy old place habitable. The Van
derbilt millions were later expected
to do what the Hamersley millions
had started to do-put Blenheim in
first-class condition and finish up the
incompleted parts. 1t was not until
March 81, 1896, that the Staten Island
ferryman's granddaughter was INSTALL
ed as the mistress of Blenheim. Their
Homecoming was extraordinary for
the hearty welcome they received, and
on both sides of the ocean there were
only predictions of happiness for the
couple.
First Child Is Born.
The duchess gave birth to a son on
September IS, 1897, at Spencer House.
the dukes London residence. Queen
Victoria sent a telegram of congratu-
lation when the child was two days
old, and King Edward, then the Prince
of Wales, acted as its godfather at
the christening, which took place on
October II. The child was named
John Albert Edward William.
The young duchess made no attempt
to enter what is known as the smart
matron" set. She had been a duchess
hardly year when she had as
guests at Blenheim palace the Prince
and Princess of Wales. This immedi-
ately established her in the most en-
elusive circles.
Apparently the couple were enjoy
ing all the happiness that had been
predicted for them, when the duke be-
gan his whimsical eXtravagances. His
wife's dover OF s5,OO0,OO0 had been
largely depleted in the rehabilitation
of Blenheim palace and in the enter
taoinments they gave. The duchess
had given literally to charity and her
popularity soon became much greater
than that Of the duke. His pride was
hurt and he took no pains to conceal
1t.
Then came the first tiff. 1t was
about the sale of the duchess photo
graphs. The duke forbade their open
sale to the public. The duchess de-
clihed to order it stepped.
"BlunderIand" House.
Next the duke purchased land in
Curzon street, for which he paid Lord
Howe about three times its value. He
determined to call his new city home
Sunderland House, but the public af-
ter few months began referring to
it as Cumberland" House. and the
duke changed the name to Blandford.
1t is a princely structure. princely in
style and location. and by all accounts
even more princely in cost.
Blandford House cost considerably
more than s2,00O.000 before it was
finished and half million more be-
fore it was furnished. The duke gave
1t out that he had paid for the house
AiuSelI duu WIS Hot DeHOIucn 10 the
dollars of his American father-in-law
for it. As his income is less than
$4,000 Il year. his friends said he
must have practiced rigid economy
from the day of his marriage. else he
could not have paid for it.
Mr.. Vanderbilt is said to have spok-
en- plainly to the duke on several &C.
casions regarding the expenditure of
money. He has asked him what he