The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-04

science and his MARLBOROUGH
military genius. 1t would be hard to
say which of these three qualities did
most for him.
John Churchill-"Hands0m Jack"
as he was nicknamed-came Of an old.
| impoverished family. He was born
in 1850, had almost no early education
and became page to the duke Of York
(afterward James H.. Charles H.. the
duke Of York's brother, was king OF
England and ruled a dissolute court,
where wit and beauty brought far
higher rewards than did mere merit.
He soon worked his way into the
duke Of Yorks favor and received
from him q commission in the army.
AS a soldier he showed both valor and
martial skill But it is doubtful II
he would have risen as rapidly as he
did were it not for the very shady
means he employed for his own ad-
vancement. His good looks and his
INSCRIPTIONS conduct brought him
money and swift promotion. He
strengthened his position by marrying
Sarah Jennings, woman much OF
his own sort, and even more ambl-
tious.
James II. came to the throne In
1885, and his favorite courtler.
Churchill. was made a general and a
baron. Handsome Jack" owed every
thing to James. Yet, when the latter
was attacked by william Prince of Or
ange, who claimed the English crown.
Churchill quickly saw that William
would be the victor, and decided to
throw his fortunes with him. SO,
when James Churchill calmly went
over to the enemy and took the army
with him. James deserted, fed to
France and the Prince Of Orange be-
came king William III. OF England.
Churchill gained new honors by this
bit of treachery
Williams reign was not wholly pop
ular. IL looked at one time as II
James might possibly regain his lost
crown. Churchill, in order to make
! certain of being on the winning side,
served with william openly and kept
up secret correspondence with
| James. William learned of this and
had Churchill thrown into prison. For
a less lucky. less shifty man, this ex-
posure to treason would have meant
| political ruin. But Churchill man.
aged to secure his freedom and even
to win back some of his besmirched
reputation.
william died chlldless, and at his
death the English crown went to
James youngest daughter, Anne.
Churchill had foreseen this, and had
made his plans accordingly. He had
managed to install his clever wife as
Anne's chief lady-inwaiting and to
win for himself the new queens trust
and admiration. Anne-stupid, weak.
good natured-was the willing and
meek slave Of the imperious Lady
Churchill, obeying her every wish,
heaping honors on her tricky hus.
band ever enriching the couple.
Churchill was made commander-in-
chief of England's forces in the con-
tinental war. Here he showed bril-
liant genius He won battle after bat
tie, campaign after campaign; amaz-
ing the world with his military skill.
He also gained himself name for
humanity, during these wars. in spite
OF the fact that he burned more than
300 towns, villages aud castles In
Germany alone.
Flushed with triumph. he came back
to England. Foreign governments
granted him high honors Queen Ammo
made him duke of Marlborough and
lavished priceless gifts on him.
Among other presents from her he re-
ceived the huge estate OF "Blenheim'
(named for one of his victories), and
a castle was built there for him at
royal expense.
For years he and his wife practi.
cally ruled England, through the
weak old queen. But FOR the duchess
of Marlborough's bad temper they
might perhaps have continued 50 un-
til the end. But the duchess at last,
in 17ll, lost her temper once too often
with the patient Anne She Is even
rumored to have slapped her majes-
tvs face. There was terrible scene.
ard the Marlboroughs fell into dis
grace. The duke was stripped of his
offices and found 1t convenient to
leave England.
Later, in George rs reign. he was
partially restored TO power. But his
old greatness was gone. He was no
longer fully trusted. Life turned bit
ter to him. His only son was dead.
A stroke of apoplexy thickened his
speech and made him feeble. Hand
some Jack" was an old, old man:
broken and a wreck of his former
self He died in 1922 in his seventy.
third year.