The Cairo bulletin., 1912-07-02

/
military genius. 1t would be hard t
say which Of these three qualities di
most for him
John Churchill-"Handso Jack,
as he wss nicknamed-came Of IAN old
impoverished family. He was borl
in 1860. had almost no early education
and became page to the duke OF Yorl
(afterward James H.. Charles IT, tn,
duke of York's brother, was king o
England and ruled dissolute court
| where wit and beauty brought fa
higher rewards than did mere merit
/ He soon worried his way into thu
duke Of York's favor and received
from him. a commission In the army
AS soldier he showed both valor anc
martial skill. But II Is doubtful Il
he would have risen as rapidly as he
did were 1t not for the very shady
means he employed for his own ad
| yancement. His good looks and his
| inscriptions conduct brought him
money and swift promotion. He
strengthened his position by marrying
Sarah Jennings, woman much oil
his own sort. and even more ambi-
tious.
James II. came to the throne In
1856, and his favorite courtier,
| Churchill, was made 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
Churchili gained new honors by this
bit Of treachery.
Williams reign was not wholly pop
ular. 1t looked at one time as if
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 a secret correspondence with
James, William learned OF this and
had Churchill thrown into prison. For
a less lucky, less shifty man. this ex.
posture 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 childless, 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-in.waiting and tc
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, obeyng 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 batl|
tie campaign after campaign: anaz. |
Ing the world with his military skill
He also gained himself a name for
during these wars In spite
OF the fact that he burned more than
300 towns, villages and castles In
Germany alone.
Flushed with triumph. he came back
to England. Foreign governments
granted him high honors Queen Anne
made him duke of Marlborough and
Iavfshed priceless gifts on him
Among other presents from her he re
ceived the huge estate Of "Blenhaim'
tnamed for one Of his victories}. ana
4 castle was built there for him al
royal expense.
For years he and his wife prac.i-
ally ruled England, through thf
weak old queen, But for the duches.
u Marlborough's bad temper tho +
night perhaps have continued so Iii.
II the end. But the duchess at last
n I'LL. lost her temper once toe oftel
With the patient Anne She Is eve
umored to have slapped her maize
VS. face. There was a terrible scene
nd the Marlborough fell into di.
race The duke was stripped OF his
filces and found it convenient t.
cave England
Later, In George Us reign, he was
artially restored to power But hi
ID greatness was gone, He was HI
niger fully trusted. Life turned Bit
Or to him. His only son was dead
!, stroke of apoplexy thickened his
peech and made him feeble. 'Hani.
ONE jack was an old old mar,
roken and wreck OF his former
eif. He died in 1872 In his seventy
bird year.