File:Marlborough house and its occupants, present and past (1896) (14803047973).jpg

Identifier: marlboroughhouse00beav (find matches)
Title: Marlborough house and its occupants, present and past
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Beavan, Arthur H. (Arthur Henry), 1844-1907
Subjects: Edward VII, King of Great Britain, 1841-1910 Marlborough House, London
Publisher: London : F. V. White
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
ct models inEngland, there can be little doubt that itsgreatest adornment was its originator and ownerherself. Although the Duchess was close upon fifty in1709, she was still a magnificent and fresh-lookingwoman. There was something queenly about hertall stateliness, akin to her disposition ; for as thehistoric Hume remarks, she might at one time havebeen regarded as de facto the sovereign of England.In the rich fullness of her lips, her pretty mouth,languorous eyes, and nose slightly retroussd, therewas discernible an indication of latent coquetry,but her style of beauty, at even an earlier periodof her life, was more calculated to inspire a senti-ment of respectful admiration than the tenderfeeling of love. The Marlborough family reached the zenith oftheir fame in 1709, when, in the natural order ofthings, their influence at Court began visibly todecline ; but their final dismissal by Queen Annehad to be postponed to a more fitting occasion. Meantime, from the correspondence of Lady
Text Appearing After Image:
Facing page 304. The first Duchess of Marlborough.After Sir George Kneller. Marlborough House. 305 Wentworth, we get some interesting glimpses ofthe part played by the Marlboroughs in the con-stantly shifting social drama, and the jealousy andenvy to which they were necessarily subjected,partly no doubt because of their arrogance andself-sufficiency. Prince George of Denmark, the easy-going con-sort of Queen Anne, died on October 28th, 1708,and the Court went into deep mourning. At theexpiration of six months, these outward signs ofrespect were partly abandoned by certain ladies,led on it was said by the Duchess of Marlboroughsdaughters, who had the bad taste to appear atthe Chapel Royal before the Queen, dressed partlyin colours, necessitating the interference of theLord Chamberlain. But the Duchess herself hadpreviously evinced her contemptuous disregard foretiquette and proper feeling by waiting upon thebereaved sovereign shortly after the death of herhusband, with powder on her ha

Note About Images