“Its” That Changed History.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 21, 22 May 1912, Page 37

“Its” That Changed History.

BY A. P. TEHUNE. PAIR OF GLOVES THAT TURNED THE DESTINIES OF EUROPE. If a hot-tempered woman had not chanced one day to put on the wrong pair of gloves England’s history, and that of the continent, too, would have been different. Voltaire, in speaking of the affair, sneer i ugly referred to “a pair of gloves that turned the destinies of Europe.” The woman who put on the wrong gloves was Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. She was of obscure family and had began life with the rather unromantic name of Sarah Jennings. But she had wit enough to make up for lack of high birth or wealth. As a mere child she attached herself to the Princess Anne, who was in later years to become Queen of England. Anne was a gentle, woman, affectionate and trustful; far better suited to keep house than rule a kingdom. Sarah was shrewd, dominating, attractive. In a short time she had Anne wholly under her influence. Then she looked about for a husband who would further her secret ambitions. She chose Jack Churchill, who was as ambitious and unscrupulous as herself. and who was one of the handsomest and cleverest men in England. He and Sarah were married in 1678. Their chief asset was Sarah’s strong influence over the future Queen. Church iIH. by tremendous ability and still greater trickery, rose high in military rank. But his true career set in when Anne came to the throne. By this time Sarah had gained an almost hypnotic power over the dull Queen. So absolute was her influence with Anne that the sovereign could refuse her nothing. And Sarah was not backward in pushing her husband’s interests and her own. Fast as had been Churchill’s rise, it now grew meteoric. He was placed in command of England’s continental forces and won brilliant victories. His rewards for such services were prompt and plentiful. His wife saw to that. Queen Ann? created him Duke of Marlborough and conferred huge estates upon him. He won new laurels in statesmanship. He and his wife are also credited with having added largely to their ample fortune by selling government positions to the highest bidders and in other ways trading upon their power over the Queen. For a quarter of a century Sarah ruled Anne. And now she and her husband were more the real rulers of England than was the Queen herself. Marlborough had enemies. But. thanks to hi* wife, none of these could successfully reach the royal ear. If the Duchess of Marlborough had been as tactful as she was clever this sort of thing might have gone on for a lifetime. She and her husband could have continued shaping the destinies of England and tampering with those of all Europe. But the clever woman could not learn the rare art of prudence. The Duchess who had mastered a Queen could not master her own hot temper. In this way she and her husband were ruined and the world influencing political game they played was forever lost. Sarah had installed a poor relation of her own—a Mrs. Masham in the Queen’s service. Mrs. Masham was meek ami deferential. Sarah thought her harmless and devoted to the Marlborough interests. As a matter of fact Airs. Masham was devoted to no interests but her own. Carefully she set to work to undermine her patron’s welfare. She became the Queen’s constant companion. Anne found Mrs. Masham s flattery and gentleness a delightful change from Sarah’s bullying. At last Mrs. Masham delicately hinted that Sarah was in the habit of speaking disrespectfully of the Queen. Anne would not believe it. Mrs. Masham promised to prove her statement. One day the Queen was in one aparL, ment of the palace when Sarah, who was in an adjoining room, ordered Mrs. Masham to fetch her a pair of gloves. Leaving the connecting door open. Mrs. Masham brought the gloves. Sarah put them on. Then Mrs. Masham suddenly said: “Oh. 1 have given you a pair of her Majesty’s gloves by mistake!” Sarah in a rage stripped off the gloves, exclaiming:

‘‘ls it possible I’ve put anything on my hands that that odious creature ever wore?” That was enough. Anne had heard every syllable. Iler eyes were opened to the Marlboroughs' real contempt for herself, their lienefactress. Marlborough soon afterward was deprived of office. disgraced and threatened with embezzlenitHit prosecution. He and his wife were forced to leave England. All because of a parr of gloves ami a woman’s sharp tongue!