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 JOHN, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH 217 that was mean and little, he became, from the very splendor of these gifts, per- haps one of the most unhappy men of his time. Less highly gifted, he would have been less hated and less envied ; of humbler spirit, he would have been more pliant, and might possibly have been more successful. JOHN, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH By L. Drake ^/^M '^^<^^^ ^%>>- M^( - (1650-1722) A' BOUT noon, on June 24, 1650, John Churchill, afterward Duke of Marlborough, was born at Ashe, in Devonshire. His school -days were soon over ; for his father. Sir Winston Churchill, having estab- lished himself at court soon after the restoration of Charles the Sec- ond, was anxious to introduce his children early into life, and obtained for his son the situation of page of honor to the Duke of York, at the same time that his only daughter, Arabella, became maid of honor to the duchess. While at school, young Churchill had discovered in the library an old book on military subjects. This he read frequently, and conceived such a taste for a martial life, that he longed to distinguish himself as a soldier. The Duke of York held frequent reviews of the guards. Churchill had not long been his page, before the duke noticed his eagerness to be present on these occasions. Pleased with this indication of military ambition, the duke suddenly inquired one day, " What can I do for you, Churchill, as a first step to fortune ? " The page threw himself on his knees before the duke. " I beseech your Royal Highness," he entreated, with clasped hands, "to honor me with a pair of colors."