The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-09-01 00:00:00

DEATH of the COMTE DE CHAMBORD.

Henri Charles Ferdinand Marie, Duo de Bordeaux,
known among his friends as Henri Cinq, and familiar
to the world a 8 the Comte de Chstnbord, died on Friday
morning in last week at Frohsdorf, after terrible and
protracted suffering, continued far beyond the period
when all hope was abandoned by his physicians.—ln
announcing the event the Correspondent of the
Standard writes :

The scene in the chamber at the hour of death was
most impres-ive. All the Count's relatives new at the
Chateau were grouped around the couch of the dying
Prince. The Countess, who every few minutes through-
out the night leaned over the face of the patient to
ascertain if he were still breathing, was at length
overcome by her prolonged exertions, and was carried
in a fainting condition to her own apartments.
Just ere the vital spark had fled, the confessor took
the dying man's left hand, and holding it up, ex-
claimed "Monies au ciel, fits de St. Loui., " Shortly
aftsr that Dr. Mayer laid his hand on the Count de
Chambord's left breast. The action of the heart had
stopped, and the physician announced to the company
assembled by the bedside, "It is all over." The Duke
della Grazia, Baron de Baincourt, Count Monti, Duke
Blacas, and his attendant Huet, who were at the bed-
side, sobbed aloud. When the end came the dying
man's eyes were closed by Count Bardi, and all knelt
and kissed his hands.

The doors of the chamber were then opened, and the
servant and entire household were admitted.
The body of the deceased Prince is worn to a skele-
ton. The Count's beard, which hangs down to his
chest, has become perfectly white. The features of
the deceased, which bear a calm and peaceful expres-
sion 2 are said to bear a strong resemblance to those of
Henri Qaatre. One hour after death the body of the
Count was taken from the death-bed to the Grand
Saloon of the Castle, where preparations had already
been made for its reception,

The Comte de Clhambord has died in a month that
has proved fatal to many Kings of France (says the
St. James's Gazette). Phillip I. died on the 3rd of
August, 1060; Louis VI. on the let of August, 1108;
Louis IX. on the 25th of August, 1226; Phillip VI.
on the 23rd of August, 1328; Louis XL on the 30th
of August, 1461 ; Henry 111. on the 2nd of August,
1589. Louis Phillippe also died in this country in
exile on the 26th of August, 1850. The 24th of
August, the date of the Comte de Chambord's death,
is also that of the birth of the Count of Paris, in 1838
—a fact which will perhaps afford food for speculation
to the believers in omens. It in, moreover, the anni-
versary of the massacre of St, Bartholomew.

The Daily News says :—At Frohsdorf the Comte de
Ohambord led the quiet, unostentatious life of a
country gentleman. He would rise at five o'clock,
and stroll about in his park, or through the splendid
stables attached to his residence. From eight to ten he
would read and write. At ten he breakfasted, and after
breakfastreceived visitors. He dined in the evening with
his guests, and the forms of a Court were preserved.
At ten o'clock he retired to rest, He was an accorn•
Wished linguist, and an enthusiastic sportsman, being
especially devoted to hunting. He was about the
middle height, and rather stout, with blue eyes and a
well-shaped head. He was very rich, but extremely
charitable. In 1875 he sent fifteen thousand francs to
the sufferers by the inundations in the Garonne. His
nese has been along, tedious, and painful one. It began in
the spring, but was first regarded as dangerous on the Ist
of July. On the 13th he was thought to, be dying,
but by the 3rd of August he was regarded as convales-
cent. On the 10th there was a relapse, and after that
he slowly sank. The cause of death was cancer in the
stomach. In his will the Comte de Chambord for-
mally commands the obedience of the Royalists to the
Comte de Paris as the heir to the throne of France,
leaving him his library, papers, and artistic collections.