Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-06-25
4 CURIOUS FKEfESf1oy: 2

Pretentions to the inheritance of the elder
branch of the French Bourbons have been
not uncommon. Every body is familiar
with the name of the so called Duke of Nor
mandy, who claimed so long to be the son
of Louis XVI, saved in a miraculous man.
ner from the death which history gave him
in 1892. There is now, or was recently, in
the State of Wisconsin, Methodist preach
er, with the very uRromantIc name of Flea
zer Williams, whom many people firmly be-
lieved to be the same French Prince, whom
faithful royalist saved in his infancy and
brohght for security into the wilderness of
North America, and consequently the legit-
innate heir to the French throne, if there
were French throne to be inherited.
The Orleans family have pretenders to
their honors also, only that the head of the
family, the late Louis Philippe, is accused
of having been an instructive imposter,
POSSESSING the rank and forttns belonging
rightfully to another. Lately, but not the
fest time, an elaborate effort has been made
to prove that the late King was no Bourbon
at all. We have sometimes met, in foreign
papers with statements to the effect that
Louis Philippe, was an Italian infant, sub
stituted into the family of the Duke of Or
leans for weighty family seasons. The in
quiry has been included among grave his
torical doubts, and recently the grounds of
the doubt, and the documents to sustain it,
have been carefully collected and published
in volume in Paris. A summary of the
case is made in Richmond paper, from
which we make up some of the leading facts
and allegations.
The story, as told Enthusiastically, and
with an air Of perfect conviction of its truth,
is that Louis Philippe was the son of jail
or at Modigliana, small town in Italy al
which his reputed parents, the famous Ega.
lite and his wife, were staying during the
winter, Of 1772-3, under the name Of the
Couht and the Countess de Joinville. A
male hair was wanted to secure in the. Or
leans family some immense estate, and The
infant daughter, of which the wife Of Ega
lite was delivered, was exchanged at it:
birth for the son of Chiappfhi,. tie Jailor.-
The boy was brought up as the heir of Or
leans-the daughter as the child of the Jai.
lor. She became remarkable for beauty
wit and accomplishment, and became the
wife of Newbprg, an English nobleman, ant
after his death of a Russian nobleman, Ba
ron Stsnberg. 1t was after this second mar
riage that Chiappini, disclosed to her thu
mystery Of her birth. 1t had, the effect o
making her spend the remainder of her life
in correspondence intrigues and struggles
to get herself acknowledged as true Prin
cess Of the, House of Orleans, and Loui.
Philippe, then duke of Orleans, as all i'm
poster. She had powerful protectors il
Paris, who were able to secure her persona
freedom, but never made any impression
unfavorable to the security of Louis Philip
pes title, and probably never would, hat
her claim beer twice as strong. Her stotrl
had many believers, and she was really re
verenced Gy many Frenchmen, as the tru'
representative of one of the royal houses O
Frafce, belief which was much strength
ened by the remarkable fact or extraordina
ry coincidence, that she had strong like
ness to the Orleans family, and Louis Phil
ippe strong likeness to Chiappini. 1t il
but few years since she died, fully belle
wing herself to be an Orleans Princess.
The array of documents in favor of he
pretentions is long, and make out plausa
bic case. 1t is very curious story, and i
it be, as it probably is, case of Academia
coincidence, it is nevertheless one Of roman
tic interest, as there can be no doubt of tn,
sincerity of the delusions under which tn,
lady acted to the end Of her life.-.N. o
Picayune.
A HIr.-1n 'ye olden tymes' the meet
ing houses were fitted with two galleries
one for each sex. A minister at Newbur,
was interrupted one Sunday in his sermon
by talking. He stopped short in his dis
course, and remarked that he wished tina
talking would cease in the gallery, directin!
his eye at the same time to the women
side-whereupon venerable spinster aros
and said that it was not in their gallery, bu
on the mems side. 'I'm glad oft then,
| {ho r. 4 L., 1a II