New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-02
THRIFTY PRINCES,


IL there must be princes, it is not unnatural
for the world to insist that they shall bc
prncely. 1t is not enough that they shall be
coed citizens and fathers of family. There is
an instructive feeling among the masses that
their great ones are kept for other purposes
than these. 1t even happens sometimes that
a signal practice of the domestic virtues may
iniuIe prince III the estimation of his people.
The scclusion and retirement Of widow in
private life is always sacredly respected and
appreciated. But the Queen of England has
seriously endangered her popularity by her
devotion 10 her husbands memory. So, though
economy and prudence IN the care of ones
property is regarded as highly creditable to
citizen, it is a matter of grave reprOach to
sovereign, and it is from this reason more than
any other that the Orleans dynasty has always
lacked and still lacks general popularity.
They certainly are the most prudent and
thrifty Of all princes. The first prince of the
present family, CASTOR Of Orleans, brother Of
Louis Kill, became one of the richest men in
Europe by his marriage with the great heiress,
Mademoisclle dc MOntpensicr, and the family
estates have been constantly increasing, in
spite of wars aud civil tumults. Philippe
Egalit(, who did very littlo else that was
sensible and useful, vastly increased his i'm
mense tortuneI by the rich dOwry of the
lovely and virtuOus princess Marie AmGie Of
Bourbon enthievre. His son Louis Philippe,
among other lessons of adversely, laid espe-
cially to his heart the duty Of taking care of
his crowns. He was not great king, but he
was great economist, and went to bed every
day little richer than he rose. He
had large family of children, and
was naturally anxious to see them well pro.
vided for az they successfully came of age.
But he made that fatal mistake of asking the
State to portion them, instead of doing it out
of his own overlooking Golfers. He had Ma
tiOnal Assembly, elected under q high prop
erty qualification, who would give HIM every
thing he asked, but these favOrs injured his
popularity more than they benefited his strong
box. One Of the most terrible caricatures Of
the later years Of his reign was that which
represented him as a shabby beggar holding
out his hat for pennies to the people Of France.
This unfortunate tbriftiness seems heredi-
tary in the family. His son Montpensier
might have been King Of Spain but for the
reputation he enjoyed of taking especially
good care of his estate. Because he kept his
sold their product at fair prices, the Spanish
heart reyolted from him, and gave him the
dreadful nickname OF NaraJero, the orange
peddler. They could not pardon that careful
husbandry and plethOric bank account. The
rest of the family are just now trying a haz-
ardOus experiment in France. They are claim
ing the restitution Of the immense estates Of
which Louis Napoleon deprived them during
his reign, and which are now in the posses
sion Of the nation. They arc of enormous
value, amounting, 1t is estimated, to fifty
millions of francs. This il sum in
itself considerable, and at this time, when
France has been reduced to poverty by
a series Of terrible misfortunes, and is strain
ing every nerve to free herself by payment of
the indemnity from tho Prussian occupation,
1t will produce an effect upon tho public mind
most unfavOrable to tho aspirations of these
princes. In the first place these gentlemen are
not in embarrassed circumstances. They still
have an income of about four million dollars
year. Thsy have palaces, and castles, and