The New York herald., 1877-01-21
ROSE AND BLANCHE
A New Romance Of the Wan
dering JeW."
EUGENE SUES HALF SISTERS.
Distinguished Plaintiffs in a Million
Dollar Suit.

Il is 20 many years since Eugene Sue, who had pre-
viously been surgeon In both the French army and
navy begun the publication Of his works. that many
ludcrous mistakes are made concerning tho time
when he lived II Is said. for instance, that the Rose
and Blanche Of his "Wandering Jew" his grand
daughters the effort being apparently 10 reconcile the
ages these well known ladies with the possibilities
Of their introduction the romance. Tho truth Is.
however. that the twins, Of whom Is the wife
OF General Adam Badeau. and the other the wife OF
Belgian gentleman named wilbaux. instead OF being
the daughters of Peter Simon. Marshal VI Franco and
Duke do Ligny, Sue whimsically describes thom,
and Sues granddaughters, wore OF American and
French extraction and the halt sisters Of the novelist
The story of peculiar interest righty told and
the which s going on In tho courts IN re-
gard to the estate OF these ladies makes the present
tmc the fitting moment for new romance OF tho
hcrones Of Sues most celebrated work.
THR FAMILY HISTORY.
Eugene Sue was tho OF surgeon in the Imperial
Guard and afterward Court Physician to King Louis
Philippe, and his sponsors at baptism were the En-
press Josephine and her son. Prince Eugene HIS
mother among the most intimate friends OF the
Empress, who, on ono occasion. presented Nine. Sue
with diamond necklace rs mark OF her esteem.
Upon his fathers death, which occurred about the
year 1927 Sue into his inheritance and gave up
his profession himself painting and tera-
turo. About tho same time a young American physi-
clan, Dr. Nathaniel Niles, went to Paris to reside,
where he soon attained high social distinction Dr..
Nes was descended from distinguished Now England
family, his grandfather being eminent jurist and.
tho trusted counsellor Of John Adams during the
American Revolution, and his father was scarcely
loss eminent . lawyer and q statesman
In 1880, while William G. Rives was the
American Minister at Paris, DR.. Niles was appointed
Secretary OF legation and after Rives retirement In
1882 he acted for some months as Charge Afaires
Both his diplomatic position and his social standing
gave him unusual advantages, and he improved his OPP
portunity by marrying Nine. Sue. the widow OF DR..
sue and the mother OF Eugene. The issue OF this mar
riage tho twin daughters Rose and Blanche. who
now 30 often spoken Of as Eugene Sues grand
children.
"RosA AND BLANCHE"
After his marriage with Nine. Sue DR.. Niles con-
tiDued to live for number Of years In Paris. While
Sue was writing his ''Sslamandre.' "vigie dc Koat-
ven," "Cecile" "Le Marquis de Letorieres' and
.Joan Carnher," his mothers twin children, the
infant Nileses, were growing into womanhood under
eyes, He took great delight In hs half SISTERS who
were "pes" aud the description he gives Of them
in '.The Wandering Jew' was duo as much
characterIs,,cs They were at the time about tho
age attributed TO Dsgoberts wards 1.-TWO girls almost
Collaboration they had Just competed their fifteenth
yoar-in the opening chapters Of Sues remark
able romance Extremely alike In feature" writes
the novelist in describing them, 'and OF the same
size II necessary to DO IN tho constant habit OF
seeing them TO distinguish from the other." 1"
Their hair of light chestnut color, and oated
down their necks and shoulders IN proiuson
rtnglea "a carnation," adds tho author, "bahed
dew eottness than their blooming lips
the wood v,oets tender blue would appear dark beside
the mped azure OF their large eyes in which are de-
pcted sweetness Of thoir characters aud the inno
cence Of their age; pure and white forehead, small
crlnAr rhtn ofn thns0 n
nauccs which present delightful blending OF candor
and gentleness.' THIS description better than any
isted between Sue and his half sisters, aud
when is remembered that he was only
lorty years o,a wnsn ns,. wan0esns eha sos1s
thus tepdery describe these two interesting members
OF his household, who at the time were just bud
ding into womanhood Sue had been leis more than q
competence by his father. his mother had an ndepen-
dent fortune Of her own and Dr.. Niles was rich They
enjoyed high social distinction and vod In exceont
| style DR.. Niles himself was man OF great activity
aud his diplomatic services did not end with his with
drawal from the American Embassy at Paris. In 1887
bc was appointed special agent OF the United States
to Austria TO procure modification OF the duties and
restrictions the importation OF American tobacco,
and he negotiated q commercial treaty between the
| two countries. The next year he was sent upon q
similar mission to Sardinia and from lS4S to 1870 he
was Charge d'Anatros to that kingdom. Sue died In
1857 and Dr. Niles subsequently returned to this
| try, bringing his daughters with him. and invested
largely in real estate the income OF which Is now in
controversy.
Nothing can bc moro Interesting than tho story Of
the married life OF two such hefOines as Rose and
Blanche Ono OF the sisters married Martin Van
Buren, Wicoxson, nephew Of the late President Van
Buren,, some years ago, and had issue son born In
1870, OF which william Allen Butler, the author Of
sNothing TO Wear,' 10 tho guardian dd hteDL MIR.
Wilcoxson was lawyer in this city, but after his mar
raUo he rosred from the practice and spent much OF
his in travel lie died at Brentford, England, In
1874 The other sister renamed single until about
two years ago, when she married General Adam Ba-
deau. member Of Grants staff during the war. ana
author OF "Liie Of Grant =" who had been the Amer
De-
was married at the Gramercy Park Hotel, in this
city, by Cardinal lcCloskcy, this marriage,
inside from It's social Importance being note s
tho American Cardinal af.er the assumption
Of HI. new dignity: When w,isul Badeau returned returned
med them, and during q tour on the Continent she
met Aamd6c wilbaux, son OF Dr. wilbaux, OF Brus-
sels who proposed to the widow and was accepted.
subsequently they all returned to This city and
| now residing ut the Gramercy Park HOTEL II Is at
this point that the narrative has bit Of
gossip Although Dr. Nios lett of 81, COO 0OO
the income allowed the ladies' out OF this property s
Insufficient to enable thom TO live in the style to
which they accustomed, and hence there are an
| application Tor u receiver, charges of Encouragement
and all that kind OF thing The response Is general
Thsy are good enough fellows, both Of them," said
one of counsel for the estate, "but they TOO
IN He aasSo S.ro on tns tns par Of
Badcau aud Wibaux 10 control their wivos cstates,
but obstacle In the way Just now Is tho action OF
old DR.. Mics, who LOFT Will as wcl as Two interesting
| daughters and large property.
| NILES
DR.. Mics died at very advanced age, bat he re-
tanned his faculties and his vigor to tho last HIS
| dcath consequent upon cold taken at garden
nnrty IN Paris given by Baron James Rotbschid the
last survivor Of the nve brothers who composed that
famous house Besides Dr. Niles there present ut
the party Edward Stevens, OF Hoboken, and both he
ana Baron Rothsch,Id also sickcned and died. owing
TO similar 10 that which led to the death of DR..
Niles Alter his dcccase II was found that DR.. Nos
| will was n carefully guarded document, aud II Ia
claimed that framed TO prevent the dissipation
| of tho estate by the young ladies' who had always
lived In tho lap OF luxury aud who unacquanI Ted
! with either the or the value OF money. In TIM
| will Dr. Niles made hts namssake and nephew, Ma.
thaniei Niles, his managing executor, and named
Marston Niles, formerly Of the United States Navy NJ
his residuary lcgatcc.
| THE PROPERTY AND THE SUIT.
| Tho property consisted mostly Of Sots the neigh
horhood OF Seventy-third street. between broadway
and the Central ParK, and some valuable real estate
the intersection OF Broadway and Sixth avenue Thu
property, II Is claimed. has greatly deprecated IL