Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-10
A SOCIAL SCANDAL,
In Which the Prince de Polignac, Who
Served in the Confederate Army,
Figures rs a Principal.
his Son, Camille, the Petroleur Who
Attempted to Destroy His House by
Fire-Stranger Than Fiction.

NJ. de Polignac, the petroleum, is grandson
OF the minister OF Charles x whose ordi-
nances were the immediate cause of the Rev
olution of 1880. The young man who is
now in prison on charge of arson is enii-
tied to call himself prince by French law.
The principally is Of Roman creation and
confers dignity alike on the male posteriiy
OF elder and OF younger sons of the wrong
headed councillor of Charles x. That per-
sonage was ruined by the events OF 1880, and
died almost in poverty. He gave a scientific
education to the four sons who survived
him. They we're all distinguished matbena-
ticians, and the youngest, Edmond, won
reputation IS composer of melodies and
dance music, which had 8 great vogue In
Legitimist drawing-rooms. He made good
deal of money as a teacher. His pupils
were chiefly wealthy Spanish-Auericans, tue
sons aud daughters of New Orleans traders
and Louisiana planters. The fees be asked
were enormous. But it was understood that
he only taught as a very great favor, and
wosld obtain for his pupils entree into the
greatest drawing-roems in Paris, Rome, Ma
pies, Vienna, and even London. The three
other brothers went into the army; Alphonse
became an artillery officer. He was man OF
honorable character and very rigorous ia his
principles. twenty-five years back be mar
ried the daughter OF the 6uancist Mires. The
wedding was celebrated with great ecinf. II
was one of those triumphs which 80 often
precede reverses. The Imperial court was
alarmed at the possibility of an alliance be-
tween capital and legitimacy, and SO the En-
peror delivered over Mires, who was South
ern Jew, to his German co-religionists, who
were jealous of his rapid success. Prince Po-
liguac, taking TO heart the disgrace and ruin
of his fsther-in-law, died of grief. He gave
his wife every facility for rendering pecuni-
any assistance to Mires, who was finally re-
habilitated. The second con is a colonel OF
engineers. Through the influence of Gen. de
Miribel he obtained high staff appoint
ment, which he still holds, and was sent as
military ottdehe TO Berlin. Camille, the third
son, and father of the petroleum, was also in
the engineers; but as he was in debt and had
abandoned all hope of rising in his profess
sion, he left the army soon after his brother
had married. 1t appears that he WAS under
cloud for having induced Young girl of
respectable family 10 elope with him. He
then refused 10 marry her, but agreed to for
mally recognize as his son a child to
whom she gave birth. believe his ex-
cuse for not fulfilling his promise to
the mother was that the Mires prosecution
deprived him of all hope of succeeding in a
financial career, which he had intended TO
pursue, and that the young lady could, che
being handsome, get on better without than
with him. The civil war king out in
the United States, he went TO Richmond to
offer military service to Jefferson Davis. He
was accorded the rank in the Confederate
army OF brigadier-general, was in most OF
the battles in which Lee fought, and in 1870
turned up again in Paris. On hearing that
war was declared with Germany he hurried
home from the Southern States, and got
back in time TO witness the fall of the en-
pire. At Tours he obtained from NJ. GAM
BETA commission as brigadier-general in the
auxiliary army, and professed Republican
ism 10 the cafes that he frequented. For this
reason his Legiiimist friends broke with
him, and subsequently took care that his
brevet should not be confirmed by the Com
mission des Grades Militaires, which the
Versailles Assembly had appointed to look
into NJ. Gambetta's nominations. The young
lady who had eloped with Prince Camille
and her son passed away from his mind. The
former assumed the title of Princess Polig-
mac, and led life of expedients. She con-
trived, however, to give the boy a classical
education. Owing to fall at school his
spine became slightly distorted. Notwith-
standing, he grew up handsome, and ex-
tremely like the portraits of his great grand
mother, the favorite Of Marie AntonietIe.
When he ascertained that Prince Camille
was again in France he urged his claim to
sonship, but his letters remained unnoticed
until quite recently, when the ex-general Sc Mt
prince had obtained the lucrative situation
| of director of the southern tramways of
P arts, but as he had been living on credit
| from 1870 he was still poor. The son, who
had become an anarchist, caricaturist and
a reporter for "high life" journal, fancied
that Prince Camille was rolling in wealth.
The dynamite scare suggested to him the
| idea of avenging himself by an explosion.
But when he reflected on the matter he came
| to the conclusion that petroleum would suit
| him better. He, therefore, took with him
| three bottles of that liquid made into a neat
| parcel. The female concierge said they were
$50 nicely done as to look quite innocent"
She was, however, puzzled to make out the
rank of the bearer. She noticed he resem-
bled the family, and still he appeared dirty
| Bohemian. She was struck with his
| courtly address and with a strange
expression of the eye, which made
| her feel uneasy. When she said che did
| not know whether the prince was in or not,
the visitor answered that il did not matter,
| and walked upstairs with the assurance OF
one who feels that he is in his own house.
A man-servant opened the door. He had
| heard of the abandoned son and OF his let
| tiers, and the moment he saw him guessed
| who he was; but he was so disconnected by
| the visitors dpLomb that be allowed him 10
| walk into the drawing-room and undo bis
| wallet. When the valet had recovered pres
| ence OF mind and went to expel young
| Poliguac, the latter coolly told him to es-
cape for his life, or he would sprinkle him
with a corrosive fluid. Thinking that ne
had to deal with vitriolizer, the servant
ran down TO call policeman. Young Polig'
mac then emptied his bottles and set the
petroleum on fire. His hair and beard
were all singed when he was arrest
ed on the stairs. Whether he wsf
sgitated or NOT, his pose at the commits
sary's Office was cool and quiet. He spoke
of himself as justicier, moved no doubt 81
vengeful sentiment, but not by anger
Every irrelevant question be declined to an
swer. To curtail the examination and save
trouble. he took out of his pocket an &C
acknowledgement of the crime, written before
hand, and signed Jules Camille tide Polig
mac" OF course his domicile had beer
visited by the police. 1t was in \ garnet il
the Rue Rigalie, and very wretched-looking
To avoid being annoyed by tradesmen t
whom he owed money he was hardly eve
at home. In the daytime he sought shelte
in public libraries and at night he Ihunl
about newspaper offices and went to anarchi
cal meetings; he sometimes spoke at them
The anarchists, with true French politeness
styled him "Le Citoyen M. lie Prince julie
Camille de Polignac."