Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-25
SOME AMERICANS ABROAD,
Mrs. Singer, who Became Duchess
of CampofeIice.

of CampofeIice.
Lpcy Eooper's Pdrts Letter.
A case Of family dissension, interestin g
from the high-sounding title Of the princir
pal party concerned, and also of his cen.
necuon by marriage with American
fpance, is Just now being widely dis
cussed in the American colony. Some
years ago one OF the many widows OF the
late sewing machine inventor, Singer.
esnoused in second wedlock a Belgian
vioIInist, well known to the concert
gOers of Brussels and Antwerp. This
gentleman invested portion Of his wife's
fortune in the purchase of an Ital.
ian title. having previously taken
the precauti0n of becoming q naturalized
subject OF the King of Italy. and was
afterwards known as the Duke de Campo-
feiice. Like most OF the wearers of newly
acquired titles, he WAS intensely Duke,
Tar more so than those of Norfolk. or De
LuyneS, or Nedina-Cnli. | remember
once meeting him at the house of a
charming English lady on whom he
was making au afternoon call. it beng
her reception day. He talked a good
deal about bis wife, whom be invariably
mentioned by her title. ''The Duchess"
quoth be, "waS not altogether pleased
the decorations are finished the Duchess
is quite delighted with it. The Duchess,
indeed sugg es:ed that we should give a
bail Immediately, but prefer closing the
entertainments of the Partisan season
with a grand affair at our house. so de-
tefmined TO put it off till the end of Nav.
At least that was my advice to the
Duchess" The ball came off, aud very
magnificent affair it was. The invita-
10 Id oh d.
uLOn tr9Ns Tor at lessttwO months before
hand. Then the ducal pair gave several
magnificent private concerts, at which
the test artists OF Paris appeared. But
somehow line company never quite came
up to the aspirations of the Duke and the
Duchess or TO the quality ofthe entertain
ment, and eome Of the titled gentlemen
who cODdescendf to become their guests
INDUCED in strange liberties. For ill.,
stance, on the night OF the ball party
Of Cay young society FIRE cbmen feed the
servants to lightup the splendid stables of
their host and 10 lead out his tiue horses
for their inspection.
Now the Duchess. formerly Mrs. Singer.
Is the mother OF several children by her
first husband. Among these there IS a
daughter, Miss Wnnaretta Singer, now
- or % years old, and an amateur artist
OF some note, painting pictures occasion
tween this young lady and her titled STEP
father feud of gigantic dimensions has
appeared to rage oflate. The quarrel has
reached such pitch that Miss Singer has
lett her home and has gone to board at q
convent. Lawyers have been engaged
members of the damseps family have
been summoned, and, while the cause OF
the dissension continues to be mystery
10 the world at large, the noise of the con-
fIct has become distinctly audible.
Touching the death Of Marguerite Bel
LANCER ! recall an incident affecting the
American colony. There resided in Paris
some ten years ago an elderly and eccen-
tric American widow who used to enter
tain great deal and who was not as par
ticular as she should have been respect
Ing the company tb:t she received. But
FER entertainments, though decidedly
mixed, had never before contained the
element that finally made its appearance
there one evening in the person OF "La
Margot," as she used to be called. She
got there through the medium of very
last old Frenchman, since dead, who in
PRODUCED her, think, as his cousin. She
was recognized by at least half OF the gen.
tlemen ia the room, and her Jewels
were the envy OF the ladies'. An
american artist who was present told me
that her necklace and bracelets OF COBB
chon emeralds and diamonds were mag
hificent beyond description. The En-
Peror once gave her a necklace OF pink
pearls (refusing TO let her enter into CON-
petition with the Empress In the way of
white or black ones) which cost $25, 900.
DO not know why she cared TO 20 to the
american entertainment aforesaid, as her
hostess was by no means wealthy and her
receptions were very informal and not
Elaborate. suppose it was out of sheer
nischlet and malice; desire to play
trick on woman Of the world by Imros-
Jog upon her a guest such as she should
newer have received.
La Margot left orders that her wonder
iul hair, OF whose protuse tresses OF silken
paly gold she was justly vain, should
neither be cut nor hidden away when she
was prepared for burial. but should be
leit TO now loose and straight around her.
Thus half-concealed amid those shining
golden locks the woman OF As seemed to
renew her youth and TO regain something
d her old fascination.
but the annals OF the demi-monde hold
many sad tragedy among them. The
tales that they tell are not always OF
washerwoman's daughter who captivated
an Emperor and died surrounded with
wealth and luxury. Que OF the most
mournful histories that ever dritted 10 me
rom suon source was told to me the
other day. An American gentleman,
wealthy bachelor, now residing In London,
was invited one evening to very superb
entertainment given by one or the leading
members Of the half world OF that city.
The utmost decorum marked all the
"details OF the affair, which was further
distinguished by the beauty OF the female
guests aud the elegance OF their toilets.
AT supper my countryman found himself
seated beside a young girl, apparently
but little over 20 years Of age she was
not exactly pretty, but she was pleasing
ooth In appearance and manners. ana
ner conversation denoted a degree OF re-
nnement and education unusual In
a member Of that sort OF society. In fact,