New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-03
THE DUKE UA UM4LES GIFT.

The Duke d'Aumalcs gift of Chantilly to
the French Institute i'll trust for the nation Is
well calculated TO popularizc the donor and to
keen alive in the breasts of the French people
those sentiments which it was sought to destroy
by the exile of the princes. 1T is certainly
noble gift, and if wisely administered the
treasures of art accumulated by the princes
of the House Of Condo. from whom the Duke
d'Aumalc inherited it. should prove of lasting
value to the public thus invested with the
ownership of the estate. From the terms OF
the Dukes letter and will it may perhaps bc
inferred that he has Eccn led to make this
patriotic disposition of the property 10y the
fear that after his death it might he confscaed
Chantilly was given to the Duke d'Enghcn
at the beginning of Anne's regency, under the
administration of Mazarn. about 1912, as re-
ward for having led an expedition into Ger
many. 1t was, in fact, one of the great sub
sides paid from time to time by weak
Government as the price Of the loyalty of one
of the most rapacOus and Unsuitable lamillcs
among the grcedicst nobility in the world at
the time.
The Condos were never satisfied, ana wheh
their demands became too cNorbltant Tor INC
sovereign to conccdc they never hcsltated 70
turn traitor. The first owner OF Chantiily
Joined Spain and fought against France because
he was not paid what he thought his SER
vices to his own country were worth. NO DOUBT
this was one of the effects of MaZarln's policy,
which looked too much to compromise and
Cancellation His predecessor. Richclicu main
tanned the power and prestige of the Crown
by very different means When the occasion
seemed to demand a startling example, he did
not hesitate to send MontmOlcnci to the block,
and had he lived there can be no doubt
that he would have crushed the greed and dis
loyalty of the Condos with equal severity and
decision The immense fortune acquired by
this family was literally wrrmg from the
French people. 1t was plumber of the most
undisguised character. Few more lll-gottcn
estates are recorded in history, in fac, yet
since the accumulation of wealth by similar
methods was general among the nobility of the
period since, indeed every class above the
lowest robbed The lowest and oppressed it ;
there is perhaps little room for the arralgn-
ment of individuals.
Chantilly suffered greatly in 1893, when the
great chateau. one of the most splendid edificcs
in Europe, was destroyed completely The
magnificent stables and the small chateau, itself
a noble bniAng, remained. Louis Napoleon
confscaed Ckantiy and it remained alienaed
until 1872, Abcn it was restored TO the Duke
d'Aunale. NJ G had received it in 1880 from
the last of inc Condos. And now, probably
as a fnality, il Ievcits to the French people
Originally bestowed by weak Queen to pur-
chase the fidelity of powerful and tickle sub
iect, it is navy restored to the nation, perhaps
not altogether without hope of winning the
approval of :he sovereign democracy for the
family Of The cxlcd donor. Yet the aSsocia-
tons of the place are such that it is apt to be
questioned whether the transfer is not rather
10 be regarded as restitution than gift. and
among the dsiliusionizcd children Of the Revo-
luton this vies may find more favor than the
generous one shich takes gift for what IL
appears and refuses to look beneath the surface.