The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-04
A GENEROUS DUCHESS.
THE BENEFICENCE OF THE LATE
MADAME DE GALLIERA.
She Decided Away Thirty. two thousand
Dollars--Willing to Go to the Aims
hoase-A Son Who Would Accept No
Money From Her.

Paris Correspondence OF the New York Tribune.
The death OF the late Duchess dc Gal
liera is the event Of tho day which most
stirs society, the religious world, and the
poor OF the Fifth ACCOMPLISHMENT, in
which the Duchess resided. Nine. de
Galliera was born to the lands, the palaces,
the villas, the art treasures, and the other
accumulated wealth OF three of the richest
families in North Italy. She inherited
from them fine brains and public spirit.
From her mother, Sales. OF Savoy, she |
derived the Tenderness OF heart which dis |
tinguished S. Francis de Sales. Her early |
life was spent at the courts OF Vienna, st.
Petersburg, Paris and London, TO which |
her father was successfully named am
bassador OF the King OF Sardinia, whom
he represented on special embassy at the
coronation Of Queen Victoria. The grand
mother Of the Duchess, on the paternal
side, the Marchesa dc Brignole rallied
early in the century TO the French Revo.
luton, and became the head OF the French
party Mt Genoa. She was warm
adnirer Of Napoleon, who let her
act the part Of plain speaker in
regard to him, after he became Emperor,
and was glad 10 induce her 10 enter the
household OF Maria Louisa as its grand
mistress. The Duchess OF Galliera was
married so long ago rs 1923, to cousin
OF her own, a man OF vast wealth also,
and imbued with the keen trading spirits
which distinguished the Lombards and
| the Genoese. lie developed under stimu-
| lus of the railway fever that took hold OF
| the continent OF Europe into one OF the
keenest and hardest headed spectators
of his time, as the Marquis de fernr, his
father, had also done before him when
Napoleon's wars opened field TO army
contractors. There never was more UNI
scrupulous victualer and clother OF troops
than the said Marquis, who escaped being
shot by the downfall of Bonaparte.
The late Duke de Galliera died leaving
fortune the personality OF which was com.
puted at S8s000.OO0. II was the largest
fortune in Europe, for there were along
with this sum nothing less than tract OF
land in what is now the most fashionable
quarter Of Paris, viz, the neighborhood oil
the Trocadero. Then there were real
estates in the Rue d. Artong, in the Eau.
|
Paris, at Genoa and its environs, at Milan
and its enyrons, at Bologna and its en-
yirons, aud very large estate In Austria.
Neither the Duke nor his wife belonged TO
any party, and we're singularly free for
persons Of their rank and wealth from
preiudices. He made II a point, rs a
Usher for great railway and other conces-
sions. 10 keep on good terms with de facto
governments. Brought up in diplomacy
and fast changing period, she recognized
power wherever she found II existed, and
she never priced II 80 highly rs when
IL was manifested in cerebral power.
IL was her delight 10 surround herself
with great and brilliant men and women
Of fine hearts and intellecs. NJ. Theirs
was one OF her best friends. She was
intimate with the late Duchess dOrleans,
whom She ycneraicd, although that royal
lady was her junior, and for her sake
wanted 10 be n second mother 10 the
Comte de Paris and his family. She also
held IN high esteem Queen Marie Amelic,
but thought her too much the politician in
feeling. The Duchess OF Orleans she
thought "must have descended from n
higher sphere TO this world 10 undergo a
period OF Christening trial. because she was
homesick for heaven" A similar friend
ship sprang up between her and the
Empress Frederick, whom she has named
for executor. II began when the Empress
rs Crown Princess was staying at bcauti-
iul but relaxing Pegli, on the Facing East
Riviera, near Genoa. Noltr, where the
BuIgnole built a villa which was trans
mittcd 10 the Duchess. II close 10 Pcgli.
Nor II the distance great from Noltri 10
san Reno, where Nine. do Galliea
witnessed the sorrows of the German
Crown Prince and his wife, who, ~
Emperor and Empress were both 70 wear
q crown Of thorns
The Duchess dc Galliera was small. II
might be said that grace was in all her
movements, Heaven in her eye, in every
acton dignity and love. But the dignity
was Of the quiet scli.posscssed kind that a
Young girl acquires filling great position
from the time she leaves the nursery and
used TO appear In public promenadcs In q
timely appointed cquipage. There was
don't know what la the face which showed
that II sorrow had passed over her soul no
dark passion has thrown n shadow there.
She was very sweet, very tender, and
though she had oil her life been In the
great world, among tricky courticr, diplo.
: matists, politicians and the sharpcst spec
y uNAAuIrt WIZ uVh NNNtNA kNlft uNl
suggested innocence. There was hardly q
wrinkle In the prcttily rounded face up u
q very advanced age.
She was very clever. NJ well M very ole
D waited in feeling. Whatever she did VA
2 done with ease. The Duchess spoke tout
: languages Italian. German, French AN,
: Engish-one ~ well n the other, aud al
, with ilucncy and idiomatic purity. sh,
!, was too much the idcalist 10 care greatly
!. ior art ~ more than secondary thing
= Her taste was true aud chastc. She drcsc,
1 In snowy colon when young. ~ most ltal
: ian women naturally do. but In her wild
owhood she wore n quantity Of blacl
blonde lace on her head and shoulders
aud sometimes az dinners OF reception
J, frightened up her black silk or velvet cor
/ sagc (which was always high with neck
|. lace OF scycn rows Of black diamonds.
have spoken OF the Duchess ~ beini
= clover She had a superior mind, and Oh
9 that was many-sidcd and open. II va
!. also m independent one. aud her Catholi
u picly never IN any degree limited is trcc
Il dom. She hal NO desire 90 shine In IN
= world. and II French law had allowed he
h would have spent her millions anony
10 mously. But Il forced her 10 make dona
u ton deeds whenever she wanted TO Civ
c away an important sum, for no matte
a what purpose, aud 10 the thing got on
n and VA, talked II. No act oi grncrOsit
e got into the jupcrs without bringing upo
II her host u imposiorr and bcggnrs. Til
| Hi Md Ita..nt,e,.... hs.r nnI Ala eraalel