New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-26
A BEAUTY's BILLS.
HEIR ASTONISHING SIZE AND NUMBER

LEAD TO A DIVORCE IN HIGH LIFE
p"'A -" Paris, May Is.
The bjph.life papers were u few years ego iuI1
~ a marriage in the fashionable world oo'" wnD
IL was to come of and when It had taken pN,,s
The bride and bridegroom were classed among ~
most illustrious in the noble FaubourS, inc p,e
being Mile. de Mercy dArgenteau and tne of'U
groom the Marquis d'Avaray, son OF the duAe ~
that name. As few Americans are FAMILIAR ~
the ancestral facts on which the two families -
their grandeur few words about them WIN Nv
no amiss The De Mercy Argenteaus are Aus"
Belgian, Of historical Importance, ana iame .u"'
hos been revived by the publication from the f"n.
;Ir archives OF the Austrian Empress Of the secret
.or,esnondence between Marie Antoinette. Maf's
Thcresa her mother and Count de Mercy dArsen-
,.or ,bo Ambassador at Versailles during all inc
1000 that Marie Antoinette lived there. The 10
-, Arcenteous have still n great position ~
vienna and hold a foremost rank at the nttso
,o,,t ~ Drussels. They have house In tho fau'
bouro 81. Gcrmaine and are intermarrfed WIN INC
nrncelv families Of de Lyme, dArcnoefs ana 20
rararon Cbimay As TO the UAvafnys, tnef
onnos,,v IL IL cannot be traced up TO Moan, gene
oIooic,s show that II is doubly royal. IL mas i~
roots I, the Carlovingian and Capetian houses
ord 4, opcs its duchy TO devot1on 70 houis
tho riobteentb. who was mainly restored throusn
the zeal and diplomatic genius OF the "".tas
d'Avaray, grandfather OF the present anu 'h'ro
Duke ~ rho line. Mile de Mercy d'Argenteau
had been brought up in convents-chieny IN sne
Sacred Heart Her mother was one OF Caoane's
beauties, and her ful-length portrait ny MIN was
the most huded By the critics OF Ill 'n'' " ,,
exhibited in the exhibition OF "foftra's un
Steele held four years ago. The scI'emeh' w
T1a
the Young couple was as follows Inc ."nr9"''
dAvaray had 8 700 francs worth OF pody hnent
clothes, canes and pistols, Of which an inventor.
was made Mile. dc Mercy Argenteau h""
5000 francs worth Of dresses, BODY hnen, my.
and musical instruments, with lo,ooo iraa''
worth Of Jewels, all of which, in the event OF nee
death taking place within two years after the wed
ding the husband bound himself to restore TO her
norents He had besides the right settled on him
bv bis father TO occupy with the Marquise WING
IN tho DAyaray mansion in the Faubourg 81
Germain. and during the old gentlemsns ne
time an annuity Of 10000 francs year. on inc
other hand, the Mar1uise was TO receive from nee
narents another annuity OF $4,000 francs ana 10
inherit a half OF their several fortunes-that is 70
gay a total income OF 900 francs year.
The beauty Of the bride was greatly admired
on the wedding day and thc high hle pape,s
were in ecstases Of admiration she cairieu Oh
before her at Cannes. at the opening OF the o"iou
and at most other places OF fnshionaole resort.
Nothing could have been more delightful 10
young beauty than the f1utter OF excitement 70
which her presence nevct failed to give rise. bus
20 the end Of few seasons her husband WINGED
M the bills, which were out OF al proportion 70
his and her united revenues. The cost OF tne
undcrclothing fairly staggered him. lamiy
council was held The question how to cure the
fnp
her 10 more serious ideas, was discussed anxousy.
The only conclusion come TO was to refer the
matter 10 the good priest, who had attended to
her religious education. lie thought nothing was
more advisable than religious pilgrimage TO the
HOLY Places. beginning with the house which
the angels transported to IorettO. In Palestine
size would have 20 lead rough LIE
and would lie out OF the way OF
those temptations TO which she mos'
reaC ly yielded Then IL she could be brought 10
o sense If cOntrtion, religious influences TO which
she would be subjected In the course OF her ply
grimage might be expected to change her way o.
life The priests advice was followed. TN the
eve of tile ladys departure for Luretto on the way
to Palestine she received $4,000 francs by tho
father-n-aw; 10000 were 70 go 70 her creditors.
and go, 600 were to pay the expenses OF the Pill
grmage, which WIS TO last four months.
frame of mind, but at Milan she fell In with dis I.
,inguished and gay sequaintanoes. one OF whom
was bon Carlos the Legitimate King Of Spain
Hotels were so expensive at Milan that all her
money was soon spent there, and she was unable
10 20 on until fresh remittance WAS sent her.
What was needed was handed over to an elderly
lady who travelled with her.
The pilgrims, after going through the Holy
Places went 10 unh0ly Cairo. The Msrquise there
saw good deal Of company which did not plume
| itself on being particularly pous. She had Also
| q nice time at Rome, Milan, Venice and Vienna.
When she came back the door Of the conlugsl
domicile Was closed against her. The HUSBAND
was bringing O suit against her for separation
| She brought cross-suIt against him. What trans
| pired in the divorce court does not appear But
a Humiliation of the common estate, real and per-
sonal, was ordered, ont Of which she Was to have
one-half of the proceeds, and he the other. How
ever, when he came TO draw his share, he found
di,traint after dstrant upon il, and In short, y
mountain OF debt contracted by the Marquise
when after being repulsed from the shelter OF the
conjugal home, she took refuge in a convent for
twenty-five days. There were bought in that time
eleven hats and bonnets, which came TO a total Of
] 1922 francs.
The bill OF the mllliner is ss follows:
February 29-A round running string hat in
Dlack lace ana Trainers, reDrudry CO
Greek capotc, llOf: March "a round hat Of
course white straw with white scarf trimming ana
| pink feathers. 1Uf.: March "a black capots
straw hat with fancy trimminss, ll0L; March
| ia small black silk toQue with bird trimming.
00f.; March "a fancy black capote trimmed
with parroquet. llOt. March "a round hat IN
| fancy faille with various sorts Of roses, SOL
| March IA Gabrielle d Estrees hat 1901 March
| IAN Empress Josephine hat, i3ot. March H.
| A fancy black hat, with bunch OF violets, yof
March ls-A round hat In Dunstable straw, lined
| with white embroidery, 1907
| The pettcoats and other neither garments VIZ
| not, on the whole, so fcarfully dear They came TO
/ about 5000 francs. Bills for lingerie footed "
| 1000 francs The lowest bill was the bookblnders
| What can he more suggestive than the Hss ~
the books he bound? Among them were u