New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-10
THREE MARRIAGES.
PERSIGNY. SOMBREUIL-A WIFE AND NOT A |
WIFE-MONACO.
trRox An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE.


Paris Oct. 30
The ex-Duchess de Persgny, concerning whose
eccentrictics and adventures in Europe, Africa
and Asia volumes might be written, has just
startled Paris once more by contracting marriage
with the young Vicomte de Sombreuil, a man
barely twentg-six years Of age. The ceremony
took place at the Church of ST. Pierre de Cbniilot,
and the appearance Of the septuagenarian bride,
whose hair is dyed brilliant yellow, and who
has become exceedingly stout, gave rise to some
uncharitable remarks on the part OF the crowd
assembled at The church door. Fortunately. how
ever, the new Vicomtesse de Sombreuil is extremely
deaf, and was therefore able to drive of with
her husband in blissful ignorance. grand
niece of Marshal Ney and daughter Of the
Prince de la Moskowa whose qunrrels with his
wife constituted the most amusing features of
the chronique scandaleuse" of King Louis
Philippes reign, the ex-Duchess dc Persigny has
evidently inherited Of the peculiarltics OF
I character Of her mother. The latter was the
only child of the famous banker Laittc, and
kept up perpetual warfare with her spcndthrift
husband on the subject of the sums which she
dOed out to him for his club and personal eX-
penses. On Que memorable occasion she even
went so far as publicly TO box his ears in
court of justice, and the most incredible tales
told to this day in Paris of htr extraordinary
avarice. IL was in S53 that Mile. de In MoslSowa
became the wife of the Duke de Persisny, the
favorite Minister and confidential adviser of
Napoleon III, and that time forth until
the day when she deserted the Empress Eugene
in Egypt, she was one Of the most brilliant and
taked-of women of the Court of the Tulleries.
Her rather sta ,tlng ways were however, NOT
altogether TO the taste Of Queen Victoria who
at the conclusion of certain court ball at
Palace, addressed personal letter to Napoleon Ill.
asking him to recall the Duke de Persgny from
his post of French Ambassador to the Court of ST.
James
Indeed. the Duchess's extravaganza of conduct
of such nature that it betrayed evidence
Of IA mind not altogether well.balanced. When the
Empress Eugene visited Egypt for the purpose
of attending the opening of the Suez Canal the
Duchess one of the gay throng of ladies who
were invited to accompany her on board the Iul-
perial yacht Agle. in the land of the Pha- /
raohs Nine de Persigny met with what she fondly
imagined at the time 10 be the most romantic
and enhancing episode of her life and forsooll
her place at the Imperial Court for the sake of
one NJ. Lem0ync, a penniless young barrister
twenty years her junior. whom she married on
the Duke de PeIsignys death, two years later.
This marriage was unfortunate in every respect. |
Inc uc tefSigny nhd uled lnSOlNenU, leaving
his family entirely dependent on the charity of the
old Princess de la Moskowa. Tine latter. enrnged
at her daughters remarriage, refused fatty TO
contribute single sou to her support. until
forced by the courts to make her an allowance
OF So. 900 per annum. NJ. Lemoyne. being in Il |
chronic state of l-health, earned next to nothing
by his profession. and until the date of his death |
in 1888, the ill-aesorted couple had TO exist on |
the small allowance above mentioned In 1884 |
the old Princess lie la Moskowa died. and her
vast wealth passed on to her only child. the eX-
Duchess de Persgny, whose conduct was rendered |
more eccentric than ever by her sudden change |
of fortune After spending few months at Paris
and Nice. she set forth on tour through India |
to China and Japan, and delighted with |
this last country that she remained there for
almost year. To say that she astounded the |
natives would be 20 give but very faint idea
of her doings in the land of the Rising Sun.
Since her return 10 France she has quarrelcd
with each of her married ghtcrs who sought
to protect their own interests and to check her
extravaganza by having her fortune placed IN |
trust and she has been the heroine of several |
extremely amusing lawsuits. Her marriage TO the |
Vicomte de Sombreuil constitutes the climax of
her career and every one here is talking about /
it in no measured terms.
Another illustration of the dangers attending
marriages between foreigners and Americans when |
the latter are ignorant of the legal formalities |
required in Europe TO render the union valid |
is furnished by the case of young and charming |
widow well known in Chicago About five years
ago she made the acquaintance of Lieutenant /
de Servan, one of the most distinguished officers
of the French Navy, who gained the officers cross
of the Legion of Honor for the great gallantry
which he displayed during the insurrection in
Newt Caledonia. Like many other officers OF his |
rank, he accepted in 1882 a temporary engage.
ment as captain or first officer of one of the French
transatlantic liners, and it was while acting as
such that he first met the lady in question. who
was a passenger on board his vessel The acquaint-
ance soon ripened into intimacy and love- and
few weeks later NJ. de Servan and the young
widow were married in London by an American
clergyman Of New-YorlS. The bride was ignorant
of the fact that the consent of NJ. de Servants
parents, granted in proper legal form, neces.
sary to render her marriage valid according to
French hw and her husband took no pains to
enhghten her upon the subject.
Shortly after the welding, which took place on
June 81. 1884 NJ de Servan obtained from the
transatlantic steamship company an appointment
as naval superintendent at ST. Nazaire where he
took up his residence with his wife. They lived
tnere Hdppuy eHoush 'oi a "lhV, ouU III 1907 "
serious quarrel took place between them, and NJ.
de Servan obtained his transfer to Nantes leaving
her in St. Nazaire. A few months later, having
in the meanwhile become infatuated with the
beauty and fortune Of Mile. de Dorides of
Nantes, he began proceedings to obtain, not de-
cree of divorce, but annulment of his marriage,
on the ground that consent Of his parents had not
been obtained, and that the ceremony Of marriage
had been performed by an American clergyman in
country where neither of the contracting parties
was at home Before the case had even come up
for hearing, NJ de Servan caused the bans of his
marriage to Nile. de Dorides TO be published at
Paris and Nantes. On reading the announcement
the reof in the newspapers, the American Nine.
de Servan Immediately wrote TO the Mayor OF