Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-03

TIE ROMANCE WHICH SERIOUSLY MENAcEs THE
Ex-REIGNISG FAMILY OF FRANCE.
From London Truth
The death of Lord Marlborough three weeks
ago, at the advanced age Of eighty-six. will, il
is said. lead to a revival by the present peer Of
the claims of the family to the whole of the
property Of the princely house Of Orleans. The
wife Of the first Lord Marlborough and the
grandmother OF the present holder Of the title
was certain Maria Stella, the adopted daugh-
ter OF one Chiappini, the jailer of the city
prison OF Modena. Proofs. however. are said
TO exist not only in the Newhorough family.
put also In the imperial and ROYAL archives at
ST. petersburg and Amsterdam. which conclu-
svely prove that Maria Stella was the eldest
daughter OF Philippe Egalite, duke of Orleans,
and OF his wife, the duchess. 1t will be remem-
bered that King Louis Philippe was born at
Modena on exactly the same date as Lady New
borough, and the proofs above mentioned show.
without doubt. that the infant son Of the
gaoler Chiappini was substituted for the new
born daughter of Philippe Egalite and his wife;
the illustrlous pair were then due and duchess
de Charities, and. having no male issue. the
motives for the substitution were both obvious
and OF powerful nature.
The little girl who was a victim of this fraud
grew up into a beautiful woman and made
the conquest of the first Lord Newborough
Not only did the gaoler Chiappini make a con-
fession on his death-bed concerning the whole
down in writing by the procurator and by the
head of the ecclesiastical tribunal of Modena
Chlappinl swlfe confirmed the diving statement
of her husband, and related how the substitu-
ton had been effected at the time when the
duchess was confined in her house The story
was further corroborated by the registry of the
parish in which Maria Stella was christened
and in which she figures the legitimate
daughter of their royal highnesses the Due
and the Duchess de Chartres. On the demand
OF the first Lord Newborough. the supreme
court of Nodena issued a Judgment fully con-
hrming the claims of his wife TO public recog-
milton as the legitimate daughter of Philippe
Egahte and his wife. Copies of this judgment
exist to this day IN many of the public libraries
OF France, and notably in that of Rouen.
Fearing that the French monarchial govern
ment might possibly attempt TO rob her of the
documents relating to her claims. Lady New
borough took the precaution of addressing
duly iegaliZed copies thereof 10 the Emperor
OF Russia and to the King of Holland. with
both OF whom she was acquainted. and the fact
remains that not only the Dutch monarchy,
but also the Gar Nicholas profesSod firm be-
lief in their authenticity absolutely declining
to recognize King Louis Philippe in any pos
slble way. During the whole of the citizen
kings reign both Holland and Russia were
without diplomatic representation at Paris.
The whole story was well known forty and
fifty years ago, and the political caricaturists
OF the day delighted TO represent King Louis
philippe in the garb of a gaoler, with the
subscription of bon CHEN chaise de race" I'M
derneath. Even Theirs is reported TO have ex-
pressed an opinion entirely favorable to the
Marlborough claims; q is true he was no longer
Louis Phiilippe's minister at the time. As the
citizen king inherited the whole of Egalite's
vast property, which constitutes the basis of
the immense Orleans fortune, the recognition
by the French and English tribunals of the
decision of the supreme court of Modena rela-
tive to Lady Newborough's parentage would be
OF extreme importance. Indeed. it would in
validate the pretensions of the Comte de Paris
the Due dAumale and of all the other men,
bers of Louis Phillippe's family, to the throne
of France, to royal blood. and even TO the very
name and fortune which they now possess.