Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-25

the death Of Macmillan created q sensation
throughout the civilized world, and last ana
worst of all, the arms of la belle France re-
ceived severe check, if not an absolute re-
verse. The gommeux OF Paris were thirst
Ing ;or new sensation, the sans culottes
were beginning to think of red caps ana
barricades, and the journalists of the bouie-
wards were writing about la glorie.
Something had to be done to divert the
attention of the people from affairs at home.
A hurried consultation was held, and
search of some dusty pigeon holes OF the
Foreign Office suddenly led to discovery.
"a Frenchman-a native and subject OF
France-was pining away in Chilean dun-
geon." Instantly tremendous noise was
made, and before sunset on the succeeding
day 81 affaire Chilenne" was talked OF by
everybody and the Mexican fiasco had Deen
forgotten-ior new and later sensation.
Found Himself Famous.
The country was up in arms and the
French Admiral was commanded to per-
emptorily call upon the astonished Govern
ment to instantly release prisoner whose
existence they were probably at the moment
totally unaware of. The ex-Notary awoke
one morning ostonished, like the poet Byron.
to find himself famous. He'was now per-
sonage of imperial importance, and was
commanded to return TO France to report
upon his mission" Git had been convent
entity discovered that be had been sent
there by the French Government). The
eagles OF France were about to swoop down
upon Chile and the tri-color was to proudly
wave over the fertile plains o., ,Araucania.
The Argentines were to be kept within their
borders, and Notary de Tournens was to add
to the somewhat vague "volonte of the In
dians" the more substantial ags OF a
French protectprate.
However, while De Tournens was on his
way home the Franco-German war had
burst upon Europe, and eliminated in the
crushing disaster at Sedan, where Napoleon
III. handed up his sword to the hated
''Prussian," and with it went his throne.
These disasters dashed to the ground the
hopes of the would-be King of Araucania
and Patagonia, and France, instead OF an
nexing territory in South America, found
herself minus her ''chers provinces,
Alsace and Lorraine.
The King and His Valet
From this period forward the career of
De Tournens entered entirely into the
regions OF broad farce. He never for q
moment lost his unbounded confidence in
himself. "Orelie-Antonie L" as be in
| sisted upon styling himself. became simply
convenient tool for gang of Paris "bunko
steerers," gutter fnanciers and declasse
continental nobles-real and bogus-to
work various shady schemes and confidence
games with. The leader of these worthys
was gaunt, oily individual, half Spanish,
half Italian, but wholly scoundrel, with in
snuating manners but indescribably filthy
habits and person. When he was not in
| Jail he made precarious livelihood by SELL
ing TO ambitious parvenus patents of nobii-
| ity, decorations insignia and generally
preyiug on the weaknesses and vanities of
his fellow creatures. He had an alias for
every week in the year, and an
| exhaustive string of titles which In
cluded the high-sounding one OF
scientific and learned societies of Smyrna. "
A Marvellous Cabinet.
He appointed himself to the Office of
Chancellor, and for some inexplicable rea-
SON he combined with this high Office th at
of "Commendatore." A suitable Minister
of Finance for the imaginary kingdom was
found in Portuguese Brazilian financial
agent, who, having just been released from
a long term of imprisonment, was glad to
become Secretary to the Treasury tor Orelie-
Antoine. The Minister of Justice was a
short, fat-and it may be added-dirty lit
tie creature, who had been elected from a
notary's Office for embezz!ement, and subse-
quentiy became a waiter at low cafe. The
other positions in this unique "Cabinet"
we're filled by individuals nodded much
after the same pattern.
The "Commendatore" was o man of re-
source, so he set to work to draw up a most
imposing document, with the fol-
lowing heading under an imposing coat of
arms: