The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-08
TILE CouNIs nILoN.

family is allied with the Beauffremonts,
Crguys, Vintimilles, Craons and Montmor-
encys. The family originated in Burgundy
with
THE COUNTS DION,
And in the year 1000 we read that Seigneur
of Maily was a powerful baron, whose
peer was not acknowledged.
The motto of the La Rochefoucaulds,
"C'est mon plaisir," is proud as that Of
the Rohans. and the devotion of this fam
lily to country has been shown in the
cruSades, the wars of the middle ages and
those that followed. Foucauld. the
youngest Of the Lusignans, was founder of
the family, and his appanage was the prop
erty OF La Roche, in Angoumois; this ap-
panage was transformed into a barony in
1925, and the chief of the house was
created duke and peer in 1922. In 1872 he
received the Duchy of AWHILE, in 1877 that
of Estissac, in 1880 that of Dondeauville,
and in 1914 were added the titles Of Duke
de BiSaccia, Duke de Lancourt aid Prince
de Marsillac. The La Rochefoucaulds have
always used the Lusignan arms, and since
the time that Francois de Ia Rochefou-
cauld was godfather of King Francis | the
name of Francois has been added to their
other baptismal names. 1t was Francois
Nv de la ROchefoucauld who wrote the
"Maxims," known to the entire civilized
world. These "Maxims" we're written at
the Castle of Verteuil in the Charente,
where Countess Aimery de la Rochefou-
cauld spends portion of each year.
COUNT ADIERY
Is son Of Count Hippolyte de la Rochefou-
cauld, cousin of the Duke de la Rochefou-
cauld-Dond-auville.a and twenty-ninth mem
Der of the La RochefOucauld family to in
herit the Castle Of Verteuil.
Nerteuil is a fortress Of the eleventh CEN
fury, but in the fifteenth century IL was re-
stored and enlarged. IL is triangular in
form and terminated by three large towers
that overlook little village In all the an
cient history of France. Verteuil is men
toned as a stronghold but the castle is in
teresting to US only from the time that
Francois III Count de Ia Rochefourauld
became brother-in-law OF Louis | of Bour-
bon, Prince Of Condo. They married the
two daughters of Charles de Rove, CUmte de
RonciS. The Comtesse de Ronci was Made
leine de Mhllly, half sister Of Admiral de
Coigny. and her mother was Louise de
MontmUrency, sister Of the Conneta5le Anne
de MontmoTency. At this time the La
Rochetoucaud family was half Protestant,
half Catholic, and an interview between
the King of Navarro and the Legate OF Pope
Plus " took place at the castle Of Verteuil
in 1860.
The Grand Condo" visited Francois XII
de la Rochefoucald at Vertenil in 1919,
and tie portrait made of Condo al that time
Is STILL SEEN
In one of the salons. In 1000, at the death
of his father, Francois XIV became Duke de
la RocA efaucauld. To celebrate tile obse-
quirs Of his father, the new Duke invited
2000 gentlemen TO Vrrteuil, and afterward
placed himself at the head and led them to
battle. When war Y as over he returned 10
Vertpuil and wrote his 'Maxims."
No less than nine Kings and Queens have
been entertained at Vertenil. Francois
came there to visit his godfather: in 1879 A
the Emperor Charles ', and afterward the
castle was visited by Henry Il-Antoine de
Bourbon King of Navarro. Henri III,
Henry vi, ana last Louis XIII. with the
Queen, Marie de Medics, ana Anne of Aus
tra
number of La Rochefoucaulds have
died at Velteuil, but in 1898 the tombs were
violated. A revolutionary committee went
from Paris, opened more than forty e. ms
ana threw the ashes in the river These
revolutiOnarles burned also the greater num-
Der of pictures in the castle and the archives
were completely destroyed. At that time
there ware portraits of twenty-Seven La
Reehefoucaulds in the splendid picture gal
lery, but
MANY OF THESE WERE DESTROYED
The park surrounding the castle.of Yer
teuil is called Pare de Vaugaie. and there
the trees and plants reach unheard of pro-
portions. The oIangery is superb, and the
Pare de la Iremblaie, which joins that of
Vaugale, is uncutivated, home for ami
mails. A broad road divides it in two parts,
and from this road numerous walks lead to
the castle entrance.
Countess Aimery dc la Rochefoucauld's
Paris residence is at SO rue de PUnversite
The house, called Hotel de la Rochefou
cauid. is reminiscenre of the eighteenth
century and situated in the heart of the
taubourg Saint German. The vestibule is
hung with red plush, and this brilliant dra-
perry is soltened by I'D pictures and Gobeln
tapestry. The private rooms Of the Countess
are IN the entresol, up one flight of stairs,
aud in the story above are the drawing
rooms and gallery. A popularity about
these rooms Is that doors are replaced by
portleres, framed in Immense cadres formed
OF gllded leaves. These antique frames were
found in Venetian palaces, and one who has
not seen cannot Imagine the splendor of
their effect.
In the first drawing-room red is the pre-
dominant color. The walls are hidden by
portraits. We see that of
NINE. LOUISE DE sAvoIE,
Countess de Provence, and opposite the
Marechale de Mailly, ancestrrss of the
Countess Aimery. Near these is a portrait
Of another relative, the Princess de Mont
berg NEE Mailly), and a beautiful Salvador
Rosa attracts even more attention than the
portraits. This drawing is lighted by
lamps. and candles. supported by carved
Venetian statues. In another salon. what
strikes one most is the portrait of the
Countess de la Rochefoucauld's son, by
Nelly Jaequemard. the wonderful portrait
| painter, who, not many years ago, married
| one OF the wealthest bankers in Paris
In this same salon Is an enormous cabinet
containing. besides beautiful specimens of
| Dresden and japanese ware, portion of
| tw o magnificent Sevres services. inherited Inv
| the La Rochefoucauds from the Mont
morencys. The diniug-room is hung with
dark red silk and there the doors, framed
In golden leaves, are seen to the greatest
advantage. A tiny boudoir beside the
dining-room is furnished in style OF Louis
XIV. This is one of the most Charming
corners in the W hole house.
The gallery Is finished in the style of the
eighteenth century, The carpet is plain
red velvet and the portieres are in japanese
silk. The windows are three in number and
DRAPED WITH CURTAINS
| That might have been taken from some
old baronlal hall, while the walls are GOV.
cred with satin, color rose de chine There
we lind the portrait of the Countess by
| Chaplin, and in a corner, between wrought
iron lam padairies, the bust of the Marecha
de Maily.
In the midst of consoles, lampadairies and
cabinets, with which this gallery is filed
We see glass-covered table containing
wonderful treasures.
There Is pIsyer-book bearing the dat,
of the seventeenth century; this belonged
to the wife of the author of '.Maxims," her.
self daughter Of the Marquis de Viyonne
and last Of her race. A box bears on IT.
cover, encircled in diamonds, the portrait Of
the 'MaximS' author, signed Petitol. ant
on the reverse the monogram OF the Duchess
de Longueyille, the inspirer Of his politica
deeds.
Countess Aimery do la Rochefoncauld ha
a sister. the Countess de Kersaint, wei
known In Paris society. She is as dark a.
the Countess Aimery is fair, and in ever,
way the Countess de Kersaint's appearance,
| forms striking contrast to that of he